City staff propose higher EV‑spot charging rates; council set second reading for Sept. 17
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Summary
City staff told the council the City’s EV‑spot network has higher electricity and maintenance costs than expected and recommended raising per‑kWh rates and connection fees; the council held the item for a Sept. 17 second reading and public hearing.
City staff on Wednesday presented a proposed increase to rates for Saint Paul’s EV‑spot network, saying electricity and maintenance costs have risen since the city set its original rates in 2021.
Russ Stark, who led the staff presentation, told council members the city last set charging rates by ordinance in 2021 and has not changed them since. Stark said the proposed adjustment would raise Level‑2 daytime and nighttime per‑kilowatt‑hour rates from 25¢/23¢ to 30¢/27¢ respectively, and increase DC fast‑charging rates from 35¢/33¢ to 43¢/40¢ per kWh, with connection fees at each charger. He said DC fast charging is more expensive because utility demand charges are higher when large amounts of power are drawn quickly.
Stark said the changes aim to keep the EV‑spot service financially sustainable and maintain reliability and accessibility for users. He also told council members the city has seen fewer copper‑theft incidents at chargers since a change in state law requiring licenses to sell scrap copper, but maintenance costs overall have risen.
Council members asked how the rates are calculated, how often rates will be reviewed, and whether rate increases are passed through to individual users. Stark said rate‑setting involves both data‑driven elements and judgment: the city collects revenue from usage and connection fees while utility tariffs include demand charges that vary by time of day. He said staff anticipates returning at least annually to reevaluate rates and is also pursuing a lower utility tariff from the Public Utilities Commission for public chargers; if successful, staff could recommend lower customer rates.
Stark confirmed that individual public users will notice the per‑kWh increase (about a 10–15% change in what a driver pays per charge, plus the connection fee); car‑share fleets pay the city under a monthly arrangement and notice the change through the city’s billing.
The council held first reading of the ordinance (25‑53) and laid the matter over to the Sept. 17 meeting for second reading and a public hearing.