Electricity Laws and Incentives in Utah

The list below contains summaries of all Utah laws and incentives related to electricity.

Laws and Regulations

Alternative Fuel Use and Vehicle Acquisition Requirement

At least 50% of new or replacement light-duty state agency vehicles must meet Bin 2 emissions standards established in Title 40 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, or be propelled to a significant extent by electricity, natural gas, propane, hydrogen, or biodiesel.

(Reference Utah Code 63A-9-401 and 63A-9-403)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Inspection and Permit

The Utah State Tax Commission (Commission) may require vehicles operating on clean fuels to be inspected for safe operation. In addition, clean fuel vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds or have more than three axels are required to obtain a special fuel user permit from the Commission. Clean fuels are defined as propane, natural gas, electricity, and hydrogen.

(Reference Utah Code 59-13-102, 59-13-303, and 59-13-304)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Registration Fees

All-electric vehicle (EV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) owners are required to pay an additional annual registration fee. Fee amounts are as follows:

Owners of vehicles powered by a fuel other than gasoline, diesel, electricity, natural gas, or propane are required to pay an additional $138.50 registration fee. A six-month registration option with fees at prorated amounts is also available.

The additional registration fee paid by EVs and vehicles fueled exclusively by a fuel other than gasoline, diesel, natural gas, or propane must be equal to the maximum annual road usage charge.

(Reference Utah Code 41-1a-1206 and 72-1-213.1)

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Fee and Tax

The retail sale of electricity for EV charging is subject to a 12.5% tax. The tax may be based on kilowatt hours sold, the cost to charge per hour, or a subscription fee. Additional requirements apply.

(Reference Utah Code 59-30-101 and 59-30-102)

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Rebate Program Authorization

The Utah Public Service Commission is authorized to establish a large-scale EV charging station program, with a maximum cost of $50,000,000. The program may include utility-owned EV charging stations, a new EV charging station rate structure, and a public education plan. Utilities implementing EV charging station programs must submit annual progress reports by June 1 for the previous calendar year.

(Reference Utah Code 54-2-1 and 54-4-41)

Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Bond Authorization

Interlocal entities, such as counties, local districts, and military installations, are authorized to issue bonds for EV charging infrastructure. EV charging infrastructure is defined as any permanent equipment on commercial or industrial property that charges or stores energy for delivery to EVs.

(Reference Utah Code 11-13-103, 11-13-203, 11-13-218, 11-42-102, and 11-42a-102)

Electric Vehicle (EV) Plan

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) must lead state agencies in the creation of a statewide EV plan to provide EV charging station facilities along certain state highways at distances no greater than every 50 miles. EV charging station locations must be determined by June 30, 2021, and installed by December 31, 2025. In August 2021, UDOT published the Utah Statewide Electric Vehicle Charging Network Plan.

(Reference Utah Code 72-1-216)

Public Utility Definition

An entity that provides electric vehicle battery charging services is not defined as a public utility, unless the entity conducts another activity in the state that subjects it to the regulation and jurisdiction of the Utah Public Service Commission. The entity must obtain the electricity from a regulated utility or electric corporation, at established rates.

(Reference Utah Code 54-2-1)

Regional Electric Vehicle (REV) West Plan

Utah joined Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming (Signatory States) in signing the REV West memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create an Intermountain West Electric Vehicle (EV) Corridor that will make it possible to seamlessly drive an EV across the Signatory States’ major transportation corridors.

In 2019, the Signatory States signed a revised REV West MOU to update their EV corridor goals based on progress to date. Signatory States are committed to:

• Educate consumers and fleet owners to raise EV awareness, reduce range anxiety, and increase EV adoption;
• Coordinate on EV charging station locations to achieve a consistent user experience across Signatory States;
• Use and promote the REV West Voluntary Minimum Standards for EV charging stations and explore opportunities for implementing the standards in Signatory States;
• Identify and develop opportunities to incorporate EV charging stations into planning and development processes such as building codes, metering policies, and renewable energy generation projects;
• Encourage EV manufacturers to stock and market a wide variety of EVs within the Signatory States;
• Identify, respond to, and collaborate on funding opportunities to support the development of the plan; and
• Support the build-out of direct current (DC) fast charging stations along EV corridors through investments, partnerships, and other mechanisms.

