Introduction to CIISR

Vehicle electrification is new for many small fleets and multi-family housing (MFH) properties, which face unique challenges, especially those operating in HUBZones and disadvantaged communities. At the same time, utilities across the U.S. are working to streamline their processes to provide timely electric service upgrades and quality customer support to accommodate the thousands of fleets and multifamily properties seeking to electrify in the next five years. Charging Infrastructure Connection Simplification Resource (CIISR) emerged from this obstacle, and is a project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Goals of CIISR

  1. Develop best practices regarding the service connection procedures utilities use when providing (or upgrading) service for their customers’ electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment
  2. Expand support resources for small fleet and MFH customers
  3. Prioritize small, medium-or heavy-duty fleet businesses as well as multi-family housing (MFH) property managers or operators, located in HUBZones or disadvantaged communities

To help utilities and customers navigate the EV transition, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) recently released two reports that dive into the barriers and offer actionable solutions to streamline charger service connections. Both reports are linked below.

Simplifying Utility Service Connections for Small Fleet and Multi-Family Housing Electric Vehicle Charging

Understand gaps and opportunities to improve electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) energization timelines and experiences, focusing on two small commercial customer segments: businesses with small vehicle fleets and multi-family housing (MFH) properties, both of which tend to have fewer resources for energy upgrades and management, and likely do not have dedicated account representatives at utilities. The customer-centric challenges and overarching physical and technical challenges with rapid EVSE energization identified in this research form the basis for developing a roadmap towards streamlined EVSE energization processes to benefit customers, utilities, and the public.

Executive Summary and Full Report

A Grid Connection Roadmap for Utilities to Support Small Electric Vehicle (EV) Customers

The research for this roadmap revealed the specific challenges that utilities and customers may face with EV service requests. This roadmap proposes forty-four solution ideas to help address one or more of these challenges. These solutions can be implemented by utilities and others to enable an accelerated service connection process for smaller customers and to help ensure no one is left behind in the transition to EVs.

Full Report

Project Partners