D.C. Asks for Comment on Regulatory Treatment for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Service Providers

The District of Columbia PSC has opened a Notice of Inquiry regarding overarching issues relating to regulatory treatment of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and related services, and issued a series of initial questions for stakeholder comment (FC 1096).

The PSC's launch of an investigation of EV regulatory issues was first reported by Matters.

Of note is that the PSC asks for comment on, "How should the owner/operators of EV charging stations be regulated, if at all, in light of the Commission's jurisdiction over 'electric companies' and 'electric suppliers'?"

The PSC noted that "electric company" is defined to "include[] every corporation, company, association, joint-stock company or association, partnership, or person and doing business in the District of Columbia ... physically transmitting or distributing electricity in the District of Columbia to retail electric customers."

"Electric supplier" is defined as, "a person, including an aggregator, broker, or marketer, who generates electricity; sells electricity; or purchases, brokers, arranges or, markets electricity for sale to customers."

The PSC also asked what type and level of information about EV charging station installation and operations does Pepco need to plan for load growth in the distribution system and to ensure its safe and reliable operations and asked, if the Commission does not regulate the owner/operators of EV charging stations, how might Pepco best obtain the required information.

Additionally, the PSC asked whether EV rates should use alternative rate structures such as Time-of-Use, Real-Time-Pricing, or other dynamic pricing to encourage EV charging patterns that will reduce the impact on the distribution grid.

Citing U.S. Department of Energy data, the PSC said that there are 15 public EV charging stations active in the District.