DPU's electric vehicle charging resources

Here you will find information about the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure programs and EV‑related rates in Massachusetts.

1. Overview

The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has approved electric vehicle (EV) programs for the regulated electric companies (Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil).  On December 30, 2022, the DPU approved:

• a 4‑year Phase II EV program for Eversource with a budget of approximately $188 million,

• a 4‑year Phase III EV program for National Grid with a budget of approximately $206 million, and

• a 5‑year Phase I EV program for Unitil with a budget of approximately $998,000.

Each electric company must submit an annual report to the DPU. Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil must also develop a joint state‑wide program evaluation plan. D.P.U. 21-90/D.P.U. 21-91/D.P.U. 21-92.

The EV programs include make-ready distribution infrastructure and rebates to customers for the deployment of make‑ready EV charging infrastructure. Make-ready infrastructure enables the customer to install the EV charger.  The make-ready infrastructure includes:

• a distribution primary lateral service feed,
• a transformer and transformer pad,
• a new service meter,
• a new service panel, and
• conduit and conductor necessary to connect each piece of equipment.

Each electric company also offers rebates for Level 2 and direct current fast charging (DCFC) EV chargers for certain customers.  Level 2 chargers rely on a 240-volt connection and can fully charge most EVs in 8 hours or less.  DCFCs use direct current and higher power of 50 kilowatts (kW) or more, and are the fastest method for charging an EV.  

The DPU has also approved EV‑related rates, including demand charge alternative rates and Unitil’s residential EV time‑of‑use rate.

On this webpage, you will find information about the electric companies’ EV programs, EV‑related rates, and other helpful resources.  For EV-related funding and incentives, including for the electric vehicles themselves, visit the Department of Energy Resource’s State and Federal Electric Vehicle Funding Programs webpage.

2. Eversource EV programs

Phase II EV Program

Eversource’s 2023 through 2026 Phase II EV program includes 5 components:

1. make‑ready infrastructure and EV charger rebates for public and workplace, residential, and light‑duty fleet customers. This infrastructure should support the deployment of:

   • up to 3,350 public Level 2 ports

   • up to 2,760 workplace Level 2 ports

   • up to 27 megawatts (MWs) of public DCFC ports

   • up to 16,000 ports for 1 to 4‑unit residential customers

   • up to 2,200 Level 2 ports at approximately 110 multi‑unit dwelling sites with five or more units,

2. fleet assessment services,
3. a medium and heavy‑duty fleet pilot for environmental justice communities,
4. a marketing and outreach plan, and
5. an evaluation plan.

Eversource will recover its Phase II EV program costs through a new EV program rate factor applied to customer bills.

Phase I EV Program

The DPU approved Eversource’s 2017 through 2021 Phase I EV program as part of a base distribution rate case in D.P.U. 17-05.  In D.P.U. 20-74, the DPU approved a supplemental budget for the phase I EV program for 2021.  The Phase I EV program provided make‑ready infrastructure for:

• publicly accessible locations, such as public parking areas,

• workplaces, and

• multi‑unit dwellings.

Through its Phase I EV program, Eversource installed:

• approximately 2,000 Level 2 EV charging ports in approximately 400 locations, and

• 4 DCFC ports. D.P.U. 20-40 Grid Modernization Term Report.  

Additional Resources

Eversource and electric vehicles

3. National Grid EV programs

Phase III EV Program

National Grid’s 2023 through 2026 Phase III EV program includes 5 components:

1. make‑ready infrastructure and EV charger rebates for public and workplace, residential, and fleet customers.  This infrastructure should support the deployment of:
   • up to 2,500 public Level 2 ports
   • up to 4,700 workplace Level 2 ports
   • up to 32 MWs of public DCFC ports
   • up to 500 public and workplace Level 1 ports
   • up to 20,000 ports for 1 to 4‑unit residential customers
   • up to 3,800 Level 2 ports at multi‑unit dwelling sites with 5 or more units
   • up to 600 ports for fleet customers,
2. fleet assessment services,
3. an expanded off‑peak charging rebate offering,
4. a marketing and outreach plan, and
5. an evaluation plan.

National Grid will recover its Phase III EV program costs through its existing EV program rate factor applied to customer bills.

Phase I and Phase II EV Programs

The DPU approved National Grid’s 2018 through 2022 Phase I EV program in D.P.U. 17‑13.  The DPU approved National Grid's 2019 through 2023 Phase II EV program as part of a base distribution rate case in D.P.U. 18‑150.  In D.P.U. 21-146, the DPU approved a supplemental budget for the Phase I EV program for 2022.    

National Grid’s Phase I EV program provided make‑ready infrastructure and EV charger rebates for:

• businesses/workplaces,
• multi‑unit dwellings, and
• public entities and non‑profits.

National Grid’s Phase II EV program includes:

• an off‑peak charging rebate program,
• a public fleet advisory services plan, and
• a research and development program on co‑location of DCFC and solar/storage facilities.

