LANSING – The Michigan Public Service Commission approved tariff changes and the creation of an accounting process through which Upper Peninsula Power Co. (UPPCO) will accelerate installation of electric vehicle chargers.

It’s the first such utility vehicle electrification effort approved by the Commission for the UP as UPPCO seeks to meet growing customer demand for EV charging, alleviate range anxiety among EV owners and encourage tourism among EV drivers (Case No. U-21137).

The approval will allow UPPCO customers including municipalities and nonprofit agencies to access public funding to help defray the costs of installing EV chargers, including the $110 million for EV charging infrastructure that Michigan will receive through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The approval of UPPCO’s amended application allows the company to create a regulatory asset of up to $750,000 for at most three years to support its contribution toward EV chargers that its customers install with financial assistance from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s (EGLE) EV charger grant program. Under the program, EGLE funds one third of a charger’s costs, and utilities and customers also each pay a third.

UPPCO would seek to recover its costs in a future rate case, in which the company will provide a cost-benefit analysis. Approval of the requested tariff change will not increase the cost of service to customers.

In addition, today’s order approves UPPCO’s request to change its General Service Tariff (C-1 Tariff) to allow for expanded application of the tariff to allow participating customers to take electric service through a demand waiver through January 1, 2027. After the pilot ends, UPPCO would group EV chargers with dedicated service with similar usage type customers for future ratemaking purposes.

Approval also allows for funding for continued transportation electrification and for further study of how the growth in EVs could impact UPPCO’s electric grid. UPPCO said it would work with customers to identify potential EV charger locations to minimize potential distribution network upgrades. The company also will provide the MPSC an annual report in this docket providing details on EV chargers installed through the pilot program, a map of their locations, and use of chargers by month and season.

UPPCO, based in Marquette, serves about 52,000 customers in 10 counties in the central and western UP.