BC Hydro Switches to Energy-Based Rates for Public EV Charging
Electric vehicle drivers in B.C. will soon be billed based on the energy they extract from public chargers rather than the time they spend there.
The British Columbia Utilities Commission approved energy-based rates for public EV charging service on March 13. They will come into effect on June 1.
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The new charges are 34.34 cents per kWh for all DC fast-charging power levels and 28.28 cents per kWh for AC Level 2 charging.
BC Hydro believes the proposed energy-based rates are fairer and easier for customers to understand. These charges are in line with other public charging services in the province.
Additionally, an extended stay charge of 40 cents per minute was also approved by the Commission for fast charging stations five minutes after an EV stops taking electricity. This will help prevent lineups at the most popular charging stations, allowing more customers to access.
B.C. currently has 173 individual charging ports at 86 sites on its network. The province plans to add 3,000 more ports within the next decade.
The Electric Circuit, a network of public EV charging stations in Quebec and part of Ontario, will also move to kWh billing starting April 2.
