Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB951 Latest Draft

Bill / Chaptered Version Filed 05/15/2024

                             	WES MOORE, Governor 	Ch. 452 
 
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Chapter 452 
(Senate Bill 951) 
 
AN ACT concerning 
 
Business Regulation – Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Workgroup – 
Regulations for Retail Use 
 
FOR the purpose of requiring the Comptroller to adopt regulations for the retail use of 
electric vehicle supply equipment in the State; requiring the Comptroller, in 
consultation with the Public Service Commission, to submit a report on the 
development and enforcement of the regulations adopted under this Act to the 
General Assembly on or before a certain date establishing the Electric Vehicle 
Supply Equipment Workgroup; and generally relating to electric vehicle supply 
equipment the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Workgroup.  
 
BY adding to 
 Article – Business Regulation 
Section 19–1001 through 19–1003 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 10. Electric 
Vehicle Supply Equipment” 
 Annotated Code of Maryland 
 (2015 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 
 
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 
 Article – Public Utilities 
Section 7–901(a), (b), and (e) 
 Annotated Code of Maryland 
 (2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 
 
 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 
 
Article – Business Regulation 
 
SUBTITLE 10. ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT. 
 
19–1001. 
 
 (A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 
INDICATED. 
 
 (B) “DIRECT CURRENT FAST C HARGER” MEANS EV SUPPLY EQUIPMENT : 
 
 (1) CAPABLE OF SUPPLYING DIRECT CUR RENT ELECTRICITY TO AN 
ELECTRIC VEHICLE ; AND  Ch. 452 	2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND  
 
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 (2) FITTED WITH AN EV CHARGING CONNECTOR . 
 
 (C) “EV CHARGING CONNECTOR ” MEANS A DEVICE THAT ATTACHES AN 
ELECTRIC VEHICLE TO AN EV CHARGING PORT TO FAC ILITATE THE TRANSFER OF 
ELECTRICITY TO AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE . 
 
 (D) “EV CHARGING PORT ” MEANS THE PORTION OF AN EV CHARGING 
STATION THAT ATTACHE S AN EV CHARGING CONNECTOR W ITH THE EV CHARGING 
STATION. 
 
 (E) “EV CHARGING STATION ” MEANS A CONNECTED PO INT IN EV SUPPLY 
EQUIPMENT: 
 
 (1) AT WHICH CURRENT IS TAKEN TO CHARGE A BATTERY OR ANY 
OTHER ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE IN AN ELECTRI C VEHICLE; AND 
 
 (2) CAPABLE OF PROVIDING CHARGING THAT IS AT LEAST: 
 
 (I) LEVEL 2 CHARGING; OR 
 
 (II) DIRECT CURRENT FAST CHARGER CHARGING . 
 
 (F) “EV SERVICE PROVIDE R” MEANS AN ENTITY RESP ONSIBLE FOR 
OPERATING ONE OR MOR E EV SUPPLY EQUIPMENT UNI TS, INCLUDING BEING 
RESPONSIBLE FOR : 
 
 (1) SENDING OR RECEIVING COMMANDS OR MESSAGES TO AN EV 
CHARGING NETWORK AS DEFINED IN § 7–901 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE; 
AND 
 
 (2) PROVIDING BILLING , MAINTENANCE , RESERVATIONS , AND OTHER 
SERVICES FOR AN EV SUPPLY EQUIPMENT UNI T. 
 
 (G) “EV SUPPLY EQUIPMENT ” MEANS A UNIT THAT CO NTROLS THE POWER 
SUPPLY TO ONE OR MOR E ELECTRIC VEHICLES AT AN EV CHARGING STATION . 
 
 (H) “LEVEL 2 CHARGING” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 7–901 OF THE 
PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE. 
 
 (I) “UPTIME” MEANS THE AVAILABILI TY AND CONSISTENCY O F AN EV 
CHARGING STATION TO SUCCESSFULLY DISPENS E ELECTRICITY AS DES IGNED, 
MEASURED AS A PERCEN TAGE OF BOTH HOURS A ND DAYS OF A CALEN DAR YEAR. 
   	WES MOORE, Governor 	Ch. 452 
 
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19–1002. 
 
 THIS SUBTITLE DOES NO T APPLY TO: 
 
 (1) EV SUPPLY EQUIPMENT THA T IS USED FOR NONCOM MERCIAL 
PURPOSES; OR 
 
 (2) EV SUPPLY EQUIPMENT THA	T SUPPLIES WHOLESALE 
ELECTRICITY. 
 
19–1003. 
 
 (A) THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ADO PT REGULATIONS FOR T HE RETAIL USE 
OF EV SUPPLY EQUIPMENT IN THE STATE. 
 
