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The California Public Utilities Commission has ruled that companies that sell electric-vehicle charging services to the public will not be regulated as public utilities.


Companies such as Coulomb Technologies, Better Place and Ecotality can operate without being regulated as an investor-owned utility, the commission ruled Thursday during its regular meeting in San Francisco.


The decision removes a barrier on reselling electricity at charging stations and may speed up the adoption of electric cars, which will help the state meet greenhouse-gas reduction targets, the commission said in a draft of its order.


At issue was whether suppliers of EV chargers should be regulated in the same way as the public utilities that generate and sell electricity. The chargers interface with the electrical grid, allowing access to electricity as well as providing other consumer services.


The commission is in the process of evaluating alternative-fueled vehicle policies to ensure California's investor-owned electric utilities are prepared for the projected statewide growth of plug-in electric-drive vehicles throughout the state.


"This decision provides needed regulatory clarity to encourage the state's entrepreneurs and investors to develop charging solutions that will satisfy consumer needs and work harmoniously with the electric grid," Commissioner Nancy E. Ryan said.
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Tags: Batteries, Emissions, Energy Companies, Fuel Economy, Plug-ins and Electric, California Public Utilities Commission, Charger, Coulomb Technology, CPUC, ECOtality, Electric Vehicle, EV

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Calif. Regulators Rule EV-Charging Firms Will Not Be Regulated as Public Utilities was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.