Maine proposals for beneficial electrification of transportation pilot program

Following legislation enacted in 2019, the Maine Public Utilities Commission is evaluating proposals for pilot projects to support the beneficial electrification of the transportation sector.

Last year, the Maine State Legislature enacted An Act To Support Electrification of Certain Technologies for the Benefit of Maine Consumers and Utility Systems and the Environment, P.L. 2019, ch. 365. The Act defined beneficial electrification as "electrification of a technology that results in reduction in the use of a fossil fuel, including electrification of a technology that would otherwise require energy from a fossil fuel, and that provides a benefit to a utility, a ratepayer or the environment, without causing harm to utilities, ratepayers or the environment, by improving the efficiency of the electricity grid or reducing consumer costs or emissions, including carbon emissions." Portions of the Act expand Efficiency Maine Trust's mandate to consider beneficial electrification, and direct the Trust to study barriers to beneficial electrification in the transportation and heating sectors.

Other portions of the Act required the Public Utilities Commission to solicit proposals for pilot programs to support the beneficial electrification of Maine’s transportation sector. The Commission issued its Request for Proposals in August 2019, with responses due in November 2019, and final decisions on proposals expected by March 1, 2020.

According to a procedural order, the Commission received five proposals in response to its solicitation, and posted a public synopsis of each:

• Proposal 1 seeks "to test the effectiveness of two load management strategies, smart networked EV chargers with default off peak charging and simulated time of use rates." According to the Commission, in a subsequent filing, Efficiency Maine Trust revealed itself as the proponent, but then withdrew the proposal.
• Proposal 2 involves three initiatives to promote customer engagement and awareness of electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging infrastructure: instructional materials regarding EV charging; installing Level 2 chargers in workplaces, public places, and multi-unit dwellings, and developing further instructional materials; and public education programs to get buyers comfortable with EVs.
• Proposal 3 entails a three year (2020-2022), seasonal (June - October) pilot study of the impact of an on-demand, EV shuttle service on the reduction of single-occupancy vehicles and their associated emissions on the Portland peninsula.
• Proposal 4 is utility-oriented -- it involves investments in electricity delivery and charging infrastructure for new electric vehicle charger installations (to facilitate and gain knowledge about a make-ready program), and a new rate design and a demand charge rebate for electricity delivery for DCFC charging stations.
• Proposal 5 is also utility-oriented -- the proponent says it would encourage and, if necessary, develop electric delivery infrastructure for public level 2 and 3 charging stations, noting the value of "utility supported development and pilots", while conceding the existence of policy "debate regarding the appropriate role of electric distribution utilities with respect to the deployment and operation of EV charging stations."

The Commission subsequently received a motion filed by a coalition, requesting that the Commission require the bidders to submit public versions of their proposals, redacted only as necessary to protect confidential materials. On January 16, the hearing examiners issued an order partially denying that request, but agreeing "that the public synopsis for Proposal # 4 does not provide sufficient content for meaningful public comment. Similarly, the synopsis for Proposal #5 lacks sufficient description of the bidder’s proposed project to allow for comment."

As a result, the order requires the proponents of Proposals 4 and 5 to resubmit their public synopses by January 22, 2020, to include a detailed description of the projects and programs being proposed, and allows public comment on all proposals through February 5, 2020.