Ava Community Energy Launches Ava SmartHome Charging to Reward Drivers for Charging Vehicles with Clean Energy
In partnership with Optiwatt, the new program brings rewards, savings, and clean vehicle charging to EV and PHEV drivers in Ava's service territory
OAKLAND, Calif., May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ava Community Energy (Ava) today announced the launch of Ava SmartHome Charging, a new program to reward electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivers for charging their vehicles on clean energy. In partnership with Optiwatt, a trusted provider of managed charging technology, Ava drivers can earn up to $100 in incentives in the first year while potentially lowering their monthly energy bill by an average of $140 per year.
Ava SmartHome Charging utilizes Optiwatt's intelligent charging algorithm to reduce energy grid strain caused by at-home EV and PHEV charging. The Optiwatt app optimizes participants' at-home charging to ensure vehicle charging automatically occurs during lower-cost, renewable energy times – saving drivers both time and money.
"Ava is on a mission to provide 100% clean energy to our customers by 2030, and our new SmartHome Charging program will allow customers to charge their vehicles on more renewable energy while simultaneously saving money," said Howard Chang, CEO of Ava Community Energy. "By partnering with Optiwatt, we can now offer our customers seamless charging solutions that benefit both drivers and the community."
How it Works:
- Ava customers can connect their EV or PHEV to Optiwatt's mobile app or web login at no cost.
- After enrolling, participants receive a one-time $75 reward for joining the program, and an additional annual reward of up to $25 a year, paid monthly, for remaining enrolled.
- Ava SmartHome Charging automatically shifts a customer's EV or PHEV charging to off-peak times, taking into account unique schedules and preferences.
"Launching a program of this scale has the potential to make a significant impact," said Casey Donahue, founder of Optiwatt. "By leveraging our advanced charging algorithm and the growing number of EVs, we can shift substantial energy demand to cleaner, more affordable times. This effort will benefit every Ava customer, helping to create a more sustainable and cost-effective energy future."
Ava SmartHome Charging is available to most EVs and PHEVs. Participants simply need to sign up through the Optiwatt app available on iOS, Android or via Optiwatt's website. After completing a quick verification process, users will immediately start earning rewards and saving on their energy bills. The program is open to all Ava customers and seeks to enroll at least 5,000 vehicles by the end of 2025.
Ava SmartHome Charging, in partnership with Optiwatt, is the first phase of Ava's comprehensive Virtual Power Plant (VPP) strategy which is enabled by Lunar Energy's Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS), Gridshare.
About Ava Community Energy
Ava Community Energy (Ava) is the not-for-profit public power provider for more than 2 million residents and commercial customers in Alameda County and the cities of Tracy, Stockton, and Lathrop. As one of 25 community choice aggregation (CCA) programs operating in California, Ava is part of the movement to provide energy choice while expediting local and statewide climate action goals. Ava is committed to creating a brighter future in our communities and beyond by providing clean power at competitive rates, reinvesting in our member communities, and developing programs that make it easy for customers to discover and adopt clean energy solutions. To date, Ava has saved customers more than $150 million and contracted for more than one gigawatt of renewable energy projects. For more information about Ava Community Energy, visit AvaEnergy.org.
About Optiwatt
Optiwatt is North America's largest telematics-based home energy analytics platform. The company partners with utility providers and uses data-driven insights to help homeowners reduce energy costs, optimize charging schedules, and support renewable energy initiatives. For more information, visit optiwatt.com.
Media Contact:
Mission Control Communications for Ava Community Energy
ava@missionc2.com
SOURCE Ava Community Energy
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