Charge Ready Programs – Frequently Asked Easement Questions
1. Why do I have to sign an easement agreement and what does that mean? Does it interfere with any ownership rights of the property? An easement gives Southern California Edison the right to install and maintain the required electrical infrastructure to power the EV chargers.
2. What is the size of the easement? SCE's easements are designed to accommodate the area within which our systems are installed and to facilitate reasonable access to these systems for maintenance and repair.
3. Is this easement in perpetuity? Yes. However, if the customer requests to cancel participation in the program, they may request removal of SCE owned equipment and petition SCE to quitclaim and release the easement.
4. Can a customer redline the easement agreement? Is it a fixed agreement or is there flexibility to make edits? The easement is a condition of service and is generally not negotiable.
5. Is the easement necessary to participate in a Charge Ready program? In most cases where new SCE infrastructure will be installed on a customer’s property, SCE will need to acquire an easement.
6. Will an easement make it more difficult or complex to sell the property? Most properties are already subject to various easements to provide for the installation and maintenance of utilities.
7. Is the easement transferrable, and how do I notify SCE to remove my name and replace it with the new owner name in the case of a sale? The easement runs with the property regardless of any property sale/transfer. Owner takes the property subject to the easement.
8. If a customer cannot do an easement, what other options are available to participate in Charge Ready programs? If the property owner is precluded from granting an easement, the owner may provide a comprehensive explanation and an alternative method by which real property rights for the required infrastructure may be provided which will be elevated to SCE's counsel for review.
9. Does easement allow SCE to enter buildings? Not typically but SCE shall have free access/maintenance/operational capabilities of the electrical infrastructure which may include access to adjacent out buildings/structures where electrical infrastructure is contained. (i.e.
Parking structures and/or site electrical maintenance buildings).
10. If my business expands, am I allowed to build over (or under) SCE’s easement? Is it allowable, and could I do it without interfering with SCE’s equipment? No permanent building structures are allowed. Certain structures are allowed within the easement area as long as it does not interfere with SCE’s free access/maintenance/operational capabilities of the electrical infrastructure and will require plan review.
11. Does this provide SCE the right to build a fence or a gate on my property? Depends on the circumstances but EV infrastructure typically doesn’t require fencing or gates. If a customer plans to install fencing in the easement area, the plans should be reviewed by SCE prior to construction.
12. If I choose to install additional chargers, will the easement need to be updated or will a new easement be required? Final Design would determine easement requirements. Only if the new EV infrastructure requires new area outside of the existing easement.
SH 6/3/2021