Ava Community Energy has introduced a new incentive program for electric vehicle (EV) owners in its service area, offering financial rewards for charging with cleaner and cheaper electricity. The Ava SmartHome Charging program, launched in collaboration with energy tech company Optiwatt, aims to promote renewable energy usage while helping participants lower their energy bills.
EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivers who enroll in the program can receive a $75 reward upon sign-up, along with an additional $25 annually for continued participation. The initiative uses Optiwatt’s managed charging technology to automatically schedule charging sessions during periods when electricity is both more affordable and primarily sourced from renewable generation. Participants could save an estimated $140 per year on energy bills, the companies said.
“Ava is on a mission to provide 100% clean energy to our customers by 2030, and our new SmartHome Charging program will allow customers to charge their vehicles on more renewable energy while simultaneously saving money,” said Ava Community Energy CEO Howard Chang. “By partnering with Optiwatt, we can now offer our customers seamless charging solutions that benefit both drivers and the community.”
The program is part of Ava’s broader Virtual Power Plant (VPP) strategy, powered by Lunar Energy’s Gridshare platform, which aims to coordinate distributed energy resources like EVs and home batteries to improve grid reliability. Ava, a public energy provider serving over 2 million residents and businesses in Alameda County and neighboring areas, plans to enroll at least 5,000 vehicles by the end of 2025.
“Launching a program of this scale has the potential to make a significant impact,” said Optiwatt founder Casey Donahue. “By leveraging our advanced charging algorithm and the growing number of EVs, we can shift substantial energy demand to cleaner, more affordable times.”
Ava Community Energy has already saved customers more than $150 million and secured contracts for over one gigawatt of renewable energy.
