Power & Pipes

In November 2023, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) issued a proposed policy statement to encourage Pennsylvania’s electric distribution companies (EDCs) to develop distribution and default service rate structures for electric vehicle (EV) charging customers. Following a review of comments submitted by stakeholders, on December 19, 2024, the PUC adopted a Final Policy Statement Order, which addressed those comments and included a final policy statement (Policy Statement). The Policy Statement became effective on February 15, 2025 following publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

In our final dispatch from the CERAWeek conference by S&P Global, Felipe Alice shared some insights and key takeaways from a luncheon and dialogue session featuring tech entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist Bill Gates.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging relies on a complex ecosystem involving multiple entities, including utility operators, third-party data network providers, charging infrastructure owners, and the EVs themselves. The high degree of digital interconnectivity required to run that ecosystem presents significant cybersecurity risks, including the potential for data theft, physical property damage, and electric grid disruptions.

The US Department of Treasury issued its long-awaited proposed guidance on March 31, 2023 to implement the critical mineral and battery component watershed requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which significantly revised the tax credit incentive mechanism of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) that relates to electric vehicles (EVs). Since the IRA’s enactment, the critical mineral and battery component requirements have generated tremendous interest and comment from virtually all segments of the automotive, mining, and component manufacturing industries.