SCE Charge Ready Program: Complete Guide for Inland Empire Property Owners
SCE Charge Ready covers 100% of make-ready infrastructure costs — trenching, conduit, panel upgrades — for qualifying commercial properties in SCE territory. For most Inland Empire multifamily owners, this means zero out-of-pocket infrastructure cost.
What SCE Charge Ready Covers
SCE Charge Ready is a Southern California Edison program that covers the cost of make-ready infrastructure — the electrical work required to bring power from your building's service panel to EV charger locations. This is typically the largest single cost component of a commercial EV charging project.
The program covers the following scope at no cost to the property owner:
Trenching & boring
Underground conduit runs from the electrical room to charger locations
Conduit & raceway
All conduit, junction boxes, and cable raceway
Electrical panel upgrades
Service entrance upgrades and panel expansion to support charging load
Wiring runs
Wire from the panel to each charger circuit termination
Make-ready pedestals
Physical mounting infrastructure at each charger location
WHAT IT DOES NOT COVER
- Charger equipment (covered separately by CALeVIP — up to $3,500 per L2 unit)
- Network management platform subscription fees
- Ongoing maintenance or charger repairs
- Charger installation labor after make-ready is complete
100%
of make-ready infrastructure costs covered for qualifying properties
Who Qualifies for SCE Charge Ready
SCE Charge Ready is available to commercial property owners and operators in SCE territory. Eligible property types include:
Multifamily Communities
5+ units. SCE Charge Ready Residential track covers apartment communities.
Retail & Shopping Centers
Commercial properties with shared parking and public-access charging.
Parking Structures & Lots
Standalone parking operations, parking garages, and surface lots.
Office & Commercial
Office parks, mixed-use, and commercial developments with employee or customer parking.
Fleet & Industrial
Properties with fleet vehicles requiring overnight or daytime charging.
Hospitality
Hotels, motels, and resort properties offering guest charging.
Your property must be in SCE territory. Most of the Inland Empire — Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and the Coachella Valley — is served by SCE. We verify utility territory and program eligibility for you during the free site assessment. Our consulting service handles the full Charge Ready application on your behalf.
How to Apply for SCE Charge Ready
Eligibility Check
Confirm your property is in SCE territory (most of the Inland Empire is) and that the project meets program requirements — commercial property, minimum number of ports, new or expanded charging infrastructure.
Pre-Application & Site Assessment
Submit a pre-application to SCE Charge Ready. A site assessment is required to document existing electrical infrastructure and determine make-ready scope. Gorgen provides this assessment and the required documentation as part of our service.
Program Enrollment & Design Approval
SCE reviews the pre-application and site assessment. Upon approval, they confirm the make-ready scope they will fund and issue a design approval. Timelines vary — typically 4–8 weeks from complete application to approval.
Installation & Completion
Make-ready infrastructure is installed. For Charge Ready Residential track, SCE's approved contractor network installs the make-ready. For the Charge Ready Commercial track, Gorgen coordinates directly with SCE and handles all installation scope. You pay nothing for the covered work.
Stacking Charge Ready with CALeVIP and 30C
Once make-ready is covered by Charge Ready, CALeVIP rebates (up to $3,500 per Level 2 charger) cover equipment costs. The federal 30C tax credit then applies to any remaining out-of-pocket costs at 30%. For qualifying multifamily properties with 10+ ports, the combination routinely brings net cost to near zero. We model the full incentive stack during your site assessment so you know your actual cost before you commit.
SCE Charge Ready — Common Questions
SCE Charge Ready is available to commercial properties in SCE territory — including multifamily apartment communities (5+ units), retail, office, and parking properties. The property must be installing new EV charging infrastructure or meaningfully expanding existing charging. Both Level 2 and DC fast charging projects are eligible, though different program tracks apply.
Yes. Charge Ready covers make-ready infrastructure (the wiring, conduit, trenching, panel upgrades). CALeVIP then covers charger equipment — up to $3,500 per Level 2 unit. The federal 30C tax credit covers 30% of the remaining hardware and installation costs. All three programs are designed to be used together. For qualifying multifamily properties, the combination can reduce net out-of-pocket cost to near zero.
From initial application to completed installation, most SCE Charge Ready projects take 4–8 months. The primary variable is SCE's program review and approval timeline — typically 4–12 weeks depending on application volume and project complexity. Permit processing (AB 1236 requires approval within 20 business days), installation scope, and final inspection all add time. We manage this timeline for you.
Charge Ready is available in cities served by Southern California Edison. Most of the Inland Empire — including Ontario, Riverside, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona, Fontana, Temecula, Murrieta, Moreno Valley, Hemet, and surrounding cities — is in SCE territory. A small number of areas are served by municipal utilities (e.g., Riverside Public Utilities for parts of Riverside). We confirm utility territory and program eligibility during the free site assessment.
You can submit a pre-application as a property owner or manager. However, the program requires a licensed electrical contractor to perform the work and provide documentation (load calculations, single-line drawings, permit records). Gorgen handles the full application package — pre-application, site documentation, design drawings, and coordination with SCE — as part of our service. Most property managers find the paperwork complex enough that contractor management is essential.
Ready to Add EV Charging to Your Property?
Gorgen handles everything from site assessment to installation. Get a free quote for your commercial property.
Get a Free Site AssessmentReady to Bring EV Charging to Your Property?
Gorgen handles everything from site assessment to installation. Get a free quote for your commercial property.
- Commercial-grade Level 2 and DC fast charger installation
- SCE Charge Ready eligible — $0 make-ready cost for qualifying properties
- Federal 30C tax credit covers 30% of installation costs
- Licensed C-10 Electrical Partners, EVITP certified, fully insured
- Serving all of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties