EV Charge SF: Get Up to $120,000 for EV Charging in San Francisco

In the last two years, one-third of car sales in San Francisco were EVs. San Francisco drivers are going electric, and they expect convenient charging where they live, work, and park. For property owners, that creates both a challenge and a major opportunity.

To help accelerate EV charging infrastructure, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) launched EV Charge SF, a generous incentive program that can provide up to $120,000 per site for installing EV charging at multifamily and commercial properties.

If your property is served by CleanPowerSF or Hetch Hetchy Power, EV Charge SF can offset most, if not all, of your EV charging project costs. As an SFPUC-authorized partner, PowerFlex helps you navigate the program from application to installation so you can maximize available funding and get chargers online quickly.

What Is EV Charge SF?

EV Charge SF is an EV charging incentive program from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission that supports:

• Existing buildings (multifamily and non-residential)
• New construction projects that go beyond San Francisco's EV readiness code
• Primarily Level 2 (L2) charging (with DC Fast Charging considered case-by-case)

The program is:

• Open and rolling as of January 2026
• First-come, first-served, with priority for 100% affordable housing when demand is high

You can find official program information on the SFPUC site at sfpuc.gov/EVChargeSF and in the program handbook and overview flyer.

Quick Reference: Incentive Amounts by Property Type

*New construction incentives vary based on whether stalls already have conduit/fully wired circuits. Affordable housing rates are higher.

For Affordable Housing Developers: Priority Funding & 100% Coverage

If you develop or operate 100% affordable housing in San Francisco, EV Charge SF is designed with you in mind. This program offers the highest per-stall incentives and priority reservation status when demand is high.

Why This Matters for Affordable Housing

• Highest incentives: Up to $5,400 per L2 charger (vs. $4,500 for marketrate)
• Up to 100% of eligible project costs covered (vs. 75% for market-rate)
• Priority reservation: If program demand exceeds 90% of annual funding, affordable housing projects get first claim on remaining incentives
• Site cap: Up to $120,000 per site, per year (vs. $100,000 for market-rate)

The Value Proposition

Providing EV charging at affordable housing properties removes a major barrier to EV adoption for lower-income residents. With EV Charge SF covering up to 100% of eligible costs, you can:

• Offer a modern, climate-friendly amenity that attracts and retains residents
• Reduce residents' transportation costs (EV charging is cheaper than gasoline)
• Meet corporate ESG and sustainability commitments
• Future-proof your properties as EV adoption accelerates and building codes tighten

PowerFlex works with affordable housing developers to maximize the number of stalls you can electrify, even with limited electrical capacity. Our free technical assistance (for projects with 4 or more stalls) helps you stretch your budget and serve more residents.

For Multifamily Owners & Managers (5+ Units): Attract & Retain Tenants

In San Francisco's competitive rental market, amenities matter. EV charging is no longer a luxury — it's becoming a tenant's expectation. EV Charge SF makes it affordable to add this high-value amenity to your properties.

Why This Matters for Multifamily

• Tenant demand: EV owners actively seek properties with charging
• Competitive advantage: Stand out in a crowded market and command higher rents
• Incentive coverage: Up to $4,500 per L2 charger (up to 75% of project cost)
• Flexibility: Shared or assigned stalls, public or private parking — the program is flexible
• Future-ready: Install conduit for future expansion at just $250 per stall

The Value Proposition

EV charging is a proven tenant retention tool. Properties with EV charging see higher occupancy rates and can justify premium rents. With EV Charge SF covering up to 75% of eligible costs (design, engineering, hardware, installation, panel upgrades), the ROI is compelling.

Whether you're managing a 10-unit building or a 500-unit portfolio, PowerFlex can help you:

• Determine the optimal number of chargers vs. outlets for your property
• Use load management and circuit sharing to maximize stalls without expensive panel upgrades
• Navigate the SFPUC application process and secure your incentive reservation
• Deliver a turnkey solution that's reliable and future-ready

For multifamily properties with 4+ stalls, free technical assistance is available to optimize your design and electrical strategy.

For Commercial Properties & Fleet Operators: Power Your Business

Whether you operate a retail chain, office building, parking garage, or municipal fleet, EV Charge SF can help you electrify employee parking, customer parking, or fleet vehicles without breaking the budget.

Who Qualifies

• Office buildings and corporate campuses
• Retail and mixed-use properties
• Restaurants and grocery stores
• Hotels and hospitality properties
• Parking garages and surface lots
• Fleet depots (private, municipal, school districts)
• Schools and universities
• Healthcare facilities
• Government and municipal facilities

The Value Proposition

EV charging is a business driver:

• Employee attraction & retention: Top talent expects EV charging at work
• Fleet cost savings: Electrify your fleet and reduce fuel and maintenance costs
• Customer experience: Retail and hospitality properties attract EV-driving customers
• ESG goals: Hit corporate sustainability targets while reducing emissions
• Incentive coverage: Up to $4,500 per L2 charger (up to 75% of project cost) or $2,000 per outlet (up to 100% of cost)

For fleet operators and large commercial properties, PowerFlex's free technical assistance (for 4+ stalls) is especially valuable. We help you:

• Design load management strategies to electrify more vehicles without costly electrical upgrades
• Optimize charger placement and network configuration
• Integrate with our PowerFlex X™ platform for intelligent charging and cost optimization
• Manage the SFPUC application and verification process

For New Construction: Go Beyond Code and Save

If you're developing a new multifamily or non-residential building in San Francisco, EV Charge SF incentivizes you to exceed the city's minimum EV readiness code — and the SFPUC picks up much of the cost.

