A Practical Tool
Catelyn Sweeney is a Regulatory Policy Specialist at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and supports the Regulatory team’s efforts to streamline the energization of distributed energy resources, particularly Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) for large loads, focusing on medium- and heavy-duty EVs.
The future of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure depends not just on where drivers need power, but on what the grid can actually support — and that understanding begins with grid data.
Grid data is often seen as complex and accessible only to industry experts. Yet it plays a critical role in key decisions, from EV charger siting to planning and budgeting for utility upgrades. If grid data is essential to deploying the infrastructure needed to power our nation's growing EV adoption, the question becomes: how do we make this information clear, accessible, and actionable for everyone — from small developers and public agencies to large-scale EV charging providers?
Hosting capacity analysis (HCA) maps serve as a practical tool for bridging this gap. They offer transparent, detailed insights into where the electric grid can support new load — such as EV charging infrastructure — and where costly utility upgrades may be unavoidable. As a result, HCAs are emerging as a critical tool for EV charger deployment.