NH's latest attempt to fund fast charging in the state using VW settlement funds (RFP # NH-VW-2021-01) was released September 17, 2021. Then is was amended on October 13, 2021, November 2, 2021, December 3, 2021, and again on January 12, 2022. The funding opportunity closed on February 25, 2022, Then they posted this notice:
***Notice Effective April 6, 2022: In response to the VW Environmental Mitigation Trust Direct Current Fast Charging Infrastructure Request for Proposals (RFP), New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) received 30 application packets containing a total of 53 proposed EVSE deployment options. NHDES determined that 43 of these proposed options - representing 35 sites across 25 NH towns and cities - met the minimum qualifications of the RFP and were subsequently advanced to a scoring phase. These proposals are now being formally evaluated by a Scoring Committee comprised of representatives of the New Hampshire Departments of Energy, Transportation and Environmental Services.
Since then I have seen no updates. However, that final January 12, 2022 amendment included the text:
There are currently proceedings at the NH Public Utilities Commission regarding utility make-ready proposals. Eversource’s proposal, found in PUC Docket 21-078*, was filed in April 2021 and clearly described how their investment would be used in conjunction with settlement funds from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust that were awarded to New Hampshire. The hearing on this docket is scheduled in April 2022.
On August 15, 2022 the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission entered:
My layman's take on the high points of the order:
***Notice Effective April 6, 2022: In response to the VW Environmental Mitigation Trust Direct Current Fast Charging Infrastructure Request for Proposals (RFP), New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) received 30 application packets containing a total of 53 proposed EVSE deployment options. NHDES determined that 43 of these proposed options - representing 35 sites across 25 NH towns and cities - met the minimum qualifications of the RFP and were subsequently advanced to a scoring phase. These proposals are now being formally evaluated by a Scoring Committee comprised of representatives of the New Hampshire Departments of Energy, Transportation and Environmental Services.
Since then I have seen no updates. However, that final January 12, 2022 amendment included the text:
There are currently proceedings at the NH Public Utilities Commission regarding utility make-ready proposals. Eversource’s proposal, found in PUC Docket 21-078*, was filed in April 2021 and clearly described how their investment would be used in conjunction with settlement funds from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust that were awarded to New Hampshire. The hearing on this docket is scheduled in April 2022.
On August 15, 2022 the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission entered:
Order No. 26,667 Approving Settlement Agreement, With Clarifications
for
DE 21-078
Eversource Energy
Petition for Electric Vehicle Make-Ready and Demand Charge Alternative Proposals
for
DE 21-078
Eversource Energy
Petition for Electric Vehicle Make-Ready and Demand Charge Alternative Proposals
My layman's take on the high points of the order:
- Eversource received approval to spend up to $2,100,000 to support the (between $3,000,000 and $4,600,000) VW Fast Charging Infrastructure proposal.
- Eversource also received approval for a new "DCA rate design" three year trial rate specifically for public EV chargers to avoid the "Demand Charges" problem L3 charging sites encounter in some states.
- Eversource now has four months to implement the new DCA rate design.
- Though Tesla apparently did not participate in the negotiations, it looks to me like they may be able to take advantage of the new rate for their Superchargers.