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The 2023 EVolve Grant application cycle is now closed. Please check back in early 2024 for our next EVolve Grant application cycle. In the meantime, feel free to review the 2023 EVolve Grant process below to help you prepare for your 2024 application.

Santee Cooper’s EVolve Grant Program is here to help you take charge of your electric vehicle project. The EVolve Grant Program allows eligible commercial customers to apply for up to $25,000 in grant funding to help you get started on your EV journey. A competitive scoring process will help Santee Cooper choose the top projects to receive funding.

Electric Charges at Santee Cooper

Project Categories

Customers are encouraged to apply for EV projects in one of four project categories:

  1. Make-Ready Research
  2. Education and Outreach
  3. Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
  4. Electric Fleet Conversion

For more information on these categories, see the program application in step one below.

Get Started!

  1. Review Application and Preliminary Financial Summary

    • Read  our application and supplementary documents before starting the application process to ensure that you qualify. You can find examples of completed applications in our FAQs.

    • The application and financial summary are required documents. Submissions received without a completed application and financial summary will be marked as incomplete and not be considered for funding.

    Note: We are aware that there are currently supply chain delays and long wait times for EVSE equipment and EV orders. We encourage you to apply despite supply chain delays and request that you acknowledge the potential delays in your application (under the Project Timeline question on page 9 of the EVolve application). While our grant requests that you complete your project within one year, extensions will be given to approved projects that have reasonable delays due to supply chain issues.

    Grant ApplicationFinancial Summary FormLandlord Consent Form

  2. Complete Application

    • Once you have read the program requirements, please fill out all applicable documentation for your project.
    • All documentation and questions about the program should be submitted to e-mobility@santeecooper.com
    • All documentation must be submitted by September 8, 2023. Any applications not fully completed by September 8, 2023 will not be accepted.

  3. Wait for Scoring

    • Santee Cooper uses an independent, third-party grant manager to review and score projects.
    • Once scoring is complete and projects are approved, Santee Cooper will reach out to let you know if your project has been approved for funding.
    • Project approvals and denials will be sent out by the end of December 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a recording of an information webinar that will walk you through how to apply to the program.

EVolve Grant Application Process Tutorial

0:00

Welcome and Webinar Overview

1:00

Agenda

1:45

Introductions

2:35

Grant Purpose

3:35

Application Process Overview

5:50

Application Live Demo

19:27

Preliminary Financial Summary Spreadsheet Live Demo

29:48

Landlord Consent Form Overview

30:50

Sample Applications

31:43

Completion and Submission

32:52

Evaluation Criteria

34:00

Timing, Funding, & Projects

35:12

Q&A

39:49

Contact Us Info & Thank You

Santee Cooper has set aside $100,000 for Evolve grants in 2023. These funds will be split into two $50,000 spring and fall cycles. Each customer is eligible for a maximum of $25,000 of grant funds.

No. Funding for projects will go through a competitive scoring process that will be completed by an independent third party.

Customers will have one year from the date of project approval to complete the project. Extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis but are not guaranteed.

The amount of funding for projects is based on the project category, however preference may be given to projects that have secured matching funds. Please see the application for the maximum funding allowed for each project category.

Approved projects will receive funds upon the completion of the project and submission of all required documentation. At this time, projects are not eligible to receive any funds prior to the completion of the project.

No. Santee Cooper does not have any special EV rates for commercial customers at this time. Applicants are expected to understand the rates associated with their project.

Please see the application for a list of scoring criteria. Santee Cooper will use an independent third-party grant manager to review and score projects. Scores will be submitted to Santee Cooper, which has sole discretion of funding.