State Regulatory Activity Impacting EV Charging

Across the United States, investor-owned utilities are legally authorized to operate without any competition from other companies in set geographic service areas. In exchange for their monopolies, electric utilities must agree to regulation by state regulatory entities often referred to as Public Utilities Commissions or PUCs. This structure began to emerge in the early 20th century, and it is commonly referred to as the “regulatory compact.” Each state has a PUC that oversees electric utility investments and approves the rates that utilities charge to end-users of electricity. Through this structure electric utilities are granted a guaranteed rate of return on any investments that the PUC approves.

Most investor-owned utilities propose investments through rate cases or resource planning proceedings that occur on a routine basis. Occasionally these proceedings include proposals related to electric vehicle charging infrastructure. These proceedings are open to the public, but in order to have a formal seat at the table entities usually have to “intervene” to be considered a party to the docket.

AACE has formally intervened in several proceedings across the country both to support or oppose various electric utility proposals. In an effort to provide more awareness to the public about regulatory proceedings that deal with electric vehicle charging infrastructure, we have identified several important dockets from around the country. Please see a list of relevant dockets below, some of them have closed but some are ongoing.