PennDOT, DEP Support Petition On Issuing A PUC Policy Statement On Electric Utility Rate Design For Electric Vehicle Charging

On April 11, the departments of Transportation and Environmental Protection wrote a joint letter to the Public Utility Commission supporting a rulemaking petition from ChargEVC-PA requesting the Commission to issue a Policy Statement on electric utility rate design for electric vehicle charging in PA.

The PUC published a notice March 12 inviting initial comments on the petition by April 11. Read more here.

“Based on information available in the EV Roadmap, DEP believes that effective rate design could result in an increased penetration of EVs which has the potential to provide significant environmental, health and climate benefits to Pennsylvania. 

“An effective EV rate design could reduce customer rates if increased electric usage is managed properly. 

“Further, a significant increase in the electrification of our transportation sector powered by domestic in-state electricity generated by Pennsylvanians, for Pennsylvanians, though an ever-increasing portion of clean energy resources is in the interest of both the PUC and our stakeholders. 

“DEP and PennDOT encourage the PUC to consider a wide range of parameters and solutions that will result in expanding utilization scenarios for all vehicle classes and use cases.”

“We encourage the Commission to use the official capacity process and format of a proceeding involving Electric Utility Rate design to advance discussions regarding benefits and opportunities of the coming electric vehicle ownership wave and how it may drive transformation of the electric distribution system’s use relative to electric vehicle (EV) charging.”

Click Here for a copy of the PennDOT/DEP letter.

Supporting Comments

Among the comments generally supporting the petition were--

-- Office Of Consumer Advocate

-- PPL Utilities

-- Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power, West Penn Power

-- PECO

-- NRDC, Sierra Club

Opposing Comments

Among the comments opposing the petition were--

-- NRG Energy, Interstate Gas Supply, Vistra Corp

Read comments submitted in response to the PUC notice at: Docket No. ​​P-2022-3030743.

Visit DEP’s Electric Vehicles In PA webpage for information on electrification of Pennsylvania’s transportation system.

Related Article This Week:

-- DEP Awards $2.1 Million In Grants For Electric Vehicles, Clean Fuel Transportation Projects 

Related Articles:

-- PUC Invites Comments On Petition To Issue A Policy Statement On Electric Utility Rate Design For Electric Vehicle Charging

-- PennDOT Hosts April 27 Teleconference On State Plan For National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Funding

[Posted: April 16, 2022]  PA Environment Digest