ORDER NUMBER

G-19-18

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Utilities Commission

An Inquiry into the Regulation of Electric Vehicle Charging Service

BEFORE:

D. M. Morton, Commissioner

on January 23, 2018

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      By Order G-10-18 dated January 12, 2018, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) established an inquiry to review the regulation of electric vehicle charging service (Inquiry) pursuant to section 82 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA);

B.      In the covering letter attached to Order G-10-18, the Commission provided a list of potential regulatory issues that may form the scope of the Inquiry;

C.       The Commission considers that establishment of a regulatory timetable for the Inquiry is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 82 of the UCA, the Commission orders as follows:

1.       A regulatory timetable is established for the Inquiry, attached as Appendix A to this order.

2.       Interveners who wish to participate in this Inquiry are to register with the Commission by completing a Request to Intervene Form, available on the Commission’s website at http://www.bcuc.com/Registration-Intervener-1.aspx by Friday, February 16, 2018, and in accordance with the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure at https://www.ordersdecisions.bcuc.com/bcuc/orders/en/127520/1/document.do .

3.       Registered interveners may file evidence by Friday, March 2, 2018, based on the preliminary scope of the Inquiry and/or on any other matters that may assist in the effective and efficient review of the Inquiry, attached as Appendix B to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this       23^rd        day of January 2018.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

D. M. Morton

Commissioner

Attachments

British Columbia Utilities Commission

Inquiry into the Regulation of Electric Vehicle Charging Service

British Columbia Utilities Commission

Inquiry into the Regulation of Electric Vehicle Charging Service

On January 12, 2018, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) has established an Inquiry into the regulation of electric vehicle (EV) charging service (Inquiry). The rate design and rates for EV charging, including the services provided by EV charging stations, are currently in an early development stage in BC and other entities may emerge over time to provide EV charging service. The Inquiry will explore the potential regulatory issues, including the level of regulation necessary in the EV charging stations market, the rates for EV charging service, and any other matters that should be considered by the Commission.

In order to proceed with the Inquiry, the Commission has identified the following preliminary scope as follows:

Scope A: Basis for regulation

1.       Do EV charging stations operate in a competitive environment in BC or are they a natural monopoly service?

2.       Are the customers of EV charging stations captive or do they have a choice?

3.       Should the Commission regulate the services provided by EV charging stations? What are benefits and detriments to such regulation?

Scope B: Rate design and rate setting

4.       Should the rate design of EV charging stations be established under a public utility’s traditional cost of service model or some other model? And within that context, what are the customer pricing options (e.g. energy-based rate vs. time-based rate)?

5.       Should the EV charging station service rate be based on a public utility’s existing wholesale or commercial retail rate or some other rate?

6.       Should public utilities include EV charging stations in their regulated rate base or through a separate non-regulated entity?

7.       If public utilities provide EV charging services within their regulated business, is there a risk of cross subsidization from other rate classes to support this new service and if so, is the proposed rate design potentially unduly discriminatory?

Other matters

8.       Any other matters that may assist in the effective and efficient review of the Inquiry.

On January 12, 2018, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) has established an independent Inquiry into the regulation of electric vehicle (EV) charging service. The services provided by EV charging stations are currently in an early development stage in BC. Other entities may emerge over time to provide EV charging service.

The independent Inquiry will explore the potential regulatory issues, including the level of regulation necessary (if any) in the EV charging stations market, the rates for EV charging service, and any other matters that should be considered by the Commission.