As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly popular, one of the biggest challenges to their adoption is the lack of charging infrastructure. After a long regulatory process, the new Massachusetts “Make-Ready Program” is helping to address this challenge and support the development of EV infrastructure and equipment necessary to accommodate the growing number of EVs in the Commonwealth.
Through the “Make-Ready” Program, municipalities and other organizations can install Level 2 and/or Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations with utility funding to cover a large portion of, or in some cases, all the infrastructure costs required to supply power to the EV chargers. And in some cases, the program provides rebates to help offset the costs of the EV Charging equipment.
The program is administered by the three Massachusetts local utilities: Eversource, National Grid, and Until, and with nearly $400 million in total funding, the program is one of the largest of its kind. National Grid is slated to receive the largest portion of funding at $206 million. Eversource follows with a programmatic budget of $188 million and Unitil, with the most modest budget of the three, will receive $998,000. See below for more detailed information about each utility’s program.
Organizations can apply in cooperation with their EV charging station installer, and PowerOptions assists Members with applications as well. Applications must be submitted directly to the utility provider. If funding is available and the project meets certain eligibility criteria, applicants are required to apply for the MassEVIP Program and other state or federal funding sources. EV charging projects must be completed by a utility-approved EV Make Ready Contractor. Application information is as follows:
- Eversource: Apply here
- National Grid: Apply here
- Unitil: Application not yet available
PowerOptions Can Help You Take Advantage of Make-Ready Incentives
PowerOptions serves as a project integrator to its Members who pursue EV charging projects under the PowerOptions EV Charging program – whether the stations are to be owned by the Member, or whether they’re provided under a “Charging as a Service” program.
In addition to obtaining equipment quotes and coordinating installation with an approved Make-Ready contractor, PowerOptions will assist Members in completing incentive applications and meeting the post-installation requirements to ensure Members receive the maximum incentives.
The first step is to speak with PowerOptions EV Charging Program Manager Walter Gray about your project, and receive an assessment of your eligibility for incentives, along with an estimate of your total out-pocket project costs after all applicable incentives.
Utility Program Summaries
National Grid:
$206 million to support make-ready infrastructure and EV charger rebates for public and workplace, residential, and light-duty fleet customers over the next four years. National Grid will recover its program costs through the existing EV program rate factor applied to customer bills. Funding will support:
- $206 million to install 32,000 chargers
- Up to 2,500 public Level 2 ports
- Up to 4,700 workplace Level 2 ports
- Up to 32 MWs of public DCFC ports
- Up to 500 public and workplace Level 1 ports
- Up to 20,000 ports for 1 to 4‑unit residential customers
- Up to 3,800 Level 2 ports at multi‑unit dwelling sites with 5 or more units
- Up to 600 ports for fleet customers
- Fleet assessment services
- An expanded off‑peak charging rebate offering
- A marketing and outreach plan
- An evaluation plan
Eversource:
$188 million to support make-ready infrastructure and EV charger rebates for public and workplace, residential, and light duty fleet customers. Eversource plans to recover costs through a new EV program rate factor applied to customer bills. Funding will support:
- $188 million total, to install about 8,200 fast charging ports
- Up to 3,350 public Level 2 ports
- Up to 42,760 workplace Level 2 ports
- Up to 27 MWs of public DCFC ports
- Up to 16,000 ports for 1 to 4‑unit residential customers
- Up to 2,200 Level 2 ports at approximately 110 multi‑unit dwelling sites with five or more units
- Fleet assessment services
- A medium and heavy‑duty fleet pilot for environmental justice communities,
- A marketing and outreach plan, and
- An evaluation plan
Unitil:
$998,000 to support make-ready infrastructure and EV charger rebates for public and workplace, residential, and light duty fleet customers over the next 5 years. Funding will support:
- Up to 5 Level 2 public sites
- 1 public DCFC site
- Make‑ready infrastructure and EV charger rebates for residential customers in 1 to 4‑unit properties
- A marketing and outreach plan
- An evaluation plan
What’s Next?
The Make-Ready Program is a major step forward in the effort to support the electrification of vehicles across the state. With its help, we can work to overcome charging infrastructure challenges and pave the way for a more sustainable future.