DALLAS – Two new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations powered up at Dallas City Hall Feb. 27, compliments of retail electricity provider TXU Energy. The stations are the first of five EV charging stations that will be available to city employees and the public across Dallas.

The new stations are part of the TXU Energy EV Accelerator Program, which is the company’s effort to help jump-start EV programs in Texas. The company is investing in about a dozen charging stations across the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. The locations and type of charging station equipment will be selected by each city, and TXU Energy will fund the cost of the charging station equipment, infrastructure, installation — and the electricity used to power EVs for the first year.

“Electric vehicles are a clean, efficient form of transportation, and they are going to play an increasingly important role in our transportation portfolio,” said Gabe Castro, vice president of business markets, TXU Energy. “We’re glad to do our part to help customers like the City of Dallas realize the promise of these vehicles.”

According to Linda Koop, Dallas City Council member and chair of the transportation and environment committee, EV charging station areas are also planned at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library and the Dallas Museum of Art, and they support the city’s goals of becoming a sustainable community with a clean, healthy environment.

“The City of Dallas provides services to 1.3 million residents, and our goal is to make sure that we meet those needs in an efficient and effective manner,” said Koop. “These charging stations help us meet our goal of serving our communities and protecting the environment.”

As part of the company’s three-year contract with the City of Dallas, TXU Energy also gave the city an electric vehicle and is making $800,000 in energy efficiency rebates available.

These rebates are part of the BrightenGreenBack rebate program, which will help the city install proven energy efficiency technologies, such as fluorescent fixture retrofits, LED exit signs, control system upgrades and high-efficiency HVACs. TXU Energy is the only retail electricity provider in Texas to offer energy rebate programs to businesses looking to help the environment and reduce energy costs.