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ICC Has Questions About Electric Vehicles
(IRN)-Where will they do it, how much will it cost and who will pay are some of the questions the Illinois Commerce Commission has for electric companies when it comes to charging electric vehicles.

In anticipation of electric vehicles gaining popularity in Illinois, the commission has held the first of many meetings on exactly what effects electric vehicles will have to the power grid.

One question: Who will pay to upgrade electric service if your neighbor buys a Chevy Volt or a Tesla? Should the utility pick up the tab and pass it on to all of its customers, or should that electric vehicle owner have to pony up the cash for a bigger transformer? While no utility had a definite answer, those questions will likely get answered in future ICC meetings.

Asked if the electric grid as is can sustain the gradual rollout of electric vehicles, utility companies say yes, but with some exceptions. Too many vehicles charging in the middle of the day in the middle of the summer could cause problems. ComeEd and Ameren say they must work with the ICC to encourage nighttime or off peak charging. The plus, according to Mike McMahon, vice president of Smart Grid Technologies, is that renewable wind turbine produced energy is readily available, more so at night than during the day.

(Source: Illinois Radio Network)
03 10 11 by Newsroom
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