Retail Choice Regulator Releases Straw Proposal That Would Allow Utilities To Offer Managed Charging (DR, Energy Management) To Residential EV Customers

January 8, 2021

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Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

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The Connecticut PURA issued Straw Electric Vehicle (EV) Program Design that would allow EDCs to provide managed charging for EV drivers at single-family residences

The straw proposal provides that, for single-family residences with EVs, "The EDCs will administer a three-tiered managed charging program that enables residential customers to choose their desired participation level."

Some of the services under managed charging may be offered by a third-party provider, but the EDCs will offer services as well

"The EDCs will be directed to launch the tiered managed charging program for residential single-family EV drivers no later than January 1, 2022. As a condition of receiving a networked Level 2 charger rebate, all program participants will be required to enroll in one of the managed charging program offerings, described below. In addition, all program participants must allow their EDC to access charger data. The EDCs shall aggregate program participants’ charger data to implement the program, analyze usage patterns, and track program metrics," the straw proposal provides

"The EDCs will develop programs that provide the following options to program participants to select based on their preferred level of engagement and charging behavior. The tiers are not intended to overlap. In other words, each offering stands on its own; however, all residential EV drivers in this program area will also separately be able to opt in to an EV-only TOU rate if not already specifically prescribed below," the straw proposal provides

• Baseline (passive) – Participants will enroll in an EV-only TOU rate offered by their EDC (see below for details) on an opt-out basis. In addition, participants will be automatically enrolled to receive notifications from their EDC, or a third-party aggregator, with periodic prompts to shift charging during demand response events to off-peak periods. Participation in demand response events is voluntary, and no additional incentive will be provided.

• Intermediate (demand response) – Participants are automatically enrolled in a demand response (DR) program, administered by their EDC, or by a third-party aggregator. The DR program administrator will provide advance notification of an upcoming DR event, through a phone application or web portal, enabling the participant to opt-out. Participants who do not opt out will receive a $20 performance incentive for each DR event they participate in (i.e., the participant’s EV was otherwise scheduled to charge), up to a maximum incentive of $200 annually. The incentives will be applied annually in the form of a credit on customer bills.

• Advanced (direct load control) – Participants elect to actively engage with their EDC to optimize at-home EV charging for the grid, while adhering to minimum EV charging parameters set by the participant. Participants will schedule charging sessions through a phone application or web portal, and the EDCs will have the ability to curtail the rate of charging scheduled to occur during a series of identified DR events. Residential EV drivers participating in this advanced managed charging offering for at least twelve months will receive a rebate for the full cost of their networked Level 2 charger, up to $1,000.

"The Authority will establish a working group to finalize managed charging program implementation details, including, establishing participation targets for each managed charging tier, program parameters for administering a DR and direct load control program, potential EDC participation in the wholesale market, and other key implementation matters. The EDCs will be directed to initiate the working group upon issuance of a Decision in this proceeding to inform the launch of a tiered managed charging program no later than January 1, 2022. The Program Administrators shall develop the appropriate program rules, in consultation with the working group, and submit such program rules and/or documents for the Authority’s approval on or before August 2, 2021," the straw proposal provides

As noted above, under the straw proposal, the EDCs will be directed to establish an EV-only TOU rate for residential customers for at home charging for Authority approval. The EDCs will propose modifications to their existing on-peak and off-peak periods based on an analysis of EV charging use patterns and load shapes to increase, or at least maintain, the grid utilization rate. In addition, a multi-tiered rate structure (e.g., on-peak, off-peak, and super off-peak periods) may be included in the tariff design.

For multi-unit dwellings (MUDs), the straw proposal provides that the Authority may consider integrating a managed charging program at MUDs beginning in the 2025-2027 program cycle.

The straw proposal provides that the EDCs will be required to propose a managed charging program for non-residential light-duty fleets to be implemented during the 2025-2027 program cycle.

Docket 17-12-03RE04

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