GM Energy and PG&E make home charging easier for first-time EV buyers
Access to convenient and affordable home charging can make EV ownership more convenient and may help eligible customers manage charging costs, but many new customers don’t know the savings potential or benefits from their utility right at the point of sale. That’s why GM Energy and Pacific Gas and Electric are launching the Smart Charge Bundle initiative, offering eligible PG&E residential customers in Northern and Central California a home charger and access to PG&E smart-charging incentives and support right at their participating Chevrolet, GMC or Cadillac dealer.
Upfront charger value and potential ongoing utility bill savings
This first-of-its-kind offering makes home charging part of the EV buying conversation from the start. At the dealership, customers can discuss their charging needs, explore the available GM Energy charger options and complete PG&E’s program enrollment. They can then select a GM Energy PowerShift or PowerUp 2 home charger at no additional hardware cost, representing a value up to $1,999, depending on charger and purchase or lease path. Equipment installation, permitting, and electrical upgrades are customer-paid and separate.
The GM PowerUp 2 charger delivers Level 2 charging, while the GM Energy PowerShift Charger can be paired with additional GM Energy equipment (sold separately) and a compatible EV to support bidirectional charging that allows energy to move not only from a properly equipped home (with proper grid interconnection) to the vehicle, but also from the vehicle back to the home to aid during an outage or potentially participate in future vehicle-to-grid charging programs once they become available.
Ongoing value through smart charging
The benefits continue with every charge. Through PG&E’s EV Charge Manager program, participating customers may receive a $15 monthly bill credit and may save up to an additional $50 per month by shifting charging to periods when electricity costs and demand are lower. Actual credits and savings will depend on various factors, including program terms, charging behavior, and utility rates.
Managed charging is designed to schedule vehicle charging during lower-cost periods. And because customers remain in control, they can override a managed-charging session whenever necessary.
This program is made possible by WeaveGrid, GM and PG&E’s supplier for a software layer that helps manage charging in an effort to mitigate localized strain on the grid.
Who can participate?
The offer is available to eligible PG&E residential customers who purchase or lease a new Chevrolet, Cadillac or GMC EV through a participating dealership in PG&E’s service area through February 2027 or until capacity in the program is reached. Customers are responsible for all installation costs (sold separately) and customers must use GM Energy’s preferred installer network to receive the charger.
The Smart Charge Bundle is available to eligible PG&E residential customers who live in a qualifying single-family or detached residence and have the authority to install a charger at the home. Customers must complete program enrollment and accept the applicable terms and conditions.
Participants must also have an active OnStar service plan with location services enabled and cannot already be enrolled in another qualifying smart charging or demand-response program.
Because this is a capacity-limited program, customers should speak with a participating dealer to confirm availability and eligibility.
Learning from the customer experience
“GM Energy’s reason for being is to make EV ownership a leap forward in value and ease, from choosing the right vehicle to charging it at home,” said Wade Sheffer, VP of GM Energy. “Our work with PG&E is the result of listening to owners, reducing steps, and doing the hard work in the background to make the customer experience really simple, with clear benefits.”
By bringing the charger incentive, enrollment process and smart-charging benefits closer to the point of sale, GM and PG&E are helping customers answer some of the most common questions about going electric: Where will I charge? What equipment do I need? How can I manage charging costs?
“The Smart Charge Bundle is a critical step toward an electrified and affordable future,” said Chelle Izzi, SVP & Chief Commercial Officer. “A future where the option to electrify is the easier and more compelling choice for customers. A future where we unlock the power of EVs to make our grid more resilient and efficient.”
This will also provide valuable insights that can help shape future utility partnerships and bundled EV and energy solutions. At GM Empower earlier this year, GM shared a comprehensive energy strategy where electric vehicles, batteries and the power grid work together to help ease demand during peak energy usage times and provide benefit consumers. That included a shared goal between GM and PG&E to have up to 52,000 EVs interacting with the grid by 2030. Driving greater EV adoption now can enable greater benefits sooner.