Through its Phase I EV program, National Grid installed:

• 823 charging sites, and
• 13 DCFC sites.  D.P.U. 22-63, Evaluation Report.  

Through its Phase II EV program, National Grid provided:

• off‑peak charging rebates to 535 participants, and
• fleet advisory services to 22 public fleets.  D.P.U. 22-63, Off-Peak Charging Rebate Program Evaluation Report and Fleet Advisory Services Program Annual Report.

Additional Resources

National Grid and electric vehicles for residential customers

National Grid and electric vehicles for commercial customers

4. Unitil EV program

Unitil’s 2023 through 2027 Phase I EV program includes 4 components:

1. make‑ready infrastructure rebates for public customers.  This infrastructure should support the deployment of:
   • Up to 5 Level 2 public sites, and
   • 1 public DCFC site, ​​​​​​
2. make‑ready infrastructure and EV charger rebates for residential customers in 1 to 4‑unit properties,
3. a marketing and outreach plan, and
4. an evaluation plan.

Unitil will recover its Phase I EV program costs through its existing grid modernization rate factor applied to customer bills. 

Additional Resources

Unitil and electric vehicles

5. Demand charge alternative rates

On December 30, 2022, the DPU approved optional demand charge alternative rates for Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil for a 10‑year term, from 2023 through 2033.  D.P.U. 21-90/D.P.U. 21-91/D.P.U. 21-92.  These rates are available to all separately metered, eligible EV charging sites.

The DPU approved new rates EV‑1 and EV‑2 for Eversource. 

Rate name	Rate components	Who is eligible
EV-1	customer charge kilowatt hour (kWh) base distribution rate	customers with billing demand no more than 200 kW for 12 consecutive billing months
EV-2	customer charge kWh base distribution rate demand charge	customers with billing demand greater than 200 kW for 12 consecutive billing months

 

The DPU approved revisions to rates G-2 and G-3 for National Grid.  

Rate name	Rate components	Who is eligible
G-2	customer charge kWh base distribution rate demand charge	customers with billing demand no more than 200 kW for 12 consecutive billing months, and a monthly usage greater than 10,000 kWhs
G-3	customer charge kWh base distribution rate demand charge	customers with billing demand greater than 200 kW for 12 consecutive billing months

 

The DPU approved revisions to rates GD-2 and GD-3 for Unitil.  

Rate name	Rate components	Who is eligible
GD-2	customer charge kWh base distribution rate demand charge	customers with monthly usage between 850 and 120,000 kWh, and with at least 4 kW of demand
GD-3	customer charge a base distribution rate with different per kWh charges for on-peak and off-peak demand charge	customers with monthly usage greater than 120,000 kWh

6. Unitil residential EV time of use rate

On December 30, 2022, the DPU approved a residential EV time‑of‑use rate for Unitil.  D.P.U. 21-90/D.P.U. 21-91/D.P.U. 21-92.

The residential EV time‑of‑use rate consists of 3 rate components:

1. a generation component,
2. a transmission component, and
3. a distribution component.

The rate components differ between summer and winter by these time periods:

1. an on‑peak period of 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. for non‑holiday weekdays,
2. a mid‑peak period of 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. for non‑holiday weekdays, and
3. an off‑peak period for all other times.

Additional Resources

Tariff for Unitil's residential EV time of use rate

7. Legislation related to EV charging

• Chapter 179 of the Acts of 2022, An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind, Sections 53, 81, and 90 (2022 Clean Energy Act) 
  • creates an EV charging infrastructure deployment fund,
  • requires the electric companies to submit a time‑of‑use rate proposal to the DPU by August 11, 2023. The proposal should consider the cost of charging the EV at different times of the day,
  • establishes an intergovernmental coordinating council (council). One of the DPU commissioners or their designee is on the council. The council must put in place a coordinated approach to EV charging infrastructure deployment, and
  • requires each electric company to file with the DPU an electric sector modernization plan (plan) every 5 years. The plan must include upgrades to the distribution system. These upgrades should accommodate increased transportation electrification.
• Chapter 383 of the Acts of 2020, An Act Authorizing and Accelerating Transportation Investment, Section 29 (2021 Transportation Act)

  • required each electric company to file by July 14, 2021 at least 1 proposed commercial tariff or program for DPU review using alternatives to traditional demand‑based rate structures to facilitate faster charging for light‑duty, heavier‑duty, and fleet EVs.

• Chapter 448 of the Acts of 2016, An Act Promoting Zero Emission Vehicle Adoption (2017 ZEV Act) 
  • defined EV, EV charging services, EV charging station, network roaming, public EV charging station, and publicly available parking space; and
  • required the regulated electric companies to construct, own, and operate publicly available EV charging infrastructure.  These charging stations, must:
    • be in the public interest,
    • meet a need regarding the advancement of EVs in the Commonwealth, and
    • not hinder the development of the competitive EV charging market.

Last updated:	June 6, 2023