Near-Term Priority Investments

On July 15, 2021, the CPUC issued Decision (D.) 21-07-028, which identified areas for the  electric utilities’ to focus their transportation electrification investments prior to the adoption of the Transportation Electrification Framework (TEF) proposal, which the CPUC ultimately resolved via D.22-11-040.

D.21-07-028, also known as the Near-Term Priorities Decision, adopted guidance for the electric utilities for these investments, including addressing equity considerations. The Decision established an Advice Letter process to provide a streamlined opportunity for electric utilities to request ratepayer funds to install EV charging infrastructure in sectors the CPUC determined were near-term priorities. The five near-term priority areas include: 1) transportation electrification resiliency, 2) customers without access to home charging, 3) medium- and heavy-duty electrification, 4) new construction, and 5) panel upgrades for low-income ratepayers in underserved communities.

To be eligible for the streamlined Advice Letter process, the electric utilities’ proposals must use the Near-Term Priorities Advice Letter Template and comply with the following guidelines:

  • Proposed budget may not exceed $20 million per program and may not exceed a total of $80 million per utility.
  • Program implementation must occur within three years of CPUC approval.
  • Utility ownership of customer-side infrastructure – which includes the make ready and the electric vehicle supply equipment (EV charger) – is limited to sites located in underserved communities. In total, up to 50 percent of the customer-side infrastructure may be owned by the electric utility.
  • The programs must include the following Equity and Environmental Justice requirements:
    • a minimum of 50 percent expenditure of each program’s budget is in underserved communities,
    • demonstration that the utility coordinated with more than one community-based organization to develop the proposal,
    • demonstration that local, regional, and/or tribal governments support the proposal,
    • a marketing, education, and outreach campaign to encourage more equitable outreach and participation by underserved communities, and a demonstration for how the proposal will further the principals of economic equity to promote access to high quality jobs for residents of underserved communities.
In D.22-11-040, the CPUC established May 31, 2023 as the deadline for the submittal of any Advice Letters proposing any Near-Term Priority programs.