Muscat - 

The Authority for Electricity Regulation (AER) is planning to issue the regulatory framework covering various options related to the rollout of a country-wide charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs).

The proposed framework will also look at fixing tariff structures for different types of consumers, such as residential, commercial and industrial, who will be using electricity to charge their EVs.

‘It will also assess the options for public versus private rollout of charging infrastructure on strategic highways, the most appropriate tariff structure for residential customers wishing to charge their vehicles at home and critical public safety related issues’, AER said in a forward-work-programme draft posted on its website.

The Authority’s forward-work-programme draft seeks suggestions from various stakeholders before acting on it. As per the draft, in order to assess the impact of EVs, AER will continue to review the attractiveness of electric vehicles in Oman. It will also work towards developing battery technologies and the potential timescales for cost parity between electric and combustion engine vehicles.

‘The Authority will continue to assess the developments in this fast-moving field and to promote an informed debate about the very role to be played by electricity distribution companies as well as key stakeholders in transport sector’, AER said.

In another notification posted on its website, AER announced that it has published a report on international best practices for EVs and recommendations as Oman prepares to support the penetration of electric vehicles. Earlier this year, AER had appointed the US energy consulting firm Energy + Environmental Economics (E3) to provide consultancy on assessing regulatory framework for adoption of EVs in Oman.

The report highlighted the key developments in the market for EVs that have an impact on future design of the electricity sector regulatory frameworks as well as prioritised modifications for other sectors, the Authority said. It also revealed observations on tariff evolution that might better enable the development of EVs in Oman and their potential impacts on government subsidy levels to the electricity sector.

 

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