Senate committee hears industry support for SB 266, a five‑year limit on utility‑owned fast chargers

Chair Coonsie opened a second hearing on Senate Bill 266 before the Senate Transportation Committee, hearing proponent testimony from Jordan Burns, director of policy for Americans for Affordable Clean Energy (ACE).

Burns said the legislation is intended to create ‘‘a competitive marketplace for EV fast charging’’ and to reduce uncertainty about the role of electric distribution utilities (EDUs). He told the committee the bill would prohibit EDUs from owning and operating EV fast chargers for five years unless ownership is placed in a separate subsidiary ‘‘without access to ratepayer funding.’’ Burns also described a right‑of‑first‑refusal process that would require public notice and a 90‑day waiting period to allow private businesses to bid for service in areas the bill would designate, and said EDUs could petition the Ohio Public Utilities Commission to serve ‘‘areas of last resort’’ after the five‑year period.

Burns also cited federal NEVI funding for Ohio—stating the state will receive ‘‘over $140,000,000 over the life of the program’’—and said the legislation is intended to position fuel retailers and private businesses to access and leverage those funds.

Steven Hightower, chief operating officer of Hightower’s Petroleum Company, testified in support and framed the bill as a protection for small and family‑owned fuel retailers that are ‘‘ready to work’’ in the EV market if the regulatory framework preserves a level playing field. Hightower said EV charging stations are capital‑intensive and require a clear path to a return on investment; he said, ‘‘it’s an investment that we are confident will pay off if the playing field is open and the markets are free.’’

Committee members raised equity and access questions. Senator DeMora asked whether a five‑year prohibition on utility ownership risks leaving lower‑profit urban neighborhoods without chargers. Hightower responded that the bill’s right‑of‑first‑refusal and subsidiary options could allow utilities to serve places private retailers avoid, but acknowledged the concern could be addressed in legislative language. Vice Chair Reineke asked what would happen if the legislature did not adopt the bill; Hightower said private investment could be discouraged and rollout slowed. Senators also asked about rural deployment and pairing chargers with renewable inputs such as solar; witnesses said technology and business models are evolving and that siting typically follows traffic patterns and demand.

The hearing concluded with no formal committee action on the bill during the session; the committee recorded testimony and questions for the legislative record.

Next steps: the committee has held a second hearing on SB 266; sponsors and committee staff may consider amendments addressing access in urban or rural areas and the petition process for the Public Utilities Commission.