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MMPA asks city to terminate outdated EV charger agreement at River Cinema lot
Summary
The Midcontinent Municipal Power Agency (MMPA) and Water and Light recommended terminating an outdated electric‑vehicle charger agreement at the River Cinema parking lot because the vendor no longer supports the installed unit and usage has been negligible.
City staff reported that the Midcontinent Municipal Power Agency (MMPA) and East Grand Forks Water and Light are seeking termination of an agreement for an electric‑vehicle charging station in the River Cinema parking lot because the original vendor is no longer supporting the unit and usage has been minimal.
Reid Hutton summarized the background: the charger was installed around 2021 as a pilot project by MMPA and Water and Light. Keith of Water and Light said the type‑2 charger required a four‑to‑six‑hour charge and was rarely used—“maybe 1 or 2 [uses] a month” in good months—and the card reader and unit had reliability problems in cold weather. MMPA has decided not to reinvest in replacement equipment and has asked the city to approve termination and to cover a removal fee that would pay Water and Light staff to remove the hardware.
Keith confirmed the city did not pay for the charger and that the city’s contribution was limited to providing the parking spaces and signing the original placement agreement. Council members had no objections recorded in the transcript; staff said fast chargers are the current public‑charging technology of choice but require larger investments and longer‑term utility planning.
No formal vote was recorded in the transcript; staff will process the termination agreement and a removal arrangement with Water and Light and MMPA.
