Last month, the Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC) approved an order deregulating electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle service providers from regulation.
“State regulators across the country have determined that companies purchasing electricity at retail from regulated utilities and using it to provide charging service to electric vehicles are not performing the role of an electric utility or supplier and should not be subject to regulation. Approving this order and exempting electric vehicle charging stations will remove regulatory uncertainty among those in the electric vehicle industry, as well as promote innovation, competition, and private investment,” the PSC stated in a press release.
A lack of public charging stations has been cited as a factor in holding back electric vehicle sales. Convenience store chain Wawa has been installing stations at selected locations and a smattering of stations are available at large employers like ChristianaCare.
Republican legislators were able to kill a bill that would have the state pay for additional charging stations. The legislators cited a lack of electric vehicles and a desire to let the marketplace determine the need for the equipment.
Delaware has about 160 charging stations, a figure near the national average, but below the rate for New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Currently 32 states, and the District of Columbia exempt electric vehicle charging from regulatory jurisdiction. The order, approved on December 12, makes Delaware the 33rd state to deregulate electric vehicle charging.
Delaware has about 1,100 all-electric vehicles, with more than 12,800 hybrids that use a combination of a gas engine and battery power.
Prices of electric vehicles often start at $40,000, with the figure reduced by incentives. Sales are expected to grow as more manufacturers roll out all electrics and the range of batteries continues to lengthen.
The state will offer for another year financial incentives for buying electric vehicles, but eliminated a subsidy for a homeowner who buys a charger.
