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Stepwise proposes 100‑device pilot to let older homes add EV charging without panel upgrades
Summary
Stepwise told the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority technical meeting that a 12‑month Connecticut pilot would deploy up to 100 behind‑the‑meter “tap” devices that let EV chargers operate within existing panel limits, enabling managed charging enrollment for homes that otherwise would need costly panel upgrades.
Chair Marissa Gillette opened the technical meeting and invited Stepwise to present its application for PURA docket 24‑0807. Jane Chen, co‑founder and CEO of Stepwise, described a combined hardware‑and‑software product that she said functions like "a smart automated dimmer switch for your EV charger" and sits between a home panel and an EV charger to monitor whole‑house load and throttle charging to stay within safe limits.
The company proposes a 12‑month pilot in Connecticut deploying up to 100 devices in partnership with the state’s investor‑owned utilities and local electricians. Chen said the device is intended for homes with limited panel capacity—including older houses that otherwise would face an estimated $5,000 or more in panel upgrade costs before they could add charging. "What we're trying to do is help more people access electrification technologies starting with EV charging," Chen told PURA staff.
Stepwise emphasized two goals for the pilot: (1) expand access to managed charging for households that lack modern panel capacity, and (2) validate the accuracy and usefulness of the telematics and aggregate data the device collects. Chen said the company would compare tap‑generated measurements to vehicle telematics and existing charger data and test whether the taps can be a reliable interoperable buffer for utilities' managed‑charging programs. She told staff the hardware is safety‑first (it can physically shut off if communications fail) and that manufacturing is based in Buffalo, New York.
PURA staff asked about deployment timing, seasonality and the proposed reporting deadline. Tim White, speaking for PURA staff, pressed whether installing 100 taps and submitting a final report by the end of December 2026 would capture seasonal variation; Chen responded that seasonality (lower EV charging in winter) matters and the timeline depends on when the pilot starts and the utilities' customer recruitment plans. On cost‑benefit metrics Chen said Stepwise planned to quantify direct avoided panel upgrades for participants and the additional households enrolled in managed charging because of the device.
Several clarifying points surfaced during Q&A: the device itself does not require a permit, Chen said—installing an EV charger or changing the panel still requires permitting, but adding the tap without other panel work would not. She also noted some imported components may be subject to tariffs and that, while the company had previously characterized imported parts as tariff‑exempt, component tariffs have been changing.
Why it matters: A substantial share of U.S. housing stock cannot accept an EV charger without a panel upgrade. If the product works as described, it could reduce upfront adoption barriers for EVs, increase participation in managed‑charging programs, and reduce peak demand for ratepayers without immediate panel replacements.
What’s next: PURA staff will follow up with written interrogatories as part of the docket. Stepwise said it would respond to formal discovery and to staff follow‑up questions about the pilot design and data metrics.
