ny-PSC-38-26-00009-P: Proposal to approve the use of previously-authorized funds to extend the existing Make-Ready Program beyond utility plug goals

I.D. No. PSC-38-26-00009-P PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Pro- cedureAct, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule: Proposed Action: The Commission is considering a petition filed on July 31, 2026, to extend the direct current fast charging component of the Electric Vehicle Make-Ready Program. Statutory authority: Public Service Law, sections 5, 65 and 66 Subject: Proposal to approve the use of previously-authorized funds to extend the existing Make-Ready Program beyond utility plug goals. Purpose: To modify the Make-Ready Program to continue availability of incentives. Substance of proposed rule: The Public Service Commission (Commis- sion) is considering a Joint Petition to Extend Make-Ready Programs (the Petition) filed on July 31, 2026 by ABB E-mobility, Advanced Energy United, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Alliance for Clean Energy New York, EVgo, Natural Resources Defense Council, New Yorkers for Clean Power, Plug In America, Rivian, SWTCH Energy, Tesla, Inc., and Uber (together, Joint Petitioners). The Joint Petitioners request that the Commission authorize Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., and Rochester Gas and Electric Corpora- tion (together, the Utilities) to use previously-authorized funding to extend the direct current fast charging (DCFC) component of the electric vehicle (EV) Make-Ready Program, beyond the Utilities’ re- spective plug goals. Specifically, the Joint Petitioners request that the Commission: (1) authorize the Utilities to continue incentivizing DCFC deployments using remaining authorized Make-Ready Program funds; (2) redirect authorized, uncommitted future-proofing funds to- ward additional DCFC deployments after remaining Make-Ready Program funds are exhausted; and (3) grant any other relief the Com- mission deems just and reasonable. The Joint Petitioners state that they support the data collection direc- tives established by the Commission in its Order Denying Petition and 14 NYS Register/September 23, 2026 Making Other Findings issued on March 23, 2026. However, absent further direction from the Commission, the Utilities will not have the ability to provide make-ready funding for new projects after satisfying those directives, because the Utilities have reached enough applica- tions to reach their plug goals and will have little or no remaining program capacity once pending projects are processed. The Joint Petitioners argue that modification and continuation of the Make- Ready Program is necessary to preserve market momentum, is consis- tent with Commission goals for EV adoption, and put downward pres- sure on electricity rates. Conversely, an indefinite gap in make-ready funding will ultimately undermine charging infrastructure deploy- ment, create uncertainty for the private market,