PUC Proceeds With Crafting Policy Statement On Electric Utility Rate Design For EV Charging
On May 18, 2023, the PUC Commissioners voted 5-0 to initiate a proceeding that will result in the issuance of a policy statement on EV charging rate design, directing the PUC’s Law Bureau and Bureau of Technical Utility Services to prepare a proposed policy statement for consideration.
The PUC convened the EV charging working group and sought comments and input from concerned parties in response to a petition filed in 2022 by a coalition focused on EV adoption and development in Pennsylvania. The PUC working group brought together more than 20 entities, including utilities, consumer advocates, Pennsylvania state agencies, EV manufacturers, businesses, environmental organizations, trade groups (including the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association) and other concerned parties, to discuss issues related to utility rate design for EV charging and gather input.
PPA served the PUC working group to represent the interests of motor fuel companies who are (or at some point would be) interested in entering the EV Charging retail space. The primary comments presented by our group included:
1. Opposition to electric utilities being able subsidize the buildout of the EV charging networks utilizing general rate payer assessments.
2. Opposition to public utilities of owning or operating their own retail charging stations.
3. Support of the creation of rate structure that would provide convenience stores and other retailers a level playing field in the entry to the EV charging business.
Click here to view the original letter submitted by the PPA. Some of the primary points made by the PPA and fuel retailers were incorporated into the final working document. Click here to view the combined recommendations of the electric vehicle charging rate design working group that was submitted to the PUC for consideration.
The proposed policy statement on utility rate design for EV charging will be considered at a future PUC public meeting. The PPA will continue to monitor this rate design case.
