Legislation offering financial incentives for utilities to build electric vehicle (EV) charging-station infrastructure was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee last week. The measure was sponsored by state Rep. Chad Magendanz, R-Issaquah.
“We’re addressing one of the major impediments to increasing EV purchases and use: a lack of charging stations,” said Magendanz.
“My vision is for utility customers to be able to simply request an EV charging station for their garage, just like they’d request a cable modem installation from the cable company. Because there’s no up-front cost to the ratepayer or property owner, many of the current obstacles to charging at home or work will disappear.
“The end result, we believe, will be more people driving EVs and fewer pollutants in our air.”
Under the new measure, the state Utilities and Transportation Commission can allow utilities to realize a limited rate of return on investments in EV charging stations and related infrastructure.
Magendanz said the legislation essentially restores the incentive a power company would normally have to invest in equipment that would increase its sales, but that have been eliminated through conservation programs. Utilities have the expertise and purchasing power to dramatically reduce costs of this essential infrastructure build-out, he said, and can break down barriers to EV ownership in high-density regions with condos, apartments and office buildings where getting garage chargers installed can be more difficult.
