PowerUpRI

• Applicants be at least 18 years of age.
• Rhode Island residents and landlords only.
• Applicants must own or lease a Battery Electric Vehicle or Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
  • The electric vehicle must be registered in Rhode Island.
  • Landlords installing EV Chargers on rental properties they own are exempt from this requirement.
• Applicants must reside in a single-family home or multifamily home.
  • Applicants that rent in a multifamily dwelling must have a signed letter of approval that allows for the installation of the EV Charger.
  • Landlords installing EV Chargers on rental properties they own are exempt from this requirement.
• Businesses, non-profit organizations, and government entities are not eligible for rebates.
• Landlords are eligible only for standard rebates, and not income-qualified rebates.

• Only Level 2/240V Electric Vehicle Chargers are eligible.
• Chargers must be Energy Star Certified in accordance with the Appliance and Equipment Energy Standards.
  • Only chargers that are Energy Star Certified may be purchased or installed.
  • Not sure which chargers are certified?
    • Here you can find a list of EV Chargers that qualify for our program. Please note: This list is meant to provide examples and is not comprehensive. Any residential level 2 EV chargers that are Energy Star Certified qualify for the PowerUpRI program.
    • Check out the Energy Star Product Finder to search for eligible chargers. Please note that this Product Finder includes Residential and Commercial scale chargers, only residential scale chargers are eligible for this rebate.
• Chargers must be purchased new from a retail store, either online or in-person. Chargers from private sellers are not eligible.
• Chargers must be installed at the address listed on the application
  • Applicants may only install chargers at residences they own or rent.
• Chargers must be installed by a certified, licensed electrician.
• The Office of Energy Resources highly recommends choosing a Wi-Fi-enabled or networked charger. These advanced chargers can capture and transmit data, making it easier for you to participate in future utility-run programs, such as off-peak charging and other related initiatives.

Several government agencies and national associations have created informational flyers related to at-home EV Charger safety. Click on any of the following links to locate these flyers:

Federal Emergency Management Agency:

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/vehicle-fires/electric-vehicles/ 

National Fire Protection Association:

https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/electrical/electric-vehicles 

Electrical Safety Foundation:

https://www.esfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ESFI-Electric-Vehicle-Charging-Safety.pdf

• Applicants must purchase and install an eligible EV Charger before applying for the PowerUpRI rebate program.
• Applicants must apply for the rebate within 180 days (6 months) of the date listed on the electrician service receipt and prior to rebate fund exhaustion or program termination.
• Applicants must submit a photo or scan of the sales receipt that includes the purchase date and purchase price of the charger.
• Applicants must submit a photo or scan of the electrician service receipt that includes the installation date, the cost of installation, and location of installation.
• Applicants must provide proof of age and Rhode Island residency (RI Driver’s license or RI-issued ID).
  • Additional documents for residency verification may be requested on a case-by-case basis.
• Applicants must provide the EV Charger’s serial number, make and model.
• Applicants must pledge to maintain ownership and operation of the EV Charger for at least 3 years after purchase.
• Applicants must cover any additional costs of the EV Charger that exceed the awarded rebate amount.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to check all PowerUpRI related emails for status updates and requests for additional information or documents required to complete the application.

If approved, OER will award the appropriate rebate amount directly to the applicant in a single payment, by check, within four to six (4-6) weeks from the date of final approval. Processing times may vary.

Income-Qualified rebates are available for individual installations. Landlords are only eligible to receive standard rebates.

To meet the income-qualified requirements, the applicant(s) must be enrolled in one of the following programs:

• Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• RI Works Program
• SSI State Supplemental Payment (SSP)
• Medicaid
• Housing Program/Section 8

Applicants who participate in one (or more) of the income-qualified programs highlighted above must submit a document that, at minimum, provides:

• Applicant name;
• Name of the qualifying program (see list);
• The government entity or the managed care organization that issued document;
• An issue date within the last 12 months or a future expiration date beyond the date of the EV Charger application and approval.

Self-Attestation Form of Income:

If the applicant does not participate in a State or Federal Income-Qualified program, the applicant may still qualify for the rebate by submitting a self-attestation form of income based on the 2024 Low-Income Guidelines table below:

Applicants must submit all of the documents below to be eligible to receive a rebate from the PowerUpRI program.

