LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS 200 W. Washington St., Suite 301 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 233-0696 iga.in.gov FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT LS 7036 NOTE PREPARED: Mar 3, 2022 BILL NUMBER: HB 1221 BILL AMENDED: Feb 17, 2022 SUBJECT: Electric Vehicles and Electricity Pricing. FIRST AUTHOR: Rep. Soliday BILL STATUS: Enrolled FIRST SPONSOR: Sen. Koch FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State XDEDICATED FEDERAL Summary of Legislation: This bill provides that a person that: (1) owns, operates, or leases electric vehicle (EV) supply equipment; and (2) makes the EV supply equipment available for use by the public for compensation; may charge the public for such use based in whole or in part on the kilowatt hours of electricity sold. It specifies that a person that makes EV supply equipment available for use by the public for compensation, regardless of whether the person charges the public for such use based on: (1) the kilowatt hours of electricity sold; (2) the amount of time spent by an EV at a designated charging space; or (3) a combination of both; is not a public utility solely by reason of engaging in this activity. The bill authorizes the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to approve: (1) time-varying price structures and tariffs; or (2) other alternative pricing structures and tariffs; for retail energy service. It defines a "public use electric vehicle" (public use EV) as any of the following electric vehicles that is used primarily to serve the public: (1) An electric school bus. (2) An electric transit bus. (3) An electric vehicle used by a public or private commercial enterprise primarily to deliver goods or services to the public. The bill authorizes an electric utility (defined as a public utility that is subject to the jurisdiction of the IURC) to request approval from the IURC to implement a public use EV pilot program to do any of the following: (1) Install, own, or operate charging infrastructure or make-ready infrastructure to support public use EVs. (2) Provide incentives or rebates to customers to encourage customer investment in public use EVs and in associated EV supply equipment. HB 1221 1 It sets forth certain required information that an electric utility's request for approval of a pilot program must include. It provides that an electric utility's request for approval of a pilot program may include a request for: (1) assurance of cost recovery for pilot program capital costs, up to the amount of an approved cost estimate; and (2) deferral of pilot program capital costs. The bill also sets forth the processes by which an electric utility may request the IURC's approval of a pilot program. The bill provides that the IURC shall approve an electric utility's request for approval of a pilot program if the IURC determines that the proposed pilot program is reasonable, just, and in the public interest. It sets forth certain factors that the IURC must consider in making this determination. The bill specifies that an electric utility is not prohibited from: (1) installing, owning, or operating charging infrastructure or make-ready infrastructure for electric vehicles; and (2) seeking to include the associated capital costs in the electric utility's basic rates and charges by initiating a proceeding before the IURC. It provides that in such a case, the IURC shall approve the inclusion of the capital costs in the electric utility's basic rates and charges if the IURC finds that the capital costs incurred are reasonable, just, and in the public interest. The bill also requires the IURC to adopt rules to implement these provisions. Effective Date: Upon passage. Explanation of State Expenditures: Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC): The bill authorizes the IURC to approve time-varying or other alternative price structures and tariffs for retail energy service. Electric utilities may request approval from the IURC to implement a public use EV pilot program, and the IURC shall approve a pilot program if the utility’s proposal meets certain conditions, as established by the bill. The bill specifies that an electric utility may also seek to include costs associated with installing, owning, or operating charging infrastructure or make-ready infrastructure for EVs in the utility’s basic rates and charges in a proceeding before the IURC and that the IURC shall approve the inclusion if it finds the costs meet certain requirements. The IURC must also adopt rules to implement the provisions of the bill. The requirements of the bill largely represent an expansion or modification of existing agency functions, and should be able to be accomplished without additional appropriations. Additional Information - The operating budget of the IURC and the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) is funded by regulated utilities operating in Indiana. The rate at which to bill the utilities is based on the agencies' budgets, less reversions, divided by the total amount of gross intrastate operating revenue received by the regulated utilities for the previous fiscal year. Based on this formula, utilities are currently billed approximately 0.12% of their gross intrastate operating revenues to fund the IURC and OUCC. Explanation of State Revenues: To the extent that electric utilities seek cost recovery for pilot program costs or to include certain infrastructure or make-ready infrastructure costs in the utility’s base rates and charges, as provided in the bill, there could be an increase in customer utility rates. Additionally, to the extent that the IURC approves time-varying price structures and tariffs for retail energy service, there could potentially be more volatility in individual customer rates. If utility rates increase or are otherwise impacted as a result of the bill, there would be an impact in Sales Tax, Utility Receipts Tax (URT), and Utility Services Use Tax (USUT) collections. Additional Information - The rate for both the URT and USUT is 1.4%. The URT is calculated on the gross receipts of all entities providing the retail sale of utility services in Indiana. The USUT is imposed on the HB 1221 2 retail consumption of utility services in Indiana. Both the URT and USUT are deposited in the state General Fund. Sales Tax revenue is deposited in the state General Fund (99.838%), Commuter Rail Service Fund (0.131%), and Industrial Rail Service Fund (0.031%). Explanation of Local Expenditures: Explanation of Local Revenues: State Agencies Affected: Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Local Agencies Affected: Information Sources: Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Harmon, 317-232-9854. HB 1221 3