 (B) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , THE REGULATIONS 
SHALL: 
 
 (1) ESTABLISH DIFFERENT PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR THE RETAIL USE 
OF EV SUPPLY EQUIPMENT , INCLUDING: 
 
 (I) CREDIT CARD , MOBILE PHONE , AND TOLL–FREE NUMBER 
PAYMENT OPTIONS ; AND 
 
 (II) OPTIONS FOR CUSTOMER S WITH DISABILITIES AND  
NON–ENGLISH SPEAKING CUST OMERS; 
 
 (2) PROHIBIT AN EV SERVICE PROVIDER FRO M REQUIRING A 
SUBSCRIPTION OR MEMB ERSHIP TO INITIATE A CHARGING SESSION ; 
 
 (3) AUTHORIZE AN EV SERVICE PROVIDER TO OFFER SERVICES ON A 
SUBSCRIPTION OR MEMB ERSHIP BASIS; 
 
 (4) ESTABLISH REQUIREMEN TS FOR TRANSPARENT I NFORMATION 
REGARDING EV CHARGING STATIONS , INCLUDING CHARGING R ATES, LOCATION, 
ACCESSIBILITY, AND REAL–TIME AVAILABILITY ; 
 
 (5) ENABLE USERS WHO HAV E A SUBSCRIPTION OR MEMBERSHIP 
WITH AN EV SERVICE PROVIDER TO USE AN EV CHARGING STATION THA T IS NOT 
PART OF THE SUBSCRIP TION OR MEMBERSHIP ; 
 
 (6) ESTABLISH EMPLOYEE T	RAINING OR CERTIFICA TION 
REQUIREMENTS FOR IND IVIDUALS WHO INSTALL OR PERFORM MAINTENANCE ON 
EV SUPPLY EQUIPMENT ;  Ch. 452 	2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND  
 
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 (7) ESTABLISH MINIMUM PO WER OUTPUT LIMITS FO R EV SUPPLY 
EQUIPMENT AND EV CHARGING STATIONS ; 
 
 (8) ESTABLISH REGISTRATI ON AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ; 
 
 (9) REQUIRE THE SUBMISSI ON OF REPORTS ON EV SUPPLY 
EQUIPMENT TO : 
 
 (I) THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER ; 
 
 (II) THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; AND 
 
 (III) THE ALTERNATIVE FUELS DATA CENTER IN THE U.S. 
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY; 
 
 (10) ESTABLISH LABELING R EQUIREMENTS , INCLUDING LABELING 
REQUIREMENTS FOR EV CHARGING STATION CHAR GING RATES, CAPACITY, AND 
VOLTAGE; 
 
 (11) REQUIRE AN UPTIME OF 97%; 
 
 (12) SPECIFY HOW UPTIME W ILL BE MEASURED , INCLUDING: 
 
 (I) WHETHER UPTIME MUST BE CALCULATED PER EV 
CHARGING PORT OR PER EV CHARGING CONNECTOR ; 
 
 (II) THE DATE TO WHICH DOWNTIME IS BACKDATED ; AND 
 
 (III) WHETHER DOWNTIME INC LUDES EV CHARGING STATION 
DISCONNECTION OR BRO KEN INTERFACE FEATUR ES WHEN THE EV SUPPLY 
EQUIPMENT CAN STILL OUTPUT ELECTRICITY ; 
 
 (13) IF DETERMINED APPROP RIATE BY THE COMPTROLLER , 
ESTABLISH EXEMPTIONS FROM THE UPTIME REQU IREMENT OF 97%; 
 
 (14) ESTABLISH CUSTOMER S UPPORT REQUIREMENTS , INCLUDING: 
 
 (I) LABELING REQUIREMENT S FOR PROVIDING CUST OMER 
SUPPORT INFORMATION ON AN EV CHARGING STATION ; AND 
 
 (II) MINIMUM HOURS OF OPE RATION FOR: 
 
 1. GENERAL CUSTOMER SER VICE NEEDS; AND   	WES MOORE, Governor 	Ch. 452 
 
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 2. PROVIDING OR DISPATC	HING CUSTOMER 
ASSISTANCE; 
 
 (15) ESTABLISH MINIMUM HO URS OF OPERATION FOR EV CHARGING 
STATIONS; 
 
 (16) REQUIRE PROACTIVE MO NITORING OF EV SUPPLY EQUIPMENT 
AND EV CHARGING STATIONS; 
 
 (17) ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR A CCURATE FIELD 
STANDARDS IN ACCORDA NCE WITH THE MOST RE CENT EDITION OF THE NATIONAL 
INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY HANDBOOK 44; 
 
