EV Interconnection Process Transformation
ScottMadden's business process improvement expertise, paired with a industry-leading automation platform, identified bottlenecks and misalignments within interconnection workflows for a investor-owned utility.
At a Glance
Reduction in Interconnection Timelines
The effort resulted in a reduction of EV charging interconnection timelines by over 60%, reducing queue times from more than 600 days to under 250 days within the first 11 months and subsequently to 180 days
Integrated Process and Technology Solution
Rather than applying technology to flawed processes, we mapped out root causes and process inefficiencies, then implemented automation tailored to the utility’s operating environment, ensuring real and lasting improvements.
Scalable Model for EV and DER Growth
This model combines governance, efficiency, and user experience, empowering utilities to meet evolving regulatory and market demands without compromising internal operations.
Challenge
A large investor-owned electric utility in the Northeast was faced with ambitious electric vehicle (EV) adoption goals, including the implementation of a $700 million statewide make-ready EV infrastructure program. The program drove explosive growth in the number of EV charging infrastructure applications seeking interconnection, resulting in interconnection timelines approaching 600 days.
The utility requested assistance from ScottMadden & Clean Power Research® to help them understand the causes of the interconnection delay, develop a comprehensive approach for streamlining the EV interconnection process, and resolve the interconnection delays.
Process
Our approach required understanding the root causes of the client’s EV charging interconnection timelines relative to other interconnection and new service requests. We began by documenting existing new business processes and comparing them to the process that EV charging interconnections typically faced.
ScottMadden identified areas in the interconnection process where EV charging applications were commonly getting sidetracked. We accomplished this by defining process steps and establishing average times for typical projects to move through the interconnection process. We identified the areas where EV charging applications were taking longer than average. From this analysis, we identified the causes of EV charging application delays and the characteristics common to EV charging interconnections that were misaligned with the client’s systems and processes.
Clean Power Research then collaborated with the client to standardize and solidify their new electric vehicle (EV) charging interconnection process. The utility implemented Clean Power Research’s PowerClerk®, the utility industry’s leading process automation software for interconnection, service requests, and more. By adopting PowerClerk, the utility’s revised processes created automated and efficient workflows, improved governance, and streamlined repetitive tasks, saving utility staff time and effort.
Result
The combined solution of ScottMadden and Clean Power Research aligned the tools and technology needed to provide a user-friendly, customer-oriented approach with a business process tailored to the client’s operating environment and organization. This solution resulted in a reduction of EV charging interconnection queue time of over 60%, from more than 600 days to less than 250 days within the first 11 months of operation. The client plans to reduce the queue to 180 days and will continue to make further progress.
Let’s Work Together
We don’t solve problems with canned methodologies. We help you solve the right problem in the right way. Our experience ensures that the solution works for you.