S 2241 — RECHARGE Act

Summary

Responsibly and Equitably Change How Auto-charging Rates Get Evaluated Act or the RECHARGE Act This bill requires states to consider measures to promote greater electrification of the transportation sector, including the review of utility rates for charging electric vehicles.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html June 24, 2021

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill adds a requirement for states to consider measures promoting the electrification of the transportation sector under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.

• 16 U.S.C. 2621(d)

  (20) Electric vehicle charging programs.--Each State shall consider measures to promote greater electrification of the transportation sector, including the establishment of rates that-- (A) promote affordable and equitable electric vehicle charging options for residential, commercial, and public electric vehicle charging infrastructure; (B) improve the customer experience associated with electric vehicle charging, including by reducing charging times for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles; (C) accelerate both third-party investment and investments by electric utilities in electric vehicle charging stations for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles; and (D) appropriately recover the marginal costs of delivering electricity to electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

  This addition requires states to actively consider the electrification of transportation in their regulatory policies.

• 16 U.S.C. 2622(b)

  (7)(A) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated utility shall commence consideration under section 111, or set a hearing date for consideration, with respect to the standard established by paragraph (20) of section 111(d). (B) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility shall complete the consideration and make the determination under section 111 with respect to the standard established by paragraph (20) of section 111(d).

  This change sets new deadlines for states to consider and implement measures related to the electrification of the transportation sector.

• 16 U.S.C. 2622(c)

  In the case of the standard established by paragraph (20) of section 111(d), the reference contained in this subsection to the date of enactment of this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of that paragraph.

  This specifies that the compliance dates will be based on the enactment date of the new electrification standard.

• 16 U.S.C. 2622

  (g) Prior State Actions.--Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to the standard established by paragraph (20) of section 111(d) in the case of any electric utility in a State if, before the date of enactment of this subsection-- (1) the State has implemented for the electric utility the standard (or a comparable standard); (2) the State regulatory authority for the State or the relevant nonregulated electric utility has conducted a proceeding to consider implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the electric utility; or (3) the State legislature has voted on the implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the electric utility during the 3-year period ending on that date of enactment.

  This allows states with prior actions regarding the electrification standard to be exempt from new compliance deadlines.

• 16 U.S.C. 2634

  this subsection → this section

  This corrects the terminology within the existing law to reflect the new provisions related to electric vehicle charging programs.

• 16 U.S.C. 2634

  In the case of the standard established by paragraph (20) of section 111(d), the reference contained in this section to the date of enactment of this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of that paragraph.

  Clarifies compliance dates for the new electrification standard in the context of prior state actions.

Action History

1. June 24, 2021

   Introduced in Senate

2. June 24, 2021

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Sponsors

• John W. Hickenlooper · Primary
• Sheldon Whitehouse · Cosponsor

Subjects