• Rebate Application.
• RI Driver’s License, or RI State Issued ID.
  • Additional documents for residency verification may be requested on a case-by-case basis.
• Proof of Registration of a Battery Electric Vehicle or Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle
  • Landlords installing EV Chargers on rental properties they own are exempt from this requirement.
• Applicants that rent in a multifamily dwelling must have a signed letter of approval that allows for the installation of the EV Charger.
• Photo of installed EV Charger
• EV Charger sales receipt that includes the purchase date and purchase price.
• Electrician service receipt that includes the installation date, the cost of installation, and location of installation.
• Copy of the manufacturers or retail store document (or specification sheet) that includes the EV Charger serial number, make and model.
  • Document must specify that the charger has an Energy Star certified safety rating
• A completed and sign W-9 Form (attached to the application)

For Income-Qualified Applicants: All documents above, and;

• Copy of State or Federal Low-Income program participation document, or complete self- attestation form of income (attached to the online application).
• Landlords are not eligible to receive income-qualified rebates.

Items can be uploaded as photos, saved screenshots, or PDFs.

As a condition for receiving the PowerUpRI rebate, you (the applicant/purchaser) must comply with the requirements below. Eligible applicants must meet requirements that include the following:

Rebate Amounts:

• Standard Rebate:
  • If no electrical upgrade is needed during installation, the rebate amount is up to $350.00, or 50% (whichever is less) of the purchase price of a Level 2 residential EV Charger.
  • If an electrical upgrade is needed during installation, the rebate amount is up to $700.00, or 50% (whichever is less) of the purchase and installation costs of a Level 2 residential EV charger.
     
• Income Qualified Rebate: 
  • If no electric upgrade was needed during installation, the rebate amount is up to $500.00, or 75% (whichever is less) of the purchase of a Level 2 residential EV charger.
  • If an electric upgrade was needed during installation, the rebate amount is up to $1,000.00, or 75% (whichever is less) of the purchase and installation of a Level 2 residential EV charger.

Applicant Requirements:

• Must be a Rhode Island resident and 18 years of age or older to apply for the rebate.
• Applicants must provide all required documentation found in the “Required Documents” section above, including sales and installation receipts, proof of Rhode Island residency, proof of age, and any additional documentation requested by the program administrators.
• Proof of Registration of a Battery Electric Vehicle or Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle
  • Vehicle must be registered in Rhode Island.
• Applicants may only install chargers at residences they own or rent.
• Applicants must apply for the rebate within 180 days (6 months) of the date listed on the electrician service receipt and prior to rebate fund exhaustion or program termination. 
  • Applications submitted beyond 180 days (6 months) of the date listed on the electrician service receipt will not qualify for the PowerUpRI rebate program.
• Applicants must maintain ownership and operation of the EV charger for at least 3 years after purchase.
• Landlords are eligible only for standard rebates, and not income-qualified rebates.
• Installation and Purchase date must be on or after program launch date, August 1^st, 2024. Rebates are not retroactive to past purchases.

Charger Requirements:

• EV chargers must be purchased new from a retail store, either online or in-person. Chargers purchased from private sellers are not eligible.
• Only Level 2/240V Electric Vehicle Chargers are eligible.
• Only chargers that are Energy Star Certified may be purchased or installed, in accordance with the Appliance and Equipment Energy Standards. 
• Chargers must be installed at the address listed on the application
• Chargers must be installed by a certified, licensed electrician.
• The Office of Energy Resources highly recommends choosing a Wi-Fi-enabled or networked charger. These advanced chargers can capture and transmit data, making it easier for you to participate in future utility-run programs, such as off-peak charging and other related initiatives.

Additional Information:

• Rebates will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, pending available funds.
  • This is a reimbursement program. Applicants must cover expenses upfront and provide proof of payment for reimbursement.
• Limit of:
  • one rebate per household – program lifetime for individual installations.
  • one rebate per property – program lifetime for landlord installations.
• Rebate recipients independently select and purchase their own devices and assume all liability.
• The OER and RIIB are not liable for any damages or costs associated with the purchase, installation, maintenance, or use of the EV chargers.
• The OER and RIIB reserve the right to modify or terminate this rebate program at any time. Funding is limited.
• Applicants are responsible for checking all PowerUpRI related emails for status updates and requests for additional information or documents required to complete the application.

Residents are eligible to apply for the Rhode Island PowerUpRI program in addition to the Federal Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit. 

The Federal Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit provides a tax credit to residents who purchase and install qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property for their principal residence, including electric vehicle charging equipment, between December 31, 2022, and January 1, 2033. The tax credit equals 30% of the cost with a maximum amount of $1,000 per item.

Please note that the Federal program is a Tax Credit, not a rebate program. For more information visit irs.gov.