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Can you explain California's different V2G programs, i.e.--those that allow me to get paid for exporting EV power to the grid?

For bidirectional charging in California, two emerging programs used to earn money. Here’s a simple way to understand them.

1. ELRP – EV/VGI Aggregator Pilot

Best understood as: “Get paid a flat, high rate for reducing load during summer grid events.”

  • Who qualifies: Aggregations of residential or commercial customers in the investor-owned utility (IOU) territories.
  • When it matters: Typically 4–9 PM, May through October, during 30–60 grid stress events.
  • How charging is billed: Whatever standard rate the customer already has (TOU, EV rate, etc.).
  • What you earn for exporting: A flat $2 per kWh of load reduction.
  • Why it’s attractive: It’s predictable, simple, and among the highest export credits available for V2X today.

2. DSGS – Option 3

Best understood as: “Keep your normal import rate, but earn structured capacity payments for being available.”

  • Who qualifies: Any California customer not already participating in ELRP or similar programs.
  • When it matters: Also summer evenings (4–9 PM, May–Oct), with an estimated 30–60 events.
  • How charging is billed: Standard TOU or EV import rates.
  • What you earn for exporting:
    • Up to $80/kW (summer) for providing a 4-hour discharge window
    • Up to $60/kW (summer) for a 2-hour window
  • Why it’s attractive: Customers are paid based on capacity—the amount of power their car or battery can reliably commit—rather than per kWh exported. It rewards being consistently available.

For the pilot, we will have customers assigned to one of these two programs. We will be distributing customers across the rates based on our best estimate of how to maximize your income. 

  • ELRP → High, simple, per-kWh payments for summer events
  • DSGS Option 3 → Capacity payments for being reliably available during events

As California moves toward a more flexible, distributed grid, these pilots are shaping how EVs become active grid assets—and how customers get rewarded for participating.