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SF 2405

2nd Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 05/11/2016 08:46am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 03/07/2016
1st Engrossment Posted on 03/21/2016
2nd Engrossment Posted on 04/21/2016

Current Version - 2nd Engrossment

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A bill for an act
relating to energy; establishing an electric vehicle promotion program; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2014, 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 and section
216B.1616, 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, 2017, 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 2014, 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.