Enhancing Electric Vehicle Charging to Ensure Equity, Efficiency, and Dependability as Claimed by the Network
In the heart of the debate surrounding the roll-out of on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging in New South Wales (NSW), key players are advocating for the involvement of distribution network service providers (DNSPs) like Ausgrid. On the other hand, EV industry groups and consumer advocates are expressing concerns about potential anti-competitive practices.
Ausgrid, the operator of Australia’s largest distributed network, and Energy Networks Australia are pushing for the removal of ring-fencing rules, arguing that this would address "market failures" and enable efficient, regulated installation of kerbside chargers. Rob Amphlett Lewis, the group executive of distributed services at Ausgrid, believes that this involvement is crucial for an equitable and effective transition to electric vehicles, as it can make on-street EV charging more reliable and accessible across NSW.
Lewis proposes making kerbside EV charging equitable, effective, and reliable to boost consumer confidence in electric vehicles. He suggests that individuals should be able to park on their own street and charge their car from a power pole or the kerb, and charge that back to their home at the same price as their home energy. By 2030 or 2032, he estimates that the extra load from EV chargers could reduce power prices by $18 per customer.
However, EV industry groups and consumer advocates argue that allowing regulated networks to charge households for equipment installation could be anti-competitive. Ross De Rango, an engineer and former Electric Vehicle Council representative, criticized the idea by saying that DNSPs want to impose the costs of deploying, maintaining, and profiting from tens of thousands of public EV chargers onto all power bill payers, regardless of who benefits from the service.
This debate is currently a topic of discussion during the first public hearing of the NSW Parliament's electric vehicle infrastructure inquiry. Sophie Vorrath, the editor of One Step Off The Grid and deputy editor of Renew Economy, specializing in clean energy reporting for over a decade, is closely following the developments.
Ausgrid has proposed a plan where it could roll out a network of charges in areas where there’s a need, and any retailer or charge-point operator could sell through those particular units. Amphlett Lewis states that the cost of rolling out a network of EV chargers could be $1.60 each. He argues that the investment in EV chargers could reduce costs for everyone by ensuring the extra load comes to the network.
The key players advocating for the involvement of DNSPs like Ausgrid in the roll-out of on-street EV charging in NSW are primarily the DNSPs themselves and Energy Networks Australia. In contrast, the opposition to DNSP involvement mainly comes from EV industry groups and consumer advocates.
This debate is expected to continue as the NSW Parliament’s electric vehicle infrastructure inquiry assesses the appropriate roles for DNSPs in the emerging EV charging market in NSW. Amphlett Lewis is open to debate with the regulator about the roll-out of EV charging networks by networks, hoping to find a solution that benefits both consumers and the environment.
- Energy Networks Australia, similar to Ausgrid, advocates for the removal of ring-fencing rules in the energy industry, arguing that this would facilitate the efficient installation of kerbside EV chargers and address market failures.
- Ross De Rango, an engineer and former representative of the Electric Vehicle Council, criticizes the idea of DNSPs charging households for equipment installation, suggesting that it could be anti-competitive as it imposes the costs of deploying, maintaining, and profiting from EV chargers onto all power bill payers.