 (18) IF DETERMINED APPROP RIATE BY THE COMPTROLLER , 
ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR THE US E OF: 
 
 (I) COMBINED CHARGING SY STEMS, UNDER WHICH A 
STANDARD EV CHARGING CONNECTOR A LLOWS A DIRECT CURRE NT FAST CHARGER 
TO CONNECT TO , COMMUNICATE WITH , AND CHARGE AN ELECTR IC VEHICLE; OR 
 
 (II) NORTH AMERICAN CHARGING SYS TEMS, UNDER WHICH A 
TESLA STANDARD EV CHARGING CONNECTOR A LLOWS A DIRECT CURRE NT FAST 
CHARGER TO CONNECT T O, COMMUNICATE WITH , AND CHARGE AN ELECTR IC 
VEHICLE; AND 
 
 (19) ESTABLISH CIVIL PENA LTIES FOR NONCOMPLIA NCE WITH THE 
REGULATIONS . 
 
 (C) REGULATIONS ADOPTED I N ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION SHALL : 
 
 (1) COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION ’S 
NATIONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE FORMULA PROGRAM; AND 
 
 (2) PROVIDE A DELAYED AP PLICABILITY DATE FOR EV SUPPLY 
EQUIPMENT INSTALLED BEFORE THE DATE THE REGULATIONS ARE INIT IALLY 
ADOPTED. 
 
Article – Public Utilities 
 
7–901. 
 
 (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 
  Ch. 452 	2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND  
 
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 (b) “EV charging network” means the total number of EV charging stations an 
electric company installs or maintains for public use. 
 
 (e) “Level 2 charging” means the ability to charge a battery or other energy 
storage device in an electric vehicle in a manner that: 
 
 (1) is capable of using an alternating current electrical service with a 
minimum of 208 volts; and 
 
 (2) meets applicable industry safety standards. 
 
 (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 
 
 (2) “Direct current fast charger” means EV supply equipment: 
 
 (i) capable of supplying direct current electricity to an electric 
vehicle; and 
 
 (ii) fitted with an EV charging connector. 
 
 (3) “EV charging connector” means a device that attaches an electric 
vehicle to an EV charging port to facilitate the transfer of electricity to an electric vehicle. 
 
 (4) “EV charging port” means the portion of an EV charging station that 
attaches an EV charging connector with the EV charging station. 
 
 (5) “EV charging station” means a connected point in EV supply 
equipment: 
 
 (i) at which current is taken to charge a battery or any other energy 
storage device in an electric vehicle; and 
 
 (ii) capable of providing, at a minimum: 
 
 1. Level 2 charging; or 
 
 2. direct current fast charger charging. 
 
 (6) “EV service provider” means an entity responsible for operating one or 
more EV supply equipment units, including being responsible for: 
 
 (i) sending or receiving commands or messages to an EV charging 
network as defined in § 7–901 of the Public Utilities Article; and 
 
 (ii) providing billing, maintenance, reservations, and other services 
for an EV supply equipment unit.   	WES MOORE, Governor 	Ch. 452 
 
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 (7) “EV supply equipment” means a unit that controls the power supply to 
one or more electric vehicles at an EV charging station. 
 
 (8) “Level 2 charging” has the meaning stated in § 7–901 of the Public 
Utilities Article. 
 
 (9) “Uptime” means the availability and consistency of an EV charging 
station to successfully dispense electricity as designed, measured as a percentage of both 
hours and days of a calendar year. 
 
 (b) There is an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Workgroup. 
 
 (c) The Workgroup consists of the following members: 
 
 (1) two members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of 
the Senate; 
 
 (2) two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of 
the House; 
 
 (3) one representative of the Department of Agriculture, designated by the 
Secretary of Agriculture;  
 
 (4) one representative of the Public Service Commission, designated by the 
Chairman Chair of the Public Service Commission; 
 
 (5) one representative of the Office of the Comptroller, designated by the 
Comptroller;  
 
 (6) one representative of the Maryland Department of Transportation, 
designated by the Secretary of Transportation; 
 
 (7) one representative of the Maryland Energy Administration, designated 
by the Director of the Maryland Energy Administration; and  
 
 (8) the following members, designated by the Public Service Commission: 
 
 (i) two representatives of the public interest sector who are 
identified as nongovernment organization leaders in the electric vehicle industry in the 
State and consumers of electric vehicles; and 
 
 (ii) two representatives of the private sector business partners who 
are identified as leaders in the electric vehicle industry in the State. 
  Ch. 452 	2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND  
 
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 (d) The Chair of the Public Service Commission shall designate the chair of the 
Workgroup. 
 
