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    Utility Make-Ready · Southern California Edison

    SCE Charge Ready: Free Electrical Infrastructure for EV Chargers

    SCE's Charge Ready program covers 100% of the electrical infrastructure required to install commercial EV chargers — transformers, conduit, panels, and trenching — saving $50K–$200K per site.

    Quick Answer

    SCE Charge Ready pays 100% of utility-side make-ready costs (transformers, conduit, panels, trenching) for commercial EV chargers in SCE territory. Disadvantaged communities also receive rebates on the chargers themselves. Apply at sce.com/chargeready.

    Category

    Utility

    Max Award

    100% of make-ready electrical infrastructure (typically $50K–$200K per site)

    Funding Type

    In-kind utility infrastructure investment

    Timeline

    6–18 months from application to energization

    Administrator: Southern California EdisonStatus: Open — accepting applications

    Program Overview

    Make-ready costs — the electrical infrastructure between the utility transformer and the charger pad — typically run $50K–$200K per site and are the single biggest hidden cost in commercial EV charger projects. SCE Charge Ready eliminates that cost entirely for properties in SCE's service territory.

    Beyond the infrastructure rebate, SCE provides additional rebates of $1,500–$4,000 per Level 2 port and up to $40,000 per DC fast charger for sites in disadvantaged communities (DACs) and multi-unit dwellings.

    Charge Ready is the cornerstone of any SCE-territory project. Stack it with the federal 30C tax credit and CALeVIP, and most California commercial sites recover 80%+ of total project cost.

    Funding Details

    Make-ready infrastructure100% covered by SCE
    L2 charger rebate (DAC)$1,500 – $4,000 per port
    DCFC rebate (DAC)Up to $40,000 per charger
    MUD bonusAdditional rebates for multi-unit dwellings
    Site capTypically up to $1.5M per site

    Eligibility

    • Property must be located in SCE service territory
    • Site must install minimum quantities (typically 2+ Level 2 or 1+ DCFC)
    • Equipment from SCE-approved manufacturer list
    • Site host commits to 10-year operation
    • Networked charging required
    • Workplaces, multifamily, public, fleet, education, and government sites all eligible

    Best For

    Workplaces · Multifamily housing · Public sites · Fleet depots · Schools

    How to Apply for SCE Charge Ready

    Estimated timeline: 6–18 months from application to energization

    1. 1

      Confirm SCE service territory

      Verify your property is served by SCE (not LADWP, PG&E, SDG&E, or a municipal utility) using sce.com/territory.

    2. 2

      Submit pre-application interest form

      Submit basic site info via sce.com/chargeready. SCE will assign a Charge Ready advisor.

    3. 3

      Site assessment with SCE engineer

      SCE engineer visits to evaluate electrical capacity, transformer requirements, and conduit routing. This determines the make-ready scope at no cost to you.

    4. 4

      Sign Charge Ready agreement

      Execute the program participation agreement covering 10-year operation commitment, equipment specs, and milestone schedule.

    5. 5

      SCE completes make-ready construction

      SCE designs, permits, and constructs all utility-side infrastructure. Site owner pays nothing for transformers, primary/secondary conduit, panels, or trenching to the charger pad.

    6. 6

      Install chargers and energize

      Site owner procures and installs chargers from the approved equipment list. SCE energizes service. Disadvantaged community rebates are paid post-energization.

    Stacking with Other Programs

    SCE Charge Ready stacks fully with 30C (covers different costs), CALeVIP rebates, and SCAQMD incentives. SCE handles the make-ready; CALeVIP and 30C cover the chargers themselves. This is the highest-return stack available to SCE-territory commercial property owners.

    Common Mistakes That Disqualify Applications

    • Starting electrical work before SCE assessment — you forfeit the make-ready coverage
    • Selecting non-approved chargers — disqualifies rebates
    • Underestimating timeline — SCE construction queues can run 12–18 months
    • Not applying for CALeVIP in parallel — you leave $30K–$80K per charger on the table

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Ask Aiden about SCE Charge Ready

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    See Which Incentives Your Property Qualifies For

    Get a personalized list of federal, state, and utility incentives — including SCE Charge Ready — for your specific California property in under 60 seconds.

    Related Incentive Programs

    Federal

    NEVI

    Up to 80% of project costs (typically $1M–$2.5M per site)

    State

    CALeVIP

    Up to $80,000 per DC fast charger; up to $7,500 per Level 2 port

    Federal

    30C Tax Credit

    30% of equipment cost, up to $100,000 per single charging port

    Utility

    PG&E EV Charge Network

    100% of make-ready costs + per-port rebates up to $9,500

    Utility

    SDG&E Power Your Drive

    100% of make-ready + significant equipment rebates

    Air District

    SCAQMD

    Up to $80,000 per DC fast charger; $5,000 per Level 2 port