Distribution System Planning and Proactive Investment for EV Growth: A Dialogue with Consumer Advocates and Utilities

Enhanced distribution system planning and proactive investment is becoming an increasingly important topic. Traditionally, electric utilities have planned for load growth using historical trends, economic forecasts, and confirmed new load. However, the rapid rise in electricity demand from sources like electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps is exposing the limitations of these legacy approaches.

Grid upgrades to support EV chargers can take months or years, while drivers and fleet operators can often procure EVs and deploy chargers much more quickly — creating a significant timeline mismatch and the risk of infrastructure becoming a bottleneck. To help address these concerns, RMI and the Alliance for Transportation Electrification (ATE) co-hosted a convening in March 2025 in Boulder, Colorado. The event focused on distribution system planning and proactive investment, with an emphasis on preparing EV load growth. It brought together representatives from consumer advocate offices and electric utilities — two groups that rarely engage outside of formal regulatory processes but must collaborate to navigate the complexities surfaced by increasing load growth and technological change — including whether and how to implement proactive distribution system investments.This convening served as an initial dialogue to lay the groundwork for future engagement, aiming to surface perspectives rather than build consensus.

Participants discussed more than 40 challenges related to proactive distribution investment, including:

• Disconnects between ratemaking and planning
• Inequitable distribution of EVs and chargers across diverse communities
• Policy uncertainty
• Limited stakeholder capacity
• Timeline mismatches
• Procedural complexity
• Underutilized infrastructure
• Gaps in data and information

Following these discussions, the group explored potential solutions across a range of areas, such as:

• Planning improvements
• Easier and more transparent information sharing
• Cost recovery approaches
• Business model innovation
• Process reform
• Additional resources and training
• Alternative financial mechanisms
• Cost allocation approaches
• Utility programs
• Supporting legislation

RMI and ATE are exploring future convenings and other forms of engagement to continue advancing the dialogue around proactive distribution system investment that supports growing EV demand while also protecting ratepayers and centering affordability.