After the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel Energy's $25 million electric vehicle pilot program this summer, others sought to have the approval reversed.
The PUC earlier this month tossed the attempt by manufacturing and petroleum groups to reverse approval of the program. The industrial groups claimed they were worried about the fact that it was ratepayer-based and had nothing to do with their fuel interests, UtilityDive reported.
Andrew Moratzka, an attorney who represents Xcel industrial customers, said it was a "ratepayer general argument" and nothing to do with anything oil industry-specific.
An Xcel spokesperson said the company would move forward with its program and was pleased with the decision made by the commission.
"Xcel Energy is a clean energy leader and our Minnesota electric vehicle plan is the largest and most broad utility transportation electrification program in the Midwest," the spokesperson told UtilityDrive.
The pilot program will include both public charging and fleet charging, as well as a subscription electric vehicle pilot that will allow customers to charge their electric vehicles for a flat monthly fee.
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