2014 -- H 7726

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LC004889

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF ENERGY RESOURCES TO ISSUE A

REPORT DESCRIBING ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS

REGULATORY ISSUES AFFECTING ELECTRIC VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Representatives Ruggiero, Walsh, Ferri, Handy, and Marshall

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     WHEREAS, Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) have tremendous potential to reduce

residents' and business' expenditures on imported gasoline and diesel and advance the state's

clean energy and climate goals. There is an urgent need for the State of Rhode Island to provide

clear guidance for PEV owners, utilities, regulators, third-party providers, and other stakeholders,

and to facilitate and prepare for large-scale PEV adoption in a manner that provides consumer

and environmental benefits to the maximum extent possible; and

     WHEREAS, The Transportation & Climate Initiative, a regional collaboration of 12

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic jurisdictions that seeks to develop the clean energy economy and

reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, cites a recent Pike Research survey

highlighting that the Providence-New Bedford-Fall River metropolitan area is likely to have high

penetration rates or absolute sales of electric vehicles relative to the national average; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is including PEVs in its annual purchase of state cars and

trucks and is also allowing cities and towns to participate in PEV procurement; and

     WHEREAS, The Office of Energy Resources completed installation of 50 Level 2 (240

volt) electric vehicle supply equipment throughout Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Increasing the use of electricity for transportation through the large-scale

adoption of PEVs represents a significant opportunity to further important state policy goals to

reduce transportation expenditure on imported gasoline and diesel, boost economic activity by

keeping more of our energy dollars in state, diversify our transportation fuel networks, reduce

greenhouse gas pollution, and reduce criteria air pollutants; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (Office) is well suited to

consider and make recommendations regarding the structural reforms necessary to ensure that

PEVs are integrated into the electric system in a manner that enhances distribution system

reliability, minimizes costs, and protects consumers; and

     WHEREAS, The Office has launched a working group to investigate grid modernization

which will address many of the issues involved with deployment of PEVs; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations, in order to plan for increased electricity demand associated with PEVs,

hereby respectfully requests The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources to commence an

investigation of the issues affecting PEVs with the goals of facilitating PEV adoption,

maintaining and enhancing system reliability, minimizing cost, and maximizing environmental

benefits. In its investigation, the Office shall seek public input and may coordinate its

investigation with its own effort to address grid modernization, including coordination with any

grid modernization working group convened by the Office; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House hereby respectfully requests the Office to issue a report, on

or before April 15, 2015, that provides recommendations to advance the goals described herein

including recommendations for regulatory action and to address the following issues:

     • Establishing guiding principles to inform decision-making for plug-in electric vehicle

issues;

     • Establish a schedule for forecasting loads as PEVs are integrated into the system,

including the impact of PEVs charging on electric demand and transmission and distribution

facilities during periods of peak demand. This process should result in an understanding of the

infrastructure and energy costs associated with PEVs. There is also a need to explore the

interaction between PEV infrastructure needs and other grid modernization efforts;

     • Establish reporting and analysis requirements for utilities over time;

     • Identify rate-setting mechanisms, including time-variable rate design for residential

customers, to encourage PEV owners to maximize vehicle charging during periods of lower

impact on the grid in order to minimize costly investments in distribution infrastructure;

     • Explore the implications of allowing for the purchase of stored energy back from

electric vehicle owners (vehicle-to-grid) and changes to rates and standards that would facilitate

this;

     • Develop procedures for accelerated utility review and service upgrades related to PEVs;

     • Define regulatory treatment for non-utility, third-party transportation electricity

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providers;

     • Establish requirements for consumer education for PEV owners concerning vehicle

charging costs, residential charging infrastructure installation, protecting the reliability of the

distribution system, and other challenges that new PEV owners may face;

     • Determine appropriate policies for competition and market forces;

     • Address the issues related to the provision of electricity by non-utilities for delivery of

PEV charging, and clarify whether companies that procure electricity at wholesale will be subject

to the same set of regulations and requirements as any other entity wishing access to wholesale

markets directly; and

     • Require coordination, to the maximum extent practicable, with other New England

states to maximize consistency among state policies; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House hereby respectfully requests the Office to issue a report

describing its findings and recommendations to address regulatory issues affecting electric

vehicles to the General Assembly on or before April 15, 2015; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of The Rhode Island Office

of Energy Resources.

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LC004889

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