(August 2, 2010) The California Public Utilities Commission has ruled that companies that sell electric-vehicle charging services to the public will not be regulated as public utilities, Edmunds.com reports.

Companies such as Coulomb Technologies, Better Place and Ecotality can operate without being regulated as an investor-owned utility, the commission ruled Thursday during its regular meeting in San Francisco.

The decision removes a barrier on reselling electricity at charging stations and may speed up the adoption of electric cars, which will help the state meet greenhouse-gas reduction targets, the commission said in a draft of its order.

At issue was whether suppliers of EV chargers should be regulated in the same way as the public utilities that generate and sell electricity. The chargers interface with the electrical grid, allowing access to electricity as well as providing other consumer services.

The commission is in the process of evaluating alternative-fueled vehicle policies to ensure California's investor-owned electric utilities are prepared for the projected statewide growth of plug-in electric-drive vehicles throughout the state.

"This decision provides needed regulatory clarity to encourage the state's entrepreneurs and investors to develop charging solutions that will satisfy consumer needs and work harmoniously with the electric grid," Commissioner Nancy E. Ryan said.

The charger makers couldn't agree more. ECOtality President and CEO Jonathan R. Read praised the unanimous decision, describing it as "very good news for consumers because it allows businesses to compete and where there is competition, prices are lower and product quality improves."

ECOtality unveiled its Blink brand Level 2 residential and commercial EV charging systems earlier this week and will unveil its fast-charging unit later this year.

Richard Lowenthal, CEO of Coulomb Technologies, said the ruling will encourage competitive market forces to bring benefits to consumers and ensure rapid deployment of the charging infrastructure.

"We applaud the decision as it not only enables a competitive framework for the California market, but will set an important precedent for other key states and for the nation," he said.

Coulomb Technologies is a leader in EV charging systems and application services, with their ChargePoint Network now operating in 14 countries and Network Operations Centers up and running in the U.S., London and Hong Kong.