The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has adopted Decision 19-11-017 authorizing investor-owned utilities to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at city and county parks, state parks and beaches, school facilities, and educational institutions. The new pilot programs were developed according to instruction in Assembly Bill 1082 and Assembly Bill 1083, enacted by the California Legislature in 2017 to focus EV charging deployment at these key locations.
The CPUC’s decision approves AB 1082 pilots proposed by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison Company (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) and Liberty Utilities (Liberty) to install EV charging infrastructure at K-12 schools, community colleges and universities. Each utility’s program is unique in its design and focus, while conforming to statutory requirements. For example, PG&E’s Charge Schools Pilot will target installation of Level 2 charging stations at public schools located in Alameda, Fresno and San Joaquin counties, chosen because they have a high percentage of populations living in disadvantaged communities. Liberty will install charging stations at K-12 schools, the Lake Tahoe Community College, and at a bus barn for Lake Tahoe School District.
The decision approves AB 1083 pilots proposed by the four utilities to provide EV charging infrastructure at public parks and beaches. Again, each utility’s program will be unique. For example, SCE will aim to install Level 2 and Direct Current Fast Charge (DCFC) stations at 27 park locations for use by park fleets, staff vehicles, and park visitors. Given the limited number of state parks and beaches located within disadvantaged communities, SDG&E requested, and was granted permission, to include city and county park locations within its program.
Decision 19-11-017 includes modifications to the utility proposals that will be reflected in implementation plans, including streamlining the process for qualifying charging stations, requiring that all participating customers receive equivalent financial support for operations and maintenance (regardless of who owns the charging station), and clarifying that the implementation of these programs will align with payment access regulations currently under consideration at the California Air Resources Board.
For information on a specific AB 1082 or AB 1083 program, consult the relevant utility.
Contact: Lynn Haug or Jed Gibson
