Subject
title
Letter of Support to the Maryland Public Service Commission for Pepco’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Phase II Programs
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Department
PW - Environmental Management
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council approve the attached draft letter of support (Attachment 1) to the Maryland Public Service Commission for Pepco’s EV Phase II Programs.
Discussion
Pepco is preparing to file their EV Phase II Programs to the Maryland Public Service Commission in December 2024 and requested support from jurisdictions to continue their programs to advance electric vehicle (EV) adoption throughout Maryland. As illustrated in Figure 1, Pepco’s EV Phase II Programs include: 1) various commercial make-ready incentives for destination charging, transit buses, multifamily, fleet, and site assessments; 2) continued support to operate and maintain the existing utility-owned public charging infrastructure, and 3) residential load management programs.
Figure 1: Pepco’s EV Phase II Program Summary
Pepco has served as an important partner in accelerating Rockville’s transportation electrification infrastructure. In 2019, Rockville began partnering with Pepco in the Phase 1 Program which led to the installation of public charging stations at five sites: Mattie Stepanek Park, Thomas Farm Community Center and on-street parking at City Hall/Vinson Street, Fallsgrove Drive/Prettyman Drive, and Twinbrook Station/Bouic Avenue. This program increased community access public charging with the important protections and oversight by the Public Service Commission (PSC). In Phase II it is important that the PSC continue to allow Pepco to operate and maintain these public EV charging stations and continue to expand the commercial charging network.
In support of the Climate Action Plan and the EV Readiness Plan (under development), coordination with public utilities is an essential element for the transition to electric vehicles. Pepco’s proposed Phase 2 Programs seek to address some of the key barriers to EV adoption. Therefore, staff drafted the attached letter of support from the Mayor and Council to the Maryland Public Service Commission for Pepco’s EV Phase II Programs (Attachment 1).
Mayor and Council History
This is the first time this item has come before the Mayor and Council.
Next Steps
If the Mayor and Council approve the draft, staff will make any requested edits and forward the finalized letter to Pepco.