No more EV charger subsidies
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elephants graveyard
Eversource has been running a rebate/subsidy program for “underserved neighborhoods”, but no more.
This was then:
EV charging for all
Our Electric Mobility Team was created in 2022 to focus on making EV charging more accessibility for underserved populations by providing rebates for multifamily properties and enhanced installation incentives for residential, commercial and industrial customers in distressed communities.
In 2022, 44% of the program’s commercial rebates were utilized in disadvantaged communities, helping make sure that everyone can access an EV charger if they need one.
The subsides were not only going to slums, but along highways and commercial buildings, but no more.
This is now:
Regulatory treatment for the continued build-up of deferred program costs is creating uncertainty and risk for further investment to promote the EV programs. With an unpredictable state regulatory environment, Eversource must focus its available investment resources on the safe and reliable delivery of electric service to customers. As a result, the energy company has informed the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) that it will suspend its continued, up-front funding of incentives for Residential, Commercial Level 2 and DC Fast charging programs until such time that PURA establishes a secure, timely, and adequate funding mechanism to provide the revenues necessary to support these programs.
“Continued participation in these programs could place critically needed capital resources at risk and hinder our ability to support electric operations that our customers rely on every day,” said Eversource Vice President of Distribution Rates and Regulatory Requirements Doug Horton. “Historically, we’ve laid out the funding up front to carry out these programs on behalf of our customers looking to convert to electric vehicles, but through recent decisions and public comments, PURA has made it clear the agency does not see it as necessary to support state policy with its ratemaking policies. The regulatory authority’s record of unreasonable, arbitrary decisions to deny reimbursements for costs incurred in good faith on behalf of customers is creating uncertainty and risk for new investments. We are eager to resume our EV programs once PURA establishes a rate treatment that is supportive of these continued program outlays. In the meantime, we are conducting proactive outreach to collaborate on worthwhile initiatives we can proceed with.”
