Public EV charging network investment in NL, NS quietly undermined
Behind the scenes, unelected “public advocates” successfully delayed or prevented utility plans to use ratepayer funds for fast chargers
Update (6 Jan 2023): In Nova Scotia, some kind of deal may have been struck, as the local utility appears to have been given the go-ahead to build much-needed additional chargers. In NL however, the regulator can only allow investment that keeps electricity costs as low as possible consistent with safety and is so far not satisfied at the utilities’ claims that further EV charging infrastructure investment by utilities is consistent with that goal. More to come in a future article, which I will link here when it is ready.
Original story (Aug 2022): The quiet but effective backroom resistance in both NL and Nova Scotia to public utility investment in EV fast charging networks has had very little media coverage. I hope to dig deeper in the coming months, but the subject came up in discussion in the Electric Vehicle Association of Atlantic Canada FB group and the consequences of under-investment in Nova Scotia’s network are starting to hit me personally as I plan my second trip through that province to Ontario so I thought I would briefly introduce the subject.
In NL, the Consumer Advocate, Dennis Browne, has consistently argued to the Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities (PUB) for at least two years that ratepayer funds should not be used to contribute to the building of an EV network. In October 2021, however, the PUB ruled “there is a strong business case for the proposed investment in EV charging stations by the utilities in 2021 on the basis of the demonstrable need for a minimum level of infrastructure in this province and the weak business case for private operators at this time” but “the approval … is based on the unique circumstances in the province at this time.” Since then, the nascent fast charger network has more than doubled in size. But it is unclear how much his opposition delayed this expansion and whether further improvements could be stalled altogether.
In Nova Scotia, it appears the resistance to such investment was more successful and lasting. An early attempt by NS Power to invest $418,000 for 12 fast charging stations (which would have been matched by federal funds) was stymied back in 2018 by the submissions of the official small business and consumer advocates there, and since then it seems the utility there has only been allowed to invest in a (worthwhile) test of car to grid services, and (assuming it is/was approved) $120,000 for chargers in 2022 to charge a few of NS Power’s own new EVs as part of a pilot electrification scheme.
I hope to investigate this issue in more detail and find out whether a similar situation occurred in PEI or NB as well as bringing things up to date. I’d be interested to hear from anyone in any Atlantic province that could help shed more light on this from a political and regulatory perspective. Contact me via email in confidence.
