Burlington Electric Launches EV Rebate Incentive Program

Burlington, VT – Burlington Electric today launched its first ever electric vehicle (EV) rebate incentive program, through which members of the Burlington community will be eligible for a $1,200 rebate on the purchase or lease of a new EV with an MSRP of less than $50,000. The program will serve as an important component of making Burlington a “net zero energy city” across electric, thermal, and ground transportation sectors and will help Burlington Electric with its efforts to meet Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES).

“For Burlington to be successful in achieving its net zero energy goal, we must tackle the transportation sector’s significant and growing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Driving electric is an important part of this environmental strategy to create significant emissions reductions. Once again, Burlington Electric and members of the Burlington community are leading the way in creating solutions to our climate challenges.”

“Today’s launch serves as another example of Burlington Electric’s ongoing commitment to build a sustainable energy future that reduces carbon emissions and supports a growing economy and a thriving community,” stated Neale Lunderville, Burlington Electric General Manager. “The EV incentive program is an important component of our efforts to drive our strategic net zero vision in the transportation sector. We are excited to provide this opportunity for our customers to help with the transition from fossil fuel burning cars to EVs.”

“This is a great incentive for Burlingtonians to seize,” said Johanna Miller, Energy and Climate Action Program Director at the Vermont Natural Resources Council. “Kudos to Burlington Electric for stepping up and making it easier for their customers to invest in electric vehicles. Providing Vermonters clean, affordable, and convenient transportation choices – like renewably-powered electric vehicles or transit – is essential to reducing our collective reliance on fossil fuel-powered vehicles.”

All Burlington Electric customers, residential and commercial, who register their newly-purchased EVs in Burlington are eligible to take advantage of this special rebate program, which will be available through the end of 2017 and may be renewed or modified for future years. Customers may purchase a qualifying EV from any dealership in or outside Vermont. After purchasing an EV, customers should complete and submit the rebate form, along with a copy of the sales receipt, to Energy Services, Burlington Electric, 585 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 05401. Customers are limited to one rebate per household or business.

The current list of qualifying EVs, which have ranges between approximately 60 and 230 miles, includes the following: BMW i3 (all electric version), Chevrolet Bolt, Ford Focus Electric, Mercedes Benz B250e, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Leaf, Smart Electric Drive, and Volkswagen e-Golf. These EVs also may qualify for a federal tax credit. The Drive Electric Vermont website provides helpful information about these EVs, including their vehicle range, MSRPs, and tax credits. Plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids do not qualify for this rebate. Customers or dealers with questions about EV eligibility or any other questions related to this program are invited to contact Burlington Electric’s Energy Services team at efficiency@burlingtonelectric.com.

Burlington Electric is offering this incentive as part of its effort to meet the Tier III requirements of Vermont’s RES, which supports utility programs that help customers reduce fossil fuel use in the heating and transportation sectors.. EVs reduce fossil fuel use and may save money on fuel and maintenance costs compared to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. Pursuant to the RES, passed by the Vermont Legislature in 2015, electric distribution utilities like Burlington Electric are required to procure an increasing percentage of their electric sales from renewable energy. In addition, the RES includes an “energy transformation” requirement, known as Tier III, that tasks electric utilities to look for ways to reduce fossil fuel emissions (even where doing so may increase electric consumption). One way Burlington Electric plans to meet this requirement is through this EV rebate incentive program.

As part of its efforts to encourage more Burlingtonians and Vermonters to go electric and to bolster Vermont’s EV charging stations network, Burlington Electric has installed 13 EV charging stations, totaling 24 charging ports, around the City. Charging stations are located on Main Street near City Hall, in both the Marketplace and Cherry Street parking garages, at Burlington Electric’s Pine Street facility, in strategic locations around the University of Vermont campus, at the Miller Information Commons parking lot at Champlain College, and at Hannaford supermarket in the New North End. A map of EV charging station locations can be found here.