Supporting Clean Transportation in Santa Clara

Silicon Valley Power (SVP) wants to help people and businesses in Santa Clara use cleaner transportation, more sustainable transportation. To make this easier, SVP is offering a Load Development Fee credit to qualifying businesses who are looking to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers.

What Is a Load Development Fee?

When a non-residential (commercial, industrial, multifamily) property needs more electricity—for example, to power EV chargers—SVP charges a one-time Load Development fee. This fee helps pay for the upgrades needed to provide more electricity. The fee is based on the extra kilovolt-ampere load (kVA) needed to support the EV charging stations.

Why We're Offering This Credit

Installing EV chargers can be expensive. SVP wants to help by giving a credit to small businesses and multifamily properties that add chargers. This support makes it easier for more people to drive electric cars, which is better for the environment. This program is funded by the California Air Resources Board’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the use of cleaner transportation fuels.

Eligible Customers

• Multifamily properties (apartment complexes, condominiums)
• Non-residential properties (small and medium businesses)
• Must be an existing SVP electric customer with ≤200 kW average peak demand over the past 12 months
• EV Chargers must be grid-connected, metered EV charging equipment (Level 2 or DC fast chargers)

Not Eligible

• New construction projects
• Non-residential customers with peak demand over 201 kW (over the past 12 months)
• Non-EV charging station projects
• Eligible projects are those with permit applications submitted on or after September 25, 2025, unless SVP grants an exception

Program Rules

• Pre-approval required to reserve your credit
• Up to 100 kVA eligible per project
• $35,000 maximum credit per customer over the life of the program
• Limited funding available — applications reviewed first-come, first-served
• If a Load Development Fee Credit is received, any Load Development Fee cost will not be an eligible project cost for SVP's Multifamily and Commercial EV Charging Incentive Program
• This program is subject to change or termination without prior notice
• Credits will not be applied retroactively unless explicitly approved in writing by SVP

How to Apply

1. Fill out the online application
2. If approved, you’ll receive a pre-approval letter confirming your eligibility and reserved credit.
3. Once you get your building permit from the City of Santa Clara, SVP will assign an Estimator to your project
4. Show your letter to the SVP Estimator to use your credit toward your Load Development Fee

Want to Save Money on Your EV Charging Project?

Apply now to lock in your credit and cut down on your costs!