HB3243 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 13194 SPS 18538 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB3243

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Natalie A. Manley

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Act. Provides that within 90 days after the effective date of the Act, electric utilities serving more than 500,000 customers in the State shall file a proposal with the Illinois Commerce Commission to establish a commercial tariff utilizing alternatives to traditional demand-based rate structures to facilitate charging for light duty, heavy duty, and fleet electric vehicles and that support integration of renewable energy resources. Provides that no later than one year after the effective date of the Act, and every 3 years thereafter, electric utilities shall file a Transportation Electrification Plan with the Commission. Specifies information that an electric utility must include in the Transportation Electrification Plan. Provides that the Commission shall open an investigation into each electric utility's Transportation Electrification Plan to determine if the proposed plan is in the public interest.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Act.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) widespread adoption of electric vehicles is necessary to diversify the transportation fuel mix, drive economic development, improve national security, and protect air quality;

(2) the number of electric vehicles registered in Illinois has doubled over the last 2 years and, with expanded infrastructure investment, future growth is projected to accelerate;

(3) this growth will be assisted by private investments in charging equipment and electric utility investments to increase access to electricity as a transportation fuel;

(4) widespread adoption of electric vehicles should increase access to charging equipment throughout Illinois, including in low-income, moderate-income, and environmental justice communities where the air pollution burden is felt most heavily;

(5) widespread adoption of electric vehicles and charging equipment should provide customers with fuel cost savings and electric utility customers with potential cost-saving benefits;

(6) widespread adoption of electric vehicles should stimulate innovation, competition, private investment, and increased choices in charging equipment and networks; and

(7) widespread adoption of electric vehicles should improve an electric utility's electric system efficiency and operational flexibility, including the ability of the electric utility to integrate renewable energy resources and make use of off-peak generation resources that support the operation of charging equipment.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Commission" means the Illinois Commerce Commission.

"Make-ready infrastructure" means the electrical and construction work necessary between the distribution circuit to the connection point of charging equipment to facilitate private investment in charging equipment.

Section 15. Commercial tariff. Within 90 days after the effective date of this Act, electric utilities serving more than 500,000 customers in this State shall file a proposal with the Commission to establish a commercial tariff utilizing alternatives to traditional demand-based rate structures to facilitate charging for light-duty, heavy-duty, and fleet electric vehicles and that support integration of renewable energy resources.

Section 20. Transportation Electrification Plan. No later than one year after the effective date of this Act, and every 3 years thereafter, electric utilities serving more than 500,000 customers in this State shall file a Transportation Electrification Plan with the Commission for programs that start no later than July 1, 2022. The Transportation Electrification Plan shall specifically address, at minimum, the following:

(1) investments or incentives to facilitate the deployment of charging equipment through programs to support make-ready infrastructure and rebates for charging equipment, including plans to address environmental justice interests and the provision of opportunities for residents and businesses in environmental justice communities to directly benefit from transportation electrification;

(2) investments or incentives to facilitate the electrification of public transit and other vehicle fleets in the light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty sectors;

(3) additional rate designs to support public and private electric vehicle charging;

(4) customer education, outreach, and incentive programs that increase awareness of the programs and the benefits of transportation electrification, including direct outreach to diverse communities; and

(5) financial and other challenges to electric vehicle usage in low-income communities and strategies for overcoming those challenges.

Section 25. Review and approval. The Commission shall open an investigation into each electric utility's Transportation Electrification Plan to determine if the proposed plan is in the public interest. When considering if the plan is in the public interest and determining cost recovery for investments and expenditures related to programs proposed by an electric utility, the Commission shall consider whether the investments and other expenditures are:

(1) reasonably expected to increase access to charging equipment and electricity as a transportation fuel throughout this State, including in low-income, moderate-income, and environmental justice communities;

(2) reasonably expected to stimulate innovation, competition, private investment, and increased consumer choices in electric vehicle charging equipment and networks;

(3) reasonably expected to contribute to meeting air quality standards, including improving air quality in environmental justice communities most affected by emissions from the transportation sector;

(4) reasonably expected to support the efficient and cost-effective use of the electric grid in a manner that supports electric vehicle charging operations; and

(5) provides resources to support private investment in charging equipment for uses in public and private charging applications including residential, multi-family, fleet, transit, community, and corridor applications.