SF 829

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/10/2017 09:29am

A bill for an act
relating to energy; establishing an electric vehicle promotion program; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 216B.62, subdivision 2; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216B.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [216B.1615] ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROMOTION PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this
subdivision have the meanings given them.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Electric vehicle charging station" means a public or private parking space served
by battery charging station equipment that has as its primary purpose the transfer of electric
energy by conductive or inductive means to a battery or other energy storage device in an
electric vehicle.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Electric vehicle infrastructure" means structures, machinery, and equipment necessary
and integral to support an electric vehicle, including electric vehicle charging stations,
battery exchange stations, and distribution system upgrades.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Electric vehicle" or "plug-in vehicle" means an electric drive motor vehicle that (1)
draws propulsion using a traction battery having at least seven kilowatt hours of capacity,
(2) uses an external source of energy to recharge the battery, and (3) has a gross vehicle
weight rating of up to 14,000 pounds.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Utility" means a public utility, as defined in section 216B.02, subdivision 4, that
provides electric service.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Program. new text end

new text begin (a) By August 1, 2018, each utility serving a city of the first class
must file with the commissioner a program to promote (1) the purchase of electric vehicles
by their customers, and (2) the development of electric vehicle infrastructure.
new text end

new text begin (b) The program may include, but is not limited to, the following elements:
new text end

new text begin (1) educational resources for individuals, electric vehicle dealers, multifamily housing
developers and property management companies, vehicle fleet managers, and other potential
electric vehicle users;
new text end

new text begin (2) a plan to deploy or incentivize deployment of vehicle charging equipment, electric
utility infrastructure, services, or financial support to residences and workplaces; and
new text end

new text begin (3) research and demonstration projects evaluating the value electric vehicles can provide
to the grid.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Program review and implementation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of commerce must
review the program plans submitted under this section. The commissioner must approve,
modify, or reject the plan based on the plan's likely effectiveness in: (1) increasing electric
vehicle sales; (2) increasing access to electric vehicle infrastructure; (3) increasing customer
education regarding electric vehicles; and (4) evaluating the potential to use electric vehicles
to assist in grid management. If the commissioner rejects a utility's plan, the utility must
submit a new plan for commissioner review, subject to a schedule determined by the
commissioner. The utility must begin implementing the plan after approval, subject to a
schedule determined by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Cost recovery. new text end

new text begin The commission must approve recovery of costs reasonably
incurred by a utility to implement and administer the program in subdivision 2.
Notwithstanding section 216B.16, subdivision 8, paragraph (a), clause (3), the commission
must also approve recovery of costs for expenses reasonably incurred by a utility to provide
public advertisement as part of a promotion program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reporting. new text end

new text begin Beginning one year after implementing a program approved by the
commissioner, each utility implementing a plan under this section must report annually to
the commissioner on (1) its activities to promote electric vehicle usage and the outcomes
of those efforts, and (2) the potential to utilize plug-in vehicles to assist in grid management.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 216B.62, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Assessing specific utility.

Whenever the commission or department, in a
proceeding upon its own motion, on complaint, or upon an application to it, shall deem it
necessary, in order to carry out the duties imposed under this chapter (1) to investigate the
books, accounts, practices, and activities of, new text begin review electric vehicle promotion program
plans under section 216B.1615, new text end or make appraisals of the property of, any public utility,
(2) to render any engineering or accounting services to any public utility, or (3) to intervene
before an energy regulatory agency, the public utility shall pay the expenses reasonably
attributable to the investigation, appraisal, service, or intervention. The commission and
department shall ascertain the expenses, and the department shall render a bill therefor to
the public utility, either at the conclusion of the investigation, appraisal, or services, or from
time to time during its progress, which bill shall constitute notice of the assessment and a
demand for payment. The amount of the bills so rendered by the department shall be paid
by the public utility into the state treasury within 30 days from the date of rendition. The
total amount, in any one calendar year, for which any public utility shall become liable, by
reason of costs incurred by the commission within that calendar year, shall not exceed
two-fifths of one percent of the gross operating revenue from retail sales of gas, or electric
service by the public utility within the state in the last preceding calendar year. Where,
pursuant to this subdivision, costs are incurred within any calendar year which are in excess
of two-fifths of one percent of the gross operating revenues, the excess costs shall not be
chargeable as part of the remainder under subdivision 3, but shall be paid out of the general
appropriation to the department and commission. In the case of public utilities offering more
than one public utility service only the gross operating revenues from the public utility
service in connection with which the investigation is being conducted shall be considered
when determining this limitation.