About - Transportation Electrification (TE)

Transportation electrification (TE) has the potential to save customers money, make the grid more flexible, contribute positively toward utilities’ bottom-line, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). In response to Executive Order 20-04, the PUC is developing new policy guidance for utility TE investments to better balance the needs of ratepayers and the public interest more broadly, through Docket No. UM 2165. New legislation passed in 2021 broadens the OPUC’s authority to assess various TE activities that accelerate the reduction of GHG emissions, and support an equitable transition to clean energy resources for all Oregonians. The PUC will synchronize implementation of HB 2165 and HB 3055 with the previous TE investment framework efforts.

Highlighted priorities for the first year in TE include:

Guide current and future TE dockets effectively and in a forward-looking way, sensitive to rural and low-income customer opportunities. Utility dockets include grid-connected level-2 charging for residential customers; and fleet, business and public charging applications. Staff will also guide transportation line extension allowance proposals to provide greater grid integration capabilities.
Conduct research and enact policies that support an updated TE utility investment framework. With support from Regulatory Assistance Project, Staff will host a public workshop series to identify current gaps, and best practices nationally across a range of key topics. These range from portfolio level analysis, to equitable allocation of funds, to tariffs that better link electric vehicle charging to decarbonization. Workshops will culminate in the introduction of a regulatory framework that reflects public input and internal deliberations. See TE Investment Framework, Docket UM 2165.
For 2022 utility TE Plans, request utilities propose a company fleet transition to either natural gas or electric vehicles by 2035.
Implement a new robust data collection process with utilities to provide insight into TE market transformation and equity of investments. From general EV adoption and charging behavior, to incentives and tariffs, TE interconnection and grid integration metrics related to new load and peak load impacts. The data collected will be anonymized and made available for third-party analysis.
Provide technical expertise for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to expand the Clean Fuels Program (CFP). Staff will hold public workshops on utility 2022 CFP plans, and require regular reporting to oversee complementary interactions between CFP- and ratepayer-funded investments. See UM 1826.

electric charge charging

More In This Section

PUC Staff Contact: Eric Shierman

PUC's EO 20-04 Home Page

EO Workshop Series

TE Workshops

Workshop 3 - July 28, 2021

Workshop 2 - June 30, 2021

Workshop 1 - May 26, 2021