Idaho Power's plan for helping Oregon customers transition to an electric vehicle future spotlights the challenges with rural electrification.
The company's 2023-2025 Transportation Electrification Plan, filed in December with the Oregon Public Utility Commission, outlines an approach focused on outreach and education. OPUC rules set last year require utilities to submit transportation electrification plans every three years.
"Due to the Company's Oregon customers' limited exposure to [transportation electrification], limited accessibility to EVs and EV charging infrastructure, income levels, and the remote location of the Oregon service area, the Company expects that EV adoption will take longer than that of other areas in Oregon," the plan reads.
In 2021, Idaho Power had 20,311 Oregon customers, including 14,167 residential customers, across an approximately 4,750-square-mile service area, according to the plan. The largest location is the city of Ontario with approximately 11,600 people, according to Census Bureau data, followed by Nyssa (approximately 3,000) and Vale (approximately 2,000).
Aiming to avoid "undue burden" on Oregon customers, Idaho Power's plan is focused on providing resources and technical assistance to anyone interested in EVs as well as conducting at least three outreach events per year, such as trainings and webinars.
Those directives were driven by Idaho Power's evaluation of the current transportation electrification landscape in its Oregon service area, according to the plan.
In July, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality reported that 42 light-duty EVs were registered in the company's service area, up from 25 in June 2019. The latest data represents approximately 0.08 percent of all EVs registered in the state.
Citing Plugshare.com, Idaho Power reported only six locations within its Oregon service area to charge EVs. Only three are dedicated EV charging stations, while the others are RV parks and campgrounds with electrical outlets.
Common EV adoption barriers—particularly price and access to public charging—are exacerbated by characteristics of Idaho Power's Oregon service area, according to the plan.
Ontario and Nyssa are approximately 13 miles apart. Boise is approximately 56 miles southeast of Ontario, while Bend—the closest metropolitan area in Oregon—is approximately 260 miles to the west.
Like the rest of the country, Oregon is in line for National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funding over the next five years for public fast-charging stations along federally designated highways (Clearing Up No. 2075). That includes four highways in Idaho Power's Oregon service area, with 2023 funding focused on Interstate 84 and U.S. Route 20. Those highways, along with U.S. Route 26 (scheduled for 2024 funding), connect most of the service area with Boise and Portland, according to the plan.
Census Bureau data shows the median household income for Ontario was $42,568 as of 2021. By comparison, the median household incomes for Boise and Portland are $68,373 and $78,476, respectively.
Meanwhile, an estimated 20 percent of Malheur County residents—where most of Idaho Power's Oregon customers live, according to the company—are in poverty, according to Census Bureau data.
The landscape frames Idaho Power's EV adoption forecast for the company's Oregon service area. The forecast's "high" adoption rate expects just 0.36 percent of vehicles will be electric by 2030 and 1.36 percent by 2035.
In December, Oregon adopted California emissions standards that will phase out the sale of new gas-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035 (Clearing Up No. 2087).
An Idaho Power survey of its Oregon residential customers in July found approximately 64 percent of around 650 respondents said they likely would not purchase an EV even if the purchase price was the same as a traditional gas- or diesel-powered vehicle.
"Idaho Power's current strategy for addressing the identified barriers primarily involves increasing EV awareness and education and providing technical assistance to commercial customers interested in installing public charging or fleet and workplace charging," the plan reads. "Idaho Power believes a long-term strategy focused on awareness and education and ensuring early adopters are successful is the best way to tackle market barriers to EV adoption."
