EV Club Zoom Meeting With Stepwise Electric, Co-Presented with PACE
Join us for a Zoom presentation from Stepwise Electric. Jane Chen, CEO, and Holly Lichtenfeld, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, who will speak to us about their Stepwise Tap Smart Load Management System that has been selected for a pilot project administered through Eversource and United Illuminating.
Free registration required here.
- Meeting Date/Time – Tuesday, May 19, 7PM-8PM
Some people seeking to install a home EV charger find that it’s problematic due to constraints in their electrical service or panel.
For example, if you are thinking about installing a 48 amp charger, a common choice nowadays as many EVs come with an 11 or 11.5 kW onboard charger that matches up well with that power level, you will need a 60 amp breaker.
But if you have 100 amp electrical service or even 200 amp service with other high-draw appliances, the 60 amp breaker may exceed your level of service. Or you may have an older panel that doesn’t have room for another 240-volt appliance.
According to EnergySage, this challenge affects as many as 20% of people looking to install a level 2 charger. The cost of upgrading electrical service and/or an electrical panel can be in the range of $4000 – $10,000.
Using Your Existing Service and Panel Efficiently
The old analogue world imposes needless constraints. Chances are that you probably do have enough power if it’s used efficiently. Older panels are designed for a maximal theoretical load. Your usage could reach that limit, but most of the time that isn’t the case.
During our Zoom meeting, Stepwise Electric will discuss their Stepwise Tap product that has been approved for a pilot by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and will be made available in limited numbers to customers in Eversource and United Illuminating territories.
The Tap is installed between the EV charger and the panel. It can see everything that is happening in the panel. If the draw becomes too great, it dynamically throttles or temporarily turns off the EV charging. In other words, it prioritizes loads by using real-time data to balance power and avoid the installation of an oversized panel. It works with any EV charger.
Utility Pilot
If you are in the market for a 240-volt charger, or thinking of an upgrade to a more powerful charger, and you have these kinds of service or panel constraints, you could be a candidate for the pilot. 100 households will have the cost of the Stepwise Tap equipment and installation covered. (The cost of the charger/installation is not covered.)
Unlike with the EV charger incentive, there are no income restrictions.
Those participating in the pilot will be required to enroll in the managed charging program run by Eversource and UI. Managed charging comes with its own incentive for participation of up to $120 for the base tier or $300 for the advanced tier. This is an annual incentive. See our incentives page for a more complete description of managed charging.
Existing participants in managed charging are enrolled through a compliant charger or via telematics for eligible vehicles. The Stepwise Tap enables enrollment with any charger or vehicle.
Approved Contractors
Electrical contractors must be certified to install the Stepwise Tap and they are vetting contractors on an ongoing basis. The following CT licensed contractors are currently approved.
- Jaspersohn Electric – 860-424-2230
- Malangone Electric – 203-410-9496
- Notchick and Sons Electric – 860-819-7335
- Thomas Connolly Electrical – 203-521-3918
- Mister Sparky – 646-233-7853
- Direct Electrical Services, LLC – 860-982-7335
- Telesco Electric – 203-297-3203