St. Paul, Minnesota — The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) approved Otter Tail Power Company’s (Otter Tail) electric vehicle charging infrastructure pilot program yesterday. The infrastructure pilot program will enable Otter Tail to build 11 direct current (DC) fast chargers throughout its service territory in rural Western Minnesota.

“This proposal is a big step toward getting EV chargers throughout the state, especially in rural Minnesota where there has been a gap in developing charging infrastructure and EV adoption,” said Commissioner John Tuma.

“This proposal is a cost-effective way to get more EV chargers across Minnesota,” said Commissioner Matt Schuerger. “Otter Tail Power deserves a lot of credit for being one of the first rural electric utilities in the country to create a proposal and one that garnered such widespread stakeholder support,”

Otter Tail Power’s pilot would begin in 2020 and the company estimates planning and installing the chargers in a phased rollout over three years. Electric vehicle customers charging at Otter Tail’s stations would pay a connection fee and a per kw/h fee for the electricity, which would offset installation costs.

While the exact locations of the 11 charging stations has not been finalized, Otter Tail centered potential sites so that 97 percent of the company’s customers would be within 30 miles of a charging site and 100 percent of customers would be within 60 miles of a station. Otter Tail analyzed travel corridors, travel destinations, in addition to the proximity to customers when considering charger locations.

Otter Tail developed the infrastructure pilot program in response to the February 1, 2019 Commission EV order instructing utilities to file proposals intended to enhance the availability of or access to charging infrastructure, increase consumer awareness of EV benefits, and/or facilitate managed charging or other mechanisms that optimize the incorporation of EVs into the electric system.

About

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission regulates three cornerstone service industries in Minnesota's economy; electricity, natural gas and telephone. The Commission’s mission is to create and maintain a regulatory environment that ensures safe, adequate and efficient utility services at fair, reasonable rates consistent with State telecommunications and energy policies. It does so by providing independent, consistent, professional and comprehensive oversight and regulation of utility service providers. Learn more at mn.gov/puc

Please contact Charley Bruce, 651-201-2251 or charley.bruce@state.mn.us if you have any questions.

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