Eversource stopping electric vehicle rebates

A sign sits at an electric vehicle charging station, Friday, March 8, 2024, at an electric vehicle charging station in London, Ohio. The charging ports are a key part of President Joe Biden’s effort to encourage drivers to move away from gasoline-powered cars and trucks that contribute to global warming. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

BERLIN, Conn. (WTNH) — Eversource will stop new electric vehicle charging rebates, the utilities company announced on Thursday.

“As Eversource focuses on implementing solutions that will advance decarbonization and electrification goals in Connecticut, state regulatory decisions are calling into question the stability of the state’s support for EV funding, impeding the company’s ability to continue funding these important customer programs,” an announcement from the company reads.

The company has provided more than $50 million to electric vehicle charging programs since 2022, according to the announcement. However, it noted that a deferring program costs has created “uncertainty” and risk for the EV programs amid a “unpredictable state regulatory environment.”

The decision will impact the Residential, Commercial Level 2 and the DC Fast Charging programs.

“Continued participation in these programs could place critically needed capital resources at risk and hinder our ability to support electric operations that our customers rely on every day,” Doug Horton, the vice president of distribution rates and regulatory requirements for Eversource, said in a written announcement. “Historically, we’ve laid out the funding up front to carry out these programs on behalf of our customers looking to convert to electric vehicles, but through recent decisions and public comments, PURA has made it clear the agency does not see it as necessary to support state policy with its ratemaking policies. The regulatory authority’s record of unreasonable, arbitrary decisions to deny reimbursements for costs incurred in good faith on behalf of customers is creating uncertainty and risk for new investments. We are eager to resume our EV programs once PURA establishes a rate treatment that is supportive of these continued program outlays. In the meantime, we are conducting proactive outreach to collaborate on worthwhile initiatives we can proceed with.”

The residential and commercial program will stop processing applications on May 22. DC Fast rebates will stop next year.