HB 2165 Electric customers to pay for transportation electrification for electric cars

This bill requires electric companies that sell electricity to 25,000 or more retail electricity consumers to collect amount from consumers to support transportation electrification pursuant to plan accepted by Public Utility Commission. Sunsets January 2, 2031.

Personal Choice and Responsibility
Most Oregonians cannot afford an electric vehicle. Therefore all Oregonians with residential service should not have to pay utility increases to support utility corporations in the electrification of roadside charging stations.

Fiscal Responsibility
Increases maximum suggested retail price of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that qualify for electric vehicle rebates from $50,000 to $60,000. Authorizes commission to allow electric companies to recover costs from retail electricity consumers for prudent infrastructure measures to support transportation electrification if certain criteria are met. Modifies eligibility for and increases value of Charge Ahead zero-emission and electric vehicle rebates. Modifies provisions related to administrative costs of program. Repeals sunset on standard and Charge Ahead zero-emission and electric vehicle rebate programs. Maintains funding of programs through tax for privilege of engaging in business of selling motor vehicles at retail. This bill is also allowing electricity companies to set aside up to half collected funds to support “communities of color, communities experiencing lower incomes, tribal communities, rural communities, frontier communities, coastal communities and other communities adversely harmed by environmental and health hazards.”

Limited Government
The Legislative Assembly initiated Oregon’s electric vehicle rebate program with the passage of House Bill 2017 (2017). The measure initiated a 0.5 percent tax on the privilege of selling new passenger motor vehicles, intended to generate $12 million per year to provide rebates for purchase of zero-emission vehicles, with excess revenue accruing to the Connect Oregon Fund for grants to non-highway freight infrastructure projects. The measure created two separate rebate programs, which can both be received by eligible applicants. The standard zero-emission vehicle rebate program provides up to $2,500 in rebate on the purchase or lease of a new plug-in hybrid vehicle or new battery electric vehicle. The Charge Ahead Rebate program provides rebates up to $2,500 for purchase or lease of new or used battery electric vehicles, but includes requirements that the purchaser or lessee to meet low- or moderate-income household criteria. Both rebate programs were set to sunset on January 2, 2024.

Free Markets
Government has no business establishing a business monopoly. PUC was established to prevent a monopoly, now piece by piece that is being reversed all for no good.