CalETC Executive Director Laura Renger invited lawmakers to work with her organization to simplify EV incentives, expand affordable charging at multifamily housing, and advance vehicle-grid integration during an Oct. 20 legislative hearing at UCLA.
Renger joined state officials, industry representatives, and advocates to discuss how California can continue advancing electric transportation amid federal policy reversals. Her recommendations focused on practical steps to make EV ownership more accessible and maximize its benefits.
“Making the incentive available at point of sale was critical for our customers,” Renger said. She praised MyFirstEV, a new program that pairs state funding with matching automaker contributions to provide upfront discounts, and urged continued support.
She also emphasized streamlining incentive programs so consumers can more easily understand which benefits they qualify for.
For residents of apartments and condominiums, Renger called for clear direction to state agencies to prioritize charging investments that allow people to charge where they live at near utility rates.
“We cannot further disadvantage customers who are living in multifamily housing by not allowing them to charge at rates that are more equal to what the rest of us are paying,” she said.
Renger’s third recommendation was to make better use of the electric grid through vehicle-grid integration, or VGI. Expanding managed charging and demand response are among VGI-related measures she said could be taken to lower costs and help EVs support the grid.
She also proposed an executive order requesting that the California Public Utilities Commission work with investor-owned utilities to approve new or modify existing VGI programs by December 2028.
Responding to Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin’s questions, Renger urged closer coordination and faster approvals for utility programs supported by Low Carbon Fuel Standard revenues, including pilots that could help inform broader deployment.
The hearing brought together the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies and the Assembly Select Committee on Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure. Irwin, Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo and Sen. Henry Stern examined California’s progress and next steps.
Other speakers reinforced concerns about charging affordability and reliability, highlighting families who loved their EVs but struggled with charging costs and access, infrastructure expansion, easier payments, and the growing used-EV market.
View the entire hearing here: https://www.assembly.ca.gov/media/joint-hearing-joint-legislative-committee-climate-change-policies-and-assembly-select-committee-electric-vehicles-and-charging-infrastructure-20261020
