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Committee weighs future of city EV chargers after fast units failed; staff to seek vendors, grants and propose fee increase
Summary
Two city fast EV chargers have been out of service since December, and operating costs significantly exceed revenue. The committee asked staff to research alternative vendors and grant options and to return in two months; members signaled support for increasing the slow-charger rate to 8¢ per minute to reduce the subsidy.
City staff told the Billing Grounds Committee that the municipal electric-vehicle charging network installed with a 2019 grant from the PacificCorp Foundation now requires near-term policy decisions after the two fast chargers stopped operating in December.
Staff summarized the history: a 2019 grant paid for one fast charger and three regular chargers behind City Hall; a second fast charger was added in 2021 at the aquatic center using leftover grant funds and street-development (SDC) funds. The two fast chargers have been inoperable since December, and the city’s software/service agreement and electricity costs are outpacing revenue. Staff reported the annual software agreement for the chargers runs just under $4,500 and total annual operating costs (software plus electricity) are about $12,000; revenue recovered in fiscal 2023–24 was just under $4,000.
Staff provided cost estimates: installed fast chargers typically run about $30,000–$32,000 per unit; smaller “slow” chargers cost roughly $10,000–$12,000 installed. The current pricing the city charges is in line with statewide averages (about 4¢/minute for slow chargers and about 10¢/minute for fast chargers, staff said), but the operating subsidy and sporadic maintenance/repair availability from the vendor (EV Connect) prompted members to ask for alternatives. Staff said the vendor’s technicians are often located out of state and that on-site repairs for high-speed hardware have been cost-prohibitive.
Committee members discussed options to “stop the bleeding”: raise per-minute rates, reduce the number of public chargers, pursue a new vendor or partner, or pursue grants for replacement hardware. Several members supported raising the slow-charger rate to 8¢/minute as an initial step to cover electricity costs, with the committee chair asking staff to include that adjustment in the city fee schedule for council approval. The committee also directed staff to shop for alternative vendors, seek grant opportunities for replacements, and return with a report and recommendations in about two months. Staff noted the annual software contract is paid through next spring, giving time for evaluation.
Ending: Staff will return in two months with vendor comparisons, grant options and fee schedule recommendations; the committee did not commit municipal capital for charger replacement at the meeting.