Why This Matters for New Construction

• Beyond-code incentives: Get paid to install more chargers than code requires
• Longer reservation window: 24 months to complete construction (vs. 12 months for existing buildings)
• Future-ready: Install conduit and wiring for future expansion at reduced cost
• Market differentiation: New buildings with robust EV charging are more attractive to tenants and buyers
• Incentive amounts: $1,000–$2,400 per stall depending on whether conduit is already in place

The Value Proposition

San Francisco's EV Readiness Code requires some EV charging in new buildings. EV Charge SF rewards you for going beyond the minimum. If code requires 5 chargers, you can get incentives for chargers 6, 7, 8, and beyond.

This is a win-win:

• You build a more attractive, future-proof property
• Residents and tenants get the EV charging they expect
• The SFPUC helps fund the incremental cost of going beyond code
• Your building is positioned for the EV-dominant future

PowerFlex can help you:

• Determine the optimal EV charging strategy during design phase
• Coordinate with SFPUC to confirm beyond-code scope and incentive eligibility
• Integrate EV charging into your construction timeline and budget
• Ensure all equipment meets SFPUC requirements for funding approval

Why Partner With PowerFlex?

PowerFlex is an SFPUC-authorized partner for EV Charge SF. We specialize in turnkey EV charging solutions for multifamily, commercial, and public sector properties. Here's what we do:

1. Confirm Eligibility

• Verify CleanPowerSF or Hetch Hetchy Power service and qualifying rate
• Confirm property type and scope meets beyond-code requirements
• Assess electrical capacity and parking layout

2. Design the Optimal Project

• Determine the right mix of L2 chargers vs. outlets
• Use load management, circuit sharing, and smart outlets through our PowerFlex X™ platform to maximize stalls within existing capacity
• Plan for future expansion with conduit and power-sharing options
• Leverage free technical assistance (for 4+ stall projects)

3. Navigate the EV Charge SF Application Process

• Prepare enrollment and incentive agreements
• Document EV charging project scope
• Provide itemized cost estimates for all eligible expenses
• Coordinate W-9 and required paperwork
• Secure incentive reservation

4. Deliver Turnkey Installation

• Engineering, permitting, and construction management
• Hardware procurement and commissioning
• Integration with PowerFlex X™ for intelligent charging and cost optimization
• Network setup and activation

5. Support Verification & Long-Term Operation

• Provide post-construction documentation (photos, serial numbers, invoices)
• Ensure SFPUC branding is correctly installed
• Support operations and maintenance throughout the required 3-year period

Our goal is simple: help you capture the maximum incentive while building an EV charging solution that is reliable, future-ready, and cost-efficient.

High-Level Application & Project Timeline

While each project is unique, a typical EV Charge SF journey with PowerFlex looks like this:

1. Initial Consultation & Eligibility Check (1–2 weeks)

• Review property details, parking layout, and electrical capacity
• Confirm CleanPowerSF/Hetch Hetchy Power service and qualifying rate
• Discuss project scope and incentive potential

2. Project Scoping & Technical Assistance (2–4 weeks)

• For sites with 4+ stalls, leverage free technical assistance to optimize design
• Decide on number of stalls, chargers vs. outlets, and load management strategy
• Prepare cost estimates and project timeline

3. Application & Incentive Reservation (2–3 weeks)

• Submit enrollment agreement, incentive agreement, project scope, and W-9
• Secure incentive reservation (12 months for existing buildings, 24 months for new construction)

4. Construction & Commissioning (3–12 months, depending on scope)

• Complete installation within the reservation window
• Commission chargers and activate network/services
• Ensure SFPUC branding is installed

5. Verification & Incentive Payment (4–6 weeks)

• Submit itemized invoices, proof of payment, photos, serial numbers, and permit documentation
• Coordinate on-site verification with SFPUC as required
• Receive incentive payment after approval

Is EV Charge SF Right for Your Property?

You should strongly consider EV Charge SF if:

• You own or manage multifamily (5+ unit) or commercial properties in San Francisco
• Your properties are served by CleanPowerSF or Hetch Hetchy Power
• You're planning new construction or major renovations and want to exceed code
• You operate 100% affordable housing and want to provide equitable, low-carbon transportation options
• You're looking to electrify a fleet or offer employee EV charging without overloading your electrical infrastructure
• You want to attract and retain tenants, employees, or customers with modern EV charging amenities

Take the Next Step

EV Charge SF is one of the most generous local EV charging incentive programs in California, especially for affordable housing and multifamily properties. Funding is rolling and first-come, first-served, so early movers are best positioned to secure the highest incentives.

PowerFlex can guide you through every step, from eligibility assessment to installation and verification, helping you unlock up to $120,000 per site in EV charging incentives.

Ready to see if your San Francisco property qualifies? Contact PowerFlex for a free eligibility assessment and technical consultation