While electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity, a major barrier still exists for consumers interested in making the switch: range anxiety.
Without adequate charging infrastructure across the state, especially in rural areas, EV adoption will not reach its full potential.
This legislation works to increase access to electric refueling through improved EV-charging rate design, incentives, and programs, and greater certainty for the private charging market.
It requires reforms to electric utilities’ “Transportation Electrification Plans” to include specific rate designs and incentives for rural and low-income communities, establishes “make ready” grid upgrades for private charging companies, cutting their upfront costs, and solidifies market certainty and competition by curtailing where utilities can build their own charging infrastructure.
HB1225 passed out of the House 89-9, and SB407 cleared the Senate 37-2. Both bills became law July 1.