Electric Car Charging Stations Coming to Heart of Oil Country in Texas

A U.S. utility is planning to build a network of electric vehicle charging stations in Houston that would be available to subscribers for a flat fee, the first such network of its kind in the nation. NRG Energy Inc., a New Jersey-based power company, plans to install private and public charging stations across the city, at a cost of $10 million. For $49 per month, customers would receive their own private charging station; for $79 per month, they would have access to a network of 50 stations located across the city at retail locations, such as Best Buy and Walgreens. With more electric vehicles rolling onto U.S. roads, the company said it sees an opportunity to be part of the growing market to power vehicles. If the Houston model works, the company said it will build similar networks in other major U.S. cities, including New York and Dallas. Initially, NRG will focus on states where the retail electricity industry is deregulated, including Texas. “That’s a very attractive market for the electricity industry,” said David Crane, NRG’s president and CEO.