Cross Plains approves Dane County EV charging site-host agreement for Village Hall

Dane County staff described a federal-funded program to install Level 2 electric vehicle chargers at municipal sites; the Village Hall proposal would deliver two Level 2 stations capable of charging up to four vehicles at once and requires the village to host and operate the sites for five years. Kathy Kuntz, director of the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change, told trustees the county will cover construction, five years of operations/maintenance and software during the federal grant period and expects minimal ongoing staff time from the village.

Kuntz explained revenue, rates and tax treatment: the charger software will record kilowatt-hours sold and the village must file the state excise tax (3¢ per kWh) twice a year. "The Department of Revenue has a form that you fill out...it is 3¢ per kilowatt hour," Kuntz said. Initial charging rates are expected around $0.20–$0.25 per kWh to make the village whole without generating profit during the first five years; the county will assist site hosts with rate setting and reporting. Trustees asked about separate meters (county explained chargers will report kWh through the software but not require separate utility meters), ADA-accessible stalls, software features (queueing, idling fees) and timing; county staff encouraged timely approval so construction can be coordinated with the village hall build. The board then moved and approved the site-host agreement.