America's Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Simplified: Utilities' Evolving Influence
EV Revolution, Fueled by Utilities:
The surge in electric vehicle (EV) adoption is unmistakable. With nearly 300,000 EVs sold in the U.S. during Q1 2025, marking an 11.4% year-over-year increase, the EV revolution is here. But what’s driving this change? A significant contributor is the growing role of utilities.
Utilities are no longer merely providing electricity for charging stations. They're shaping the future of transportation electrification (and other sectors) through the design of programs, incentives, and grid strategies. From the heart of NYC to the sprawling Prairie State, utilities are evolving rapidly, transitioning from rebate administrators to infrastructure strategists.
The focus for utilities remains clear: supporting infrastructure development and aligning grid planning efforts with growing EV demands.
Setting the Stage in the Empire City
New York City, with its complex urban environment, has become a proving ground for electrification. Over the past five years, Con Edison has supported the installation of over 13,000 Level 2 charging plugs and 600+ DC fast chargers. Recent efforts have prioritized disadvantaged communities, offering relief to high asthma rates and environmental burdens in these areas.
Con Edison's approach has been flexible, adapting programs to cater to market needs. Quick adjustments have enabled the utility to deploy more charger incentives and technical support where it’s needed most. Alison Kling, Department Manager of E-Mobility Infrastructure Programs at Con Edison, stated, "When the lower-cost, easy-to-deploy charging sites started to disappear, we quickly restructured incentives to support more complex locations-and the market responded immediately."
Beyond EVs, Con Edison is supporting emerging business models, like charging-as-a-service, rideshare electrification, and curbside charging. Collaborating with key stakeholders, the utility is smoothing the path for a greener future.
Making an Impact in Illinois
While newer to the EV game, ComEd has made a significant impact. In 2024, 60% of ComEd's EV funding went to underserved communities across its service area. This number increased to over 80% in 2025, reflecting the utility’s intentional design and delivery. ComEd is also innovating by offering commercial vehicle incentives directly at the point of sale.
Cristina Botero, Senior Manager of Beneficial Electrification at ComEd, shared, "We have funded more electric fleet vehicle purchases and leases in the first quarter of 2025 than in all of 2024, and 99% of those funds have been for commercial customers located in or primarily serving historically underrepresented communities."
As residential customers are offered hourly rates and plans for active managed charging, ComEd is also exploring innovative ways to manage load and control system costs, all while building a diverse EV workforce.
Proactive Grid Planning in Sync with Market Momentum
The industry is shifting focus from supportive infrastructure incentives to strategic grid integration and load management. Utilities like Con Edison, ComEd in Illinois, and those in Minnesota, Colorado, and other states are starting to layer distribution system planning into their EV programs. However, many utilities still take a reactive approach, especially smaller ones.
As Elizabeth Turnbull, Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at the Alliance for Transportation Electrification, pointed out, "Building early is cheaper and more effective than building late." With the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program providing essential infrastructure funding, utilities are crucial in bridging gaps and leading where the market isn’t yet self-sustaining.
EVs are fast becoming a mainstream transportation option. Utilities are no longer just supporting adoption—they’re shaping it, through rate design, grid investment, and hands-on customer support. From New York to Illinois to your neighborhood, the message is clear: utility programs work—when they’re resourced, responsive, and rooted in real-world customer needs.
- In the heart of 2025, the surge in electric vehicle (EV) adoption has reached 300,000 sales in the U.S., marking a significant 11.4% increase year-over-year.
- The electric vehicle revolution is being fueled by the growing role of utilities, whose future-shaping efforts extend beyond charging stations to infrastructure strategies and grid plans.
- Con Edison, based in New York City, has installed over 13,000 Level 2 charging plugs and 600+ DC fast chargers in the past five years, with an emphasis on disadvantaged communities.
- Con Edison's flexible approach allows the utility to adapt programs to cater to market needs, enabling quick deployment of charger incentives and technical support.
- Beyond EVs, Con Edison supports emerging business models like charging-as-a-service, rideshare electrification, and curbside charging, collaborating with key stakeholders for a greener future.
- In Illinois, ComEd has made a substantial impact, directing 80% of its 2025 EV funding towards underserved communities and offering commercial vehicle incentives at the point of sale.
- As the industry moves towards strategic grid integration and load management, utilities like Con Edison, ComEd, and others are starting to layer distribution system planning into their EV programs.
- Elizabeth Turnbull, Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at the Alliance for Transportation Electrification, emphasizes the importance of building infrastructure early for cost-effectiveness.
- The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program provides essential infrastructure funding, and utilities play a crucial role in bridging gaps and leading where the market isn't yet self-sustaining.
- The renewable-energy industry, finance sector, energy businesses, home-and-garden enthusiasts, personal-finance professionals, real-estate developers, data-and-cloud-computing specialists, technology entrepreneurs, travel agencies, shopping malls, sports enthusiasts, and even basketball fans like those in the NBA are all impacted by this EV revolution.
- Utilities are positioning themselves as key stakeholders in this transformation, going beyond charging infrastructure support to shaping the future of transportation through rate design, grid investment, and customer support.
- From urban centers like New York City and Illinois to private homes and businesses, the path towards electrification is becoming increasingly obvious as utilities continue to resource, respond, and adapt to real-world customer needs.