 (e) The Public Service Commission shall provide staff for the Workgroup. 
 
 (f) A member of the Workgroup: 
 
 (1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Workgroup; but 
 
 (2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 
 
 (g) The Workgroup shall: 
 
 (1) develop a framework for reliability and reporting standards for EV 
charging stations; 
 
 (2) study and make recommendations regarding which government 
entities have responsibility for ensuring accountability regarding EV charging stations; and 
 
 (3) make recommendations regarding adopting and i mplementing 
regulations that may: 
 
 (i) establish different payment options for the retail use of EV 
supply equipment, including: 
 
 1. credit card, mobile phone, and toll–free number payment 
options; and 
 
 2. options for customers with disabilities and non–English 
speaking customers; 
 
 (ii) prohibit an EV service provider from requiring a subscription or 
membership to initiate a charging session; 
 
 (iii) authorize an EV service provider to offer services on a 
subscription or membership basis; 
 
 (iv) whether to establish requirements for transparent information 
regarding EV charging stations, including charging rates, location, accessibility, and  
real–time availability; 
 
 (v) enable users who have a subscription or membership with an EV 
service provider to use an EV charging station that is not part of the subscription 
membership; 
   	WES MOORE, Governor 	Ch. 452 
 
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 (vi) establish employee training or certification requirements for 
individuals who install or perform maintenance on EV supply equipment; 
 
 (vii) establishing establish minimum power output limits for EV 
supply equipment and EV charging stations; 
 
 (viii) establish registration and certification requirements; 
 
 (ix) require the submission of reports on EV supply equipment to: 
 
 1. the Office of the Comptroller; 
 
 2. the Public Service Commission; and 
 
 3. the Alternative Fuels Data Center in the U.S. Department 
of Energy; 
 
 (x) establish labeling requirements, including labeling requirements 
for EV charging station charging rates, capacity, and voltage; 
 
 (xi) require an uptime of 97%; 
 
 (xii) specify how uptime will be measured, including: 
 
 1. whether uptime must be calculated per EV charging port 
or per EV charging connector; 
 
 2. the date to which downtime is backdated; and 
 
 3. whether downtime includes EV charging station 
disconnection or broken interface features when the EV supply equipment can still output 
electricity; 
 
 (xiii) establish exemptions from the uptime requirement of 97%; 
 
 (xiv) establish customer support requirements, including: 
 
 1. labeling requirements for providing customer support 
information on an EV charging station; and 
 
 2. minimum hours of operation for: 
 
 A. general customer service needs; and 
 
 B. providing or dispatching customer assistance; 
  Ch. 452 	2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND  
 
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 (xv) establish minimum hours of operation for EV charging stations; 
 
 (xvi) require proactive monitoring of EV supply equipment and EV 
charging stations; 
 
 (xvii) establish standards and procedures for accurate field standards 
in accordance with the most recent edition of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Handbook 44; 
 
 (xviii) establish standards for the use of: 
 
 1. combined charging systems, under which a standard EV 
charging connector allows a direct current fast charger to connect to, communicate with, 
and charge an electric vehicle; or 
 
 2. North American charging systems, under which a Tesla 
standard EV charging connector allows a direct current fast charge to connect to, 
communicate with, and charge an electric vehicle; and 
 
 (xix) establish civil penalties for noncompliance with the regulations. 
 
 (h) The recommendations made under subsection (g)(3) of this section shall: 
 
 (1) give deference to the Federal Highway Administration’s National 
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, but may permit deviation for good cause; 
 
 (2) provide a delayed applicability date for EV supply equipment installed 
before the date the regulations are initially adopted; and 
 
 (3) exclude regulations that apply to: 
 
 (i) EV supply equipment that is used for noncommercial purposes; 
and 
 
 (ii) EV supply equipment that supplies wholesale electricity. 
 
 (i) On or before November 1, 2024, the Workgroup shall report its framework and 
recommendations to the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee and 
the House Economic Matters Committee, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 
Government Article.  
 
 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That on or before January 15, 2025, 
the Comptroller, in consultation with the Public Service Commission, shall submit a report 
to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on: 
   	WES MOORE, Governor 	Ch. 452 
 
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 (1) the progress made in developing the regulations required under Section 
1 of this Act; and 
 
 (2) the resources required for the enforcement of the regulations required 
under Section 1 of this Act. 
 
 SECTION 3. 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 
July 1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and, at the end of June 30, 
2026, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated 
and of no further force and effect. 
 
Approved by the Governor, May 9, 2024.