Nevada Public Utilities Commission Ruling Will Improve Transparency Into Timelines for Connecting Large EV Chargers to the Grid
November 25, 2025 — A November 20 ruling by the Nevada Public Utilities Commission will provide important data on how long it takes to connect large electric vehicle (EV) chargers to the grid, and ultimately inform future efforts to streamline the process. It also included changes that will improve Nevadans’ access to valuable grid data.
The decisions, which align with recommendations from the nonprofit Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), are an early but important step in advancing charging infrastructure for long-haul trucks and other medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles. The efficient development of this charging infrastructure is not only critical for Nevada’s climate goals (the state has a target of achieving zero or near-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050), it can also help reduce harmful diesel pollution in communities most affected by long-haul trucking.
Under the ruling, NV Energy will track and report on how long it takes to connect large EV charging infrastructure to the grid (a process called “service connection” or “energization”). NV Energy will track this data for one year, starting in January 2026, to provide transparency into the time it takes for these projects to complete the service connection process. To support efficient service connections in Nevada, IREC had pushed for expanded utility timeline reporting that includes these projects. This will increase stakeholders’ visibility into how long the process is taking and whether these projects are moving forward at the pace needed to meet Nevada’s transportation electrification goals.
Large EV charging projects, such as chargers for medium- and heavy-duty EVs, often require electric grid infrastructure upgrades before they can connect to the grid. These upgrades ensure the grid can support the higher electricity demand the projects require. They can be very time consuming; in some states, like California, they have led to significant project backlogs. These delays not only affect individual applicants but can slow deployment of EV infrastructure overall and impact a state’s ability to transition to EVs.
“Expanding energization timeline tracking to include larger EV charger projects is an important first step toward determining if Nevada is on track to meet demand for EV charging infrastructure, or whether process improvements are necessary to avoid delays as the volume of applications increases,” said Mari Hernandez, Director of IREC’s Regulatory Program.
Service connection timeline tracking and reporting were already required for some load projects under Nevada’s “Rule 9.” Rule 9 governs the process for electric line extensions, including new electric service requests and requests to modify existing service. These requirements applied to load requests less than one megawatt or with estimated construction costs under $400,000. However, those thresholds excluded many larger EV charging projects, which are more likely to require more extensive grid upgrades. That meant the timelines for those projects were set on a case-by-case basis, leading to inconsistent treatment across customers. It also meant those customers lacked benchmarks to understand the expected timelines for their projects based on size and/or complexity.
In addition to the timeline tracking requirements, the Commission also accepted an updated Distributed Resources Plan from NV Energy that includes changes to improve the service connection process for EV chargers. After input from IREC, NV Energy agreed to clarify rule language in the Plan regarding important process milestones, such as when a new project reserves grid capacity and when specific phases of the project, such as utility construction for upgrades, are scheduled between the utility and the applicant.
The Plan also includes changes that will improve Nevadans’ access to valuable grid data. NV Energy currently publishes a tool called a Hosting Capacity Analysis (HCA), which allows stakeholders to see how much capacity for new projects exists at different locations on the grid. In the filing, NV Energy included provisions stating it will publish updates to this data monthly, reduce the amount of data it redacts in the HCA, and develop a system for validating the accuracy of the data it publishes. These changes align with a growing trend among regulators to require increased grid transparency from the utilities they regulate. An October ruling in Colorado is another recent example.
In the coming months, NV Energy will host at least two public workshops to discuss issues related to data center energization costs, Rule 9 timelines, and other means of speeding up the processing of service connection applications. The workshops will be held before NV Energy files its Rule 9 revisions with the Commission on or before March 6, 2026.
“IREC appreciates the collaborative discussions with NV Energy and commends the Commission for its actions to provide stakeholder engagement opportunities and improve the process for connecting EV infrastructure to the grid. We look forward to future discussions and workshops to enable further energization process improvements,” Hernandez added.
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Media Contact: Gwen Brown, gwenb@irecusa.org
About IREC: The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) builds the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency to benefit people, the economy, and our planet. Its vision is a 100% clean energy future that is reliable, resilient, and equitable. IREC develops and advances the regulatory reforms, technical standards, and workforce and community-based solutions needed to enable the streamlined integration of clean, distributed energy resources. IREC is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, trusted for its clean energy expertise since its founding in 1982. For more information, visit irecusa.org or follow IREC on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.
