The California Mobility Center (CMC), the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form a working group to help identify and mitigate potential risks to the Bulk Power System as a result of the rising deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging loads across the country, according to a press release. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Southern California Edison, AMPLY Power, Alectra Utilities, E-Source and other CMC members, as well as General Motors and other EV stakeholders, have agreed to participate in the working group.

“Electricity consumption by plug-in electric vehicles across North America will grow exponentially over the next decade,” said CMC Board Chair Arlen Orchard -- and former CEO and general manager of SMUD, the nation’s sixth largest publicly-owned utility. “The rapid rate of growth poses significant implications to electric system reliability if left unaddressed. This significant collaboration will support electric system reliability and importantly, a successful transition to mass electric vehicle adoption.”

The goal of the collaboration is to increase awareness and knowledge about the growing use of EV charging infrastructure and the reliability risks that comes with it, as well as mitigation strategies to avoid potential problems.