In 2025, CAP is supporting South Carolina Senate Bill 275, introduced by Senator Grooms. This bill will give private businesses the confidence to rationally invest in electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the Palmetto State by addressing the threat of unfair competition from electric utilities. S. 275 includes two key provisions that will level the playing field in South Carolina's EV charging market. The first is a prohibition on electric utilities using ratepayer funds to subsidize the costs of owning and operating publicly available EV charging stations. The second is language which requires any utility that chooses to participate in the EV charging market to do so under the same rates, terms and conditions available to private entities offering EV charging services in that utility's service territory. This legislation has passed the Senate Transportation Committee and is now on the Senate Floor.
Key Provisions of S. 275:
Requires electric utilities operating public EV charging stations to do so on a level playing field.
Prohibits utilities from subsidizing investment in ownership and operation of EV charging stations with ratepayer funds.
CAP supported South Carolina Senate Bill 684 during the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions. The language in S. 684 would have laid the groundwork for a competitive EV charging market in South Carolina by prohibiting electric utilities from using ratepayer funds to subsidize EV charging stations. If passed, this legislation would have still allowed electric utilities to compete in this market, but only through a separate, unregulated subsidiary that operates under the same rates, terms and conditions as any other competitor in the market. Unfortunately, S. 684 did not receive a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee and did not move forward.
CAP has also been engaged in regulatory dockets before the South Carolina Public Service Commission, advocating for right-sizing the utility role in the EV charging market and for change that will open the door to private investment. In June of 2023 CAP submitted comments in Docket No. 2022-158-E which evaluated a Duke Energy Carolinas Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Program in which Duke would own chargers rented to operators. CAP's comments raised concerns about Duke’s entrance into the competitive market through this program and the potential impacts on South Carolina ratepayers. This docket was closed in March of 2024 when Duke withdrew their application for the EV Supply Equipment Program.
CAP also submitted comments and reply comments to the Commission in Docket No. 2023-121-E, a docket to identify the regulatory challenges and opportunities associated with the electrification of transportation. This docket included consideration of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) Amendments implemented by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). For more information on the PURPA Amendments, view the PURPA Amendments blog post. CAP’s comments encouraged the Commission to adopt policies to drive the growth of the EV charging network by preventing unfair competition from electric utilities and addressing demand charges, two key barriers to private investment. While the Commission did not adopt the standards, many of the considerations raised in this docket were included in a draft report which will be sent to the legislature regarding the regulatory challenges and opportunities associated with the electrification of the transportation sector.
