Or. Admin. Code § 340-270-0430 - Requirements for Charge Ahead Program Rebates

(1) A person may only apply for a Charge Ahead rebate if the person:

(a) Owns or leases a vehicle that meets the requirements established in OAR 340-270-0410;

(b) If leasing a vehicle, has a minimum lease term of 24 months;

(c) Intends to retain the registration of the eligible vehicle for a minimum of 24 consecutive months after the purchase or lease date; and

(d) Is an Oregon resident.

(2) To qualify for a Charge Ahead rebate, an applicant must:

(a) Apply using a form approved by DEQ;

(b) Provide information and documentation sufficient to allow DEQ to verify that the applicant purchased or leased a vehicle that meets the requirements established in OAR 340-270-0410;

(c) Provide sufficient information to allow DEQ to determine that:

(A) For vehicles purchased or leased prior to January 1, 2022, the applicant is a member of a low or moderate-income household during the year the vehicle was purchased or leased. DEQ will rely on documentation of an applicant's household income from the year the vehicle was purchased or leased or, if that information is unavailable or inadequate, from a previous year. DEQ will rely on the most recent area median income determinations of the Housing and Community Services Department available at the time of application; or

(B) For vehicles purchased or leased on or after January 1, 2022, that either:

(i) The applicant is a member of a qualifying household during the year the vehicle was purchased or leased. DEQ will rely on documentation of an applicant's household income from the year the vehicle was purchased or leased or, if that information is unavailable or inadequate, from a previous year. DEQ will rely on the most recent federal poverty level determinations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services available at the time of application; or

(ii) The applicant is a low-income service provider during the year the vehicle was purchased or leased. The applicant must provide documentation that demonstrates to DEQ's satisfaction that the applicant is a low-income service provider, as defined in OAR 340-270-0030(9).

(d) Purchase or lease an eligible vehicle from a vehicle dealer or from an original equipment manufacturer, that does not have licensed franchised new automobile dealers in Oregon;

(e) Provide proof of registration of the vehicle that meets the requirements established in OAR 340-270-0410 in Oregon;

(f) Submit an application within 6 months after the vehicle purchase or lease date;

(g) Provide any additional information and documentation requested by DEQ that is necessary to ascertain that the applicant qualifies for a rebate;

(h) Provide information requested by DEQ that DEQ determines is necessary to ascertain that the person is not buying, selling, or leasing vehicles in a manner that circumvents the intent of the Charge Ahead Program, including an attestation that the person has not in the past owned or leased the vehicle for which a rebate is sought; and

(i) Participate in ongoing research efforts and surveys regarding the program.

(3) Recipients may assign the rebate to a vehicle dealer, or to an original equipment manufacturer that does not have licensed franchised new automobile dealers in Oregon. The limit established in subsection (5) of this rule does not apply to vehicle dealers or automobile manufacturers who receive rebate assignments as required by this section.

(4) Recipients may not make or allow any modifications to the vehicle's emission-control systems, hardware, or software calibrations, or the vehicle's hybrid system.

(5) A low income service provider that applies for a rebate is limited to 10 rebates per calendar year.

(6) The application review process established by OAR 230-270-0200 applies to applications for Charge Ahead rebates.

(7) The vehicle ownership requirements established by OAR 230-270-0300 apply to Charge Ahead Rebates.

(8) DEQ will conduct community outreach to qualifying households and low-income service providers, in order to:

(a) Solicit feedback on program implementation; and

(b) Take steps to ensure the program is promoted effectively.

(9) A person shall not submit an application for a vehicle for both a standard rebate and for a rebate under the Zero Emission Rebates for Oregon Fleets program, as established in OAR 340-270-0030 and OAR 340-270-0600 through OAR 340-270-0700. If potentially eligible for both a standard rebate and a rebate under the Zero Emissions Rebates for Oregon Fleets program, the person can choose which rebate to apply for, if any.

Notes

Or. Admin. Code § 340-270-0430

DEQ 186-2018, adopt filed 05/14/2018, effective 5/14/2018; DEQ 21-2019, temporary amend filed 09/27/2019, effective 9/29/2019 through 3/26/2020; DEQ 2-2020, amend filed 01/24/2020, effective 1/24/2020; DEQ 19-2021, temporary amend filed 11/17/2021, effective 1/1/2022 through 6/29/2022; DEQ 6-2022, amend filed 05/19/2022, effective 5/19/2022; DEQ 15-2024, amend filed 09/30/2024, effective 9/30/2024

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 468.020, 2017 Or. Law Ch. 750 Sec. 148-157, House Bill 4059 (2018), Sec. 18-21 & House Bill 2592 (2019), Sec. 35-37

Statutes/Other Implemented: 2017 Or. Law Ch. 750 Sec. 148-157, House Bill 4059 (2018), Sec. 18-21, House Bill 2592 (2019), Sec. 35-37 & 2021 Or. Laws, Ch. 95, §§ 4a, 5, 6, 8 and 9