California is a global leader in environmental protection, and it’s a reputation our state should be proud of and ardently defend. Fighting global climate change is an issue that affects every community and neighborhood across the L.A. region – regardless of whether you live in Beverly Park or South Park.

That’s the reason California’s push to support electric vehicle adoption is important, too. With more than 100,000 EVs sold to date – and more than 50,000 EVs registered in the L.A. area alone – California is one of the largest EV markets in the United States. Not only is Los Angeles one of the EV-friendliest cities in the country, but our state alone purchased more EVs in 2014 than the entire country of China.

But that progress – and the progress we’re making for our environment as a result – could easily stall if our state Legislature doesn’t adopt policies to support competition, innovation and customer choice in the growing EV industry. That’s the reason Assembly Bill 1005, which will protect competitive markets for EV-charging equipment from unfair competition, is so important and why California Greenworks is proud to be among the bill’s supporters.

In particular, California’s investor-owned utilities and the ways in which they engage in EV charging can either hinder or promote EV adoption.

Southern California Edison’s plan, for example, rightly protects consumer choice and flexibility; its plan can help reduce EV charger installation costs, ensure grid reliability and reduce ratepayer costs through intelligent energy management across its service area.

In contrast, Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s plan seizes monopoly control over the hardware, pricing and features of more than 25,000 EV stations – effectively stifling competition and innovation in its service area.

The fact that these two proposals are so different in cost and consequence underscores the need for state-level policy direction to promote innovation, competition and consumer choice in a way that increases demand for EV charging and accelerates a transition to fueling with electricity. California’s investor-owned utilities are uniquely positioned to invest in the infrastructure needed to make a site ready for an EV charging station, and well-designed investments from these utilities could actually help cut the cost of installing chargers by more than half. Leveraging this role for utilities would enable more EV-charging stations to serve more drivers – a win for EV adoption at large.

Policy direction

AB 1005, introduced by Assembly members Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park) and Marc Levine (D-San Rafael), and co-authored by Assembly members Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) and Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), capitalizes on that opportunity by outlining a way for utilities to collaborate with technology innovators to improve innovation and encourage growth in the EV marketplace.

The measure would allow utilities to use ratepayer funds for make-ready investments to help accelerate charging station deployment. Utilities also could own charging infrastructure so long as customer choice is protected, there is no restriction on the source of power to the chargers, and the chargers are networked to maximize customer features and accessibility. AB 1005 also would ensure that ratepayer dollars are not used to stifle innovation and to compete unfairly in the marketplace.

Right now, the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee, chaired by Assemblyman Anthony Rendon, has a significant opportunity to support robust, competitive markets that can not only improve product and service quality but can also help lower costs for consumers. AB 1005, which the committee will soon consider, would not only protect competitive markets but it also would stimulate innovation, maximize consumer choice, and encourage private investments in EV equipment and services.

California’s Legislature has rightfully been leading the way in championing pro-EV policies that support this important sector of our economy and help reduce carbon emissions. If California is serious about continuing the pace of innovation that has supported this progress thus far and about maintaining its place on the international stage as a leader in green technology, then it must pass AB1005. 

Mike Meador is chief executive and founder of California Greenworks, an L.A. nonprofit that strives to promote environmental protection and community revitalization in Southern California urban communities.