NARUC issues new report for state commissioners on EV infrastructure funding program

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) released a report to help state commissions on their roles related to the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI).

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program is a funding opportunity established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifically for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The NEVI program offers more than $5 billion in funding between 2022 and 2026 to private entities, such as utilities, to build EV Supply Equipment and support associated EV grid infrastructure.

The funding opportunities made available through NEVI are relevant to public utility commissioners as they oversee utility investments in the new national charging network. The report, the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program Brief for State Public Utility Commissioners, is designed to help commissioners ensure that utilities deploy infrastructure and technology that is efficient, reliable, safe and supports the scale and timeframe needed to benefit customers.

“Although commissions are not the lead agencies for NEVI implementation, the brief acts as a tool for commissioners to reference that not only describes the basics of this funding opportunity for states and utilities but also showcases roles that PUCs are playing in the rollout and how they can enable NEVI charging infrastructure,” Commissioner Katherine Peretick of the Michigan Public Service Commission and NARUC Electric Vehicle State Working Group chair said.

The NEVI brief includes a concise overview of the NEVI program; examples of public utility commission roles in the NEVI process; key considerations for PUCs related to enabling NEVI charging infrastructure; and a discussion of how NEVI charger buildouts could broadly influence technical requirements and standards for the EV charging industry and utilities.

“NARUC developed this NEVI brief as a practical resource that highlights key facts, status and at least nine topics where the federal requirements relate to decisions commissions are likely to make in their roles as utility regulators,” NARUC Center for Partnerships & Innovation Senior Director Danielle Sass Byrnett said.

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI) Brief for State Public Utility Commissioners was produced with support from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity and Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy.

“This NEVI program brief provides a significant amount of salient and valuable information in a way that is accessible to commissioners,” Commissioner Milt Doumit of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and NARUC Electric Vehicle State Working Group vice-chair said. “The brief is a useful tool to assist commissioners’ decision-making surrounding EV infrastructure investments and is especially relevant as transportation electrification continues to grow across the U.S.”