In re Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Related Services

The staff of the Public Service Commission of Maryland (the commission) requested an investigation into the regulation of electric vehicle (EV) charging-station providers. Public Utilities Article (PUA) § 7-211(m) required the commission to establish a pilot program encouraging the charging of EVs during off-peak hours. Baltimore Gas and Electric and the Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) filed proposals. The commission held a legislative-style hearing to consider EV pilot-program proposals and the comments and analysis filed in response. Baltimore Gas’s pilot-program proposal offered time-of-use (TOU) rates for certain EV owners within its service territory. Time-of-use rates charged customers lower rates for electricity consumed during off-peak hours. Baltimore Gas claimed its program was revenue neutral, which meant Baltimore Gas’s revenue would remain unchanged, and its customers would incur no additional costs. Baltimore Gas’s service territory contained about 400 EV owners though not all qualified for time-of-use rates. Pepco’s pilot-program proposal offered three programs. One of the programs provided EV owners in Pepco’s service territory who did not have EV-charging equipment with a Level II charging station and second meter for measuring electric usage for EV charging. Pepco’s proposal was estimated to cost $1.1 million, which would have been passed mostly onto ratepayers (utility customers). Pepco’s service area contained 600 EV owners. The commission carefully considered the strengths and weaknesses of both proposals.