1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

SCE L2 Charger Install Permits

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by PriusC_Commuter, Apr 18, 2014.

  1. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2013
    914
    307
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles/ Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I'm thinking about picking up a L2 charger for my PiP in the SCE area. I was able to find out all the information about my current electrical setup, but I wasn't able to get an idea of the cost of the permits. Does anyone have any pointers to where I would be able to find info on permits? Is it by SCE, or by city? Or both? Thanks in advance.
     
  2. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Electrical permits always come from a government regulatory entity (e.g. city or county planning office), not from a utility.

    If you adding enough load to exceed your existing service level (unlikely for a common car charger) or are pumping energy back into the grid (e.g. a PV array to offset the car charging), then the utility will have some needed paperwork and approvals.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,861
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you will need a simple electrical permit from your city/town. go to the building department at city/town hall and ask how much for the permit. shouldn't be more than 50. or $100.
     
  4. rxlawdude

    rxlawdude Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    701
    219
    0
    Location:
    So Calif
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tesla Model S

    There are L2 EVSEs with a power cord to plug into a 220v NEMA outlet. If you have a 220v outlet already, there's no need for any permits. You would, of course, want to get permits for installation of a new outlet. No coordination with SCE needed. Additional benefits of a "portable" L2 EVSE include, um, portability. :)

    To clarify, though, if you are talking about getting SCE's pure EV plan, you need a second service entry meter and wiring to your EVSE. That involves permits, possible digging, a lot of headaches, and $4-10K. For a PiP, I don't see that as a viable option.
     
  5. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2013
    914
    307
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles/ Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Thanks for the help with the info about the permit. I recently acquired a GE Wattstation so I am in the process of getting quotes from electricians. It a pretty simple install, as it's just putting the breaker into an open slot and connecting it to an outlet a foot away, but even so the quotes I got were in the range of $250-350 (best was $250 for parts and labor) in Orange County.

    And I've gotten different opinions from people and electricians as to whether or not it's worth it to do the permit work (one side says do it for liability, other side says it often opens a can of worms and don't do it until the day you need it). I called my city for info on the permit, but they quoted me like $150 for just the permit, so I'm not sure if they understood I am just adding a breaker to my panel, not replacing the panel entirely. Unlike Anaheim and Irvine my city doesn't seem to care about following along with the times.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,861
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    $250. isn't horrible. by the time they pick up the parts and come install them, it doesn't much matter if it's two feet or twenty. $150. for a permit is ridiculous. ask the electrician if that's correct.
     
  7. rxlawdude

    rxlawdude Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    701
    219
    0
    Location:
    So Calif
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tesla Model S
    $150 sounds about right for a permit here in SoCal.

    The poster above is only adding an outlet to an existing panel, and will have to deal with SCE rates combining his household with EV charging.
     
  8. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2013
    914
    307
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles/ Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    For now I don't plan on changing to TOU rates. I'll keep the residential schedule as the PiP does not take that much electricity.
     
    rxlawdude likes this.
  9. rxlawdude

    rxlawdude Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    701
    219
    0
    Location:
    So Calif
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tesla Model S
    Agreed that this is the best solution for most PiP owners. In my case, the PiP charging pushes me into Tier 3, as I've got all Energy Star appliances and all LED lighting to keep consumption as low as possible.

    I've started communicating with Edison about the possibility of a sub-meter arrangement where we could get TOU rates on charging while keeping the household under Rate D (non-TOU).
     
  10. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2013
    914
    307
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles/ Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I also don't think TOU is the best option for the PiP. The majority of the days where I am able to get a few charges in between running errands are the days I get the most out of the electricity, and those charges would obviously be during the daytime at higher TOU rates. Realistically if I were only charging during cheaper TOU rate times, I would only be able to charge once per day, and with 10-14 miles per charge that doesn't really give me much EV driving per day.