Electric vehicle pilot offers Alberta Fortis customers $150 to test power grid
If you're a FortisAlberta customer who owns an electric vehicle (EV), the company is looking for your help with a pilot program that will test the limits of Alberta's electrical infrastructure.
Along with the valuable information, Fortis is also offering eligible participants incentives for their time.
The Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Pilot hopes to answer questions about how the adoption of EVs will affect the province's system, especially with the federal government's recent pledge to fully transition to zero-emission vehicles by 2035.
"We expect to see an increasing number of Albertans driving EVs," Fortis said in a release, adding that thousands of Albertans are already using them.
According to the Alberta Electric System Operator, it's predicted there will be 1.5 million EVs on Alberta roads by 2035.
To participate, customers who drive an EV who live within Fortis' service area need to download Optiwatt, a smart charging app, for free from the Apple or Google Play store.
Only 600 spots are available and anyone who signs up will receive $150 – $50 at signup, and $100 at the conclusion of the pilot program after completing a survey.
Fortis says "additional incentives" will be offered to participants through the Optiwatt app.
"Rewards are provided through the Optiwatt app and can be redeemed through Paypal, Zelle, Stripe and digital gift cards," Fortis said.
It's the first pilot of its kind in rural Alberta, Fortis says, and also reflects the company's commitment to a resilient power grid.
"The data gathered will help us understand vehicle charging requirements of our customers," said Fortis' vice-president of engineering Curtis Eck in a statement.
"It will also demonstrate the opportunity for active managed charging to mitigate grid impacts, reduce carbon impacts and save customers money – costs that directly impact the transmission and distribution fees on Alberta utility bills."
The pilot program began in January and will end on Dec. 31.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.