Utility Best Practices for EV Infrastructure Deployment

Utility Roadmap to EV Infrastructure Success

With electric vehicle (EV) charging projected to increase U.S. electricity consumption 11% by 2040, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, there is no ignoring the importance of EV infrastructure to electric utilities. As of April 2020, almost $3 billion in transportation electrification investments have been approved or are pending approval by state utility commissions nationally.

Having the right strategic plan, building a strong team, and providing a good customer experience, will lead to successful EV charging programs. Download this report for recommendations for developing a comprehensive utility EV infrastructure program. Whether EV novice or expert, the best practices are useful for every electric utility, regardless of size, type or EV experience.

Key Findings

• Utilities must start EV infrastructure planning now. Upgrades required could take years to complete.
• A strong cross-functional EV team is vital to lead the utility through program launch and project implementation. The team should have a broad scope, access to funding, and authority to make decisions.
• Prioritize the customer experience at each level of EV infrastructure planning and project implementation. Utilities play an important role in their customers’ EV success.

What’s in the report:

• How to develop a utility EV strategic plan, including “must do,” “should do” and “could do” actions
• How to build a utility transportation electrification team, including staffing approaches for utilities of different sizes
• Best practices for utility-led EV charging infrastructure programs, including program planning, customer engagement, site evaluation, project design and construction, and customer follow-up
• Best practices for third-party charging infrastructure interconnection, including the utility’s role in internal planning, customer engagement, and design and construction
• Policy considerations for program design, including permitting, standards and interoperability, and recommendations to encourage EV deployment in low-income and underserved communities
• Case studies featuring:
  • Portland General Electric & National Grid’s EV strategic planning process
  • Orlando Utilities Commission, Austin Energy, and Southern California Edison’s transportation electrification team evolution and activities
  • Puget Sound Energy’s utility-led EV charging infrastructure program