Failed bill would keep public charging costs off utility bills

Retail electric suppliers would have to keep public charging station costs out of rates and prevent customer revenue from supporting those stations. It would apply to retail electric suppliers, including utilities. The rule covers costs to build, install, operate, own, or maintain electric vehicle charging stations. The bill would take effect after publication in the statute book if enacted; it died in committee.

A retail electric supplier operating a public charging station would have to use a separate private business and keep separate accounts. This would apply when a retail electric supplier builds, installs, operates, owns, or maintains a station for public use. The separate business would have to offer charging services on equal terms and conditions to those offered to private charging providers in its service area. Suppliers could still provide the electrical equipment needed by stations and sell them electricity. They could operate stations solely for their own fleet if those stations were not open to the public. The bill would take effect after publication in the statute book if enacted; it died in committee.

Each retail electric supplier would have to maintain a charging rate schedule based on electricity used, with alternatives to demand-based charges. The schedules would cover electricity supplied to electric vehicle charging station operators. The schedule would set the terms and charges for electricity sold to charging station operators. Suppliers under state commission jurisdiction would have to file schedules for commission approval or amendment; other suppliers would have to publish them. The initial schedule was due by October 1, 2025. Each schedule would remain in effect until replaced; the bill died in committee.