On April 24, 2018, the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) initiated a new proceeding as part of New York’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) to explore the role of electric utilities in providing infrastructure and rate design to accommodate the needs and electricity demand of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure.

Key Details

• The proceeding consolidates multiple initiatives to ensure a coordinated approach between state agencies, stakeholders, and electric utilities to achieve the state’s goals
  • NY State Energy Plan has set an objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030
  • De-carbonization of the transportation sector would play a key role in achieving this objective
• The proceeding will:
  • Explore ways to cost-effectively build EV infrastructure
  • Determine whether utility tariff changes will be needed to support EV development
  • Identify steps to obtain grid services and system value from EVs and EV supply equipment (e.g., chargers)
  • Identify other initiatives to encourage adoption of EVs
• The proceeding will also investigate the characteristics of EV charging systems and their potential role as a distributed energy resource in a manner not yet captured by the REV Initiative
• New York electric utilities, stakeholder groups, and state agencies have proposed multiple initiatives to accelerate adoption of EVs
  • The electric utilities are in the process of drafting an “EV Readiness Framework” that will outline the near- and mid-term objectives and actions to unlock the potential of transportation electrification
  • The New York Power Authority and other NY agencies recently filed a petition with the PSC to eliminate demand charges for DC fast-charging stations that may create economic barriers to entry for these stations

Implications

NY PSC’s new proceeding recognizes that gaining traction with EV adoption is a challenging task. A multi-stakeholder, multi-initiative approach holds promise to resolve complex barriers.

More information:

NY PSC: Proceeding on Motion of the Commission Regarding Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment and Infrastructure.
Utility Dive: New York regulators to mull advancing EV market with new proceeding

This report is part of ScottMadden’s Clean Tech and Sustainability Minute series. To view all featured Minutes, please click here.

Additional Contributing Author: Talha Sheikh