Electric vehicle (EV) drivers will now have to pay more when charging in Saanich.
Beginning today, October 28th, the District of Saanich has implemented a rate change for EV charging at their District-owned public charging stations.
The hourly rate will increase from $1 an hour to $1.50 for all users.
The District says that this change was approved during the council meeting on October 27th and is considered necessary for three key reasons.
The first reason is to cover increased costs. According to the District, operational expenses such as maintenance, electricity and network management have risen since the rates were last set in 2021.
Additionally, Saanich plans to expand current EV charging infrastructure and is using revenue generated by its EV charging network to install up to 30 new stations planned over the next few years.
Lastly, the District says they are increasing the charging rate to ensure sustainability in alignment with their strategic plan objectives, focusing on reducing emissions and practicing sustainable asset management.
Though the rate has increased by 50%, Saanich says the rate remains cost effective, and will result in more revenue to expand the network of charging stations.
The City of Victoria charges $0.25 per hour with charge sharing, or $1 per hour without charge sharing.
Meanwhile, BC Hydro charges $0.2972 per kWh, rather than charging by the hour, and for fast DC charging, they charge $0.3609 per kWh.
Those who charge at BC Hydro stations are charged by the second, and there is an idling fee of $0.40 per minute for those who charge beyond their EV’s capacity.