The Signatory States maintain a coordination group composed of senior leadership from each state who meet on a quarterly basis and report on the above actions. For more information, see the REV West website.

Road Usage Charge Program

The owner of an all-electric vehicle (EV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) may enroll in the Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) mileage-based roadway operations and maintenance fee program in lieu of paying additional EV, PHEV, or HEV registration fees. To participate, the owner or lessee must enroll, report mileage driven, and pay the road usage fee for each payment period. Road use fees are as follows:

In 2023, a six-month option with a prorated maximum road use fee will also be available. Beginning in 2024, UDOT may adjust the mileage fee and the Utah Tax Commission may adjust the maximum annual fee amount. Additional conditions apply. For more information, see the UDOT Road Usage Charge website.

(Reference Utah Code 72-1-213.1)

State Incentives

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Conversion Grants

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Conversion to Alternate Fuel Grant Program provides grants to businesses and government entities that purchase clean vehicles or install conversion equipment on eligible vehicles that allows the vehicles to operate on alternative fuel or reduces a vehicle’s emissions of regulated pollutants. Award recipients are required to pass these savings along to the individual who purchases the converted vehicle. Grants may cover 100% of the cost of purchasing a clean vehicle or 50% of the cost of conversion, up to $2,500. Eligible clean vehicles must operate solely on alternative fuel, and may include on-road vehicles and off-road equipment. Eligible alternative fuels include propane, natural gas, and electricity. For more information, see the DEQ Conversion to Alternative Fuel Grant Program website.

(Reference Utah Code 19-1-401 through 19-1-403.3, and 19-2-301 through 19-2-304)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Decal and High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Exemption

Propane, natural gas, all-electric, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are permitted to use HOV lanes, regardless of the number of passengers. Qualified vehicles must display the special clean fuel decal issued by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT); a limited number of decals are available. This exemption expires September 29, 2025. For more information about qualifying vehicles and decal availability, see the UDOT Clean Fuel Vehicle Decal and Permit website.

(Reference Utah Code 41-1a-416, 41-1a-418, 41-6a-702, 59-13-102, and 72-6-121)

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Rebate

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) offers rebates of up to 50% of the cost to purchase and install Level 2 and direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations. Utah-based businesses and non-profit organizations are eligible for a maximum rebate of $75,000 each. Government entities are also eligible to apply. For more information, see the DEQ Workplace EV Charging Funding Assistance Program website.

Electric Vehicle Emissions Inspections Exemption

Vehicles powered exclusively by electricity are exempt from state motor vehicle emissions inspections.

(Reference Utah Code 41-1a-1223 and 41-6a-1642)

Propane and Electricity Tax Exemptions

Propane and electricity used to operate motor vehicles are exempt from state motor fuel taxes. For more information, see the Utah State Tax Commission website.

(Reference Utah Code 59-13-102, 59-13-201, and 59-13-301)

Qualified Heavy-Duty Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Tax Credit

Taxpayers may be eligible for a tax credit for the purchase of a qualified heavy-duty AFV. Qualifying fuels include natural gas, electricity, and hydrogen. Each qualified heavy-duty AFV is eligible for the following tax credit amounts:

Year	Credit Amount
2023	$12,000
2024	$10,500
2025	$9,000
2026	$7,500
2027	$6,000
2028	$4,500
2029	$3,000
2030	$1,500

At least 50% of the qualified vehicle’s miles must be driven in the state. A single taxpayer may claim credits for up to 10 AFVs annually. If more than 30% of the total available tax credits in a single year have not been claimed by May 1, a taxpayer may apply for credits for an additional eight AFVs. Up to 25% of the tax credits are reserved for taxpayers with small fleets of less than 40 vehicles. Additional conditions and restrictions may apply. For more information, see the Utah Department of Environmental Quality Alternative Fuel Heavy Duty Vehicle Tax Credit Program website.

Utah's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Planning

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) NEVI Formula Program requires the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to submit an annual EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan (Plan) to the DOT and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office), describing how the state intends to distribute NEVI funds. The submitted plans must be established according to NEVI guidance.

For more information about Utah’s NEVI planning process, see the UDOT Electric Vehicle Charging Plan website. To review Utah’s NEVI plan, see the Joint Office State Plans for EV Charging website.

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