Balancing Benefits and Costs – Beneficial Electrification Plan Case Study

AEG performed cost-effectiveness analyses on a comprehensive set of measures and interventions within its BenCost tool. BenCost, a Microsoft Excel®-based model, provides a transparent, user-friendly, and customizable database to analyze program data and support program design and development. Using this tool, measures are analyzed individually and bundled into programs, to determine which are the most beneficial for inclusion in future programs.

We focused on the Total Resource Cost test as the foundation of the cost effectiveness analysis. The TRC measures the net benefits of a beneficial electrification program as a resource option based on the total costs of the program, including both participant and utility costs. The benefits calculated in the TRC test include outside state and federal incentives for electric vehicles and the avoided wholesale fossil fuel, net emissions, and O&M costs associated with the avoided non-electric vehicle usage. The costs in the test are the increase in supply and generation capacity costs associated with the electric load from the electric vehicles. The costs also include the non-incentive program costs paid by the utility and the incremental costs of the line extensions and vehicles paid by the participants.

For the proposed suite of programs in the Plan, AEG worked with the experts at the utility to identify the benefits and costs of the performance and activities associated with each program that could be reasonably identified and analyzed. Next, AEG developed a list of costs and benefits to include for the cost-effectiveness calculations. The full list of benefits and costs was cross-referenced with any similar analyses to ensure the appropriate benefits and costs were included for the Plan. Last, the identified benefits and costs were reviewed with the utility to confirm appropriate benefits and costs were being accounted for in the analysis.

Supported by AEG’s analysis and in consultation with experts at the Utility, AEG helped to evaluate the comprehensive portfolio of beneficial electrification programs, measures, and tariffs including modifications to existing programs and the development of new programs. Below we summarize the new programs that we helped to develop as part of the Plan.  

These four programs focus on supporting the adoption of EV’s across several key areas including drivers, fleet owners, trade allies and job creation, and community involvement and education.

Driver’s Education

• Program providing high schools with EV educational materials suitable for curriculum use. In addition, high schools located in equity eligible communities qualify for direct financial assistance toward purchases of EV’s and charging equipment.

Fleet Assessment

• This program will offer fleet assessments for private fleet, education, and transit customers. An analysis of the customers’ existing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and usage patterns will be compared with battery electric vehicle (BEV) replacements.  A total cost of ownership (TCO) report along with fuel, maintenance and emissions specifics will be provided along with recommendations.

Trade Ally

• The Trade Ally Program will foster deep relationships between the utility and organizations that can play key roles in electrification of vehicles in the utility’s service territory. The network will include individuals or organizations involved with charging station installation, maintenance, financing, etc. so that customers have access to reliable EV resources. The network will be utilized to verify charging equipment installations along with administering customer rebates.

Community Engagement & Consultation

• The Community Engagement and Consultation program would provide a generic checklist of key considerations as communities develop EV adoption strategies. The program would also include access to resources that can assist community leaders in establishing EV adoption measures that best fit the needs of each community. In addition, equity eligible communities may qualify for direct financial assistance toward carrying out their EV adoption plans.
• Eligible communities will also receive assistance as they address barriers to transportation electrification to develop strategies best suited to their specific needs. Assistance may include access to EV planning expertise at no charge along with direct financial support to execute EV development strategies in equity eligible communities.