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Council tables decision on replacing failed downtown EV charger while seeking grant help
Summary
One of four downtown charging heads installed with a Pacific Power grant has failed; replacement for all four heads is estimated at $17,965 and pro rata payback for a single failed head is about $5,770. Council asked staff to pursue Pacific Power grant support and return with cost details rather than immediately repaying the grant or committing funds.
Jason (staff) told the council one of the four downtown charging heads installed under a Pacific Power grant has failed and the city is contractually required to keep the chargers in operation for 10 years or repay a prorated share of the grant. "We are obligated under the terms of the grant to either repair, replace the failed chargers, or return a prorated portion of the grant if we elect not to repair the failed unit," Jason said, and he gave a four-head replacement estimate of $17,965 and a prorated repayment estimate of roughly $5,770 for a single head.
Council members probed usage and costs: Jason said the chargers average about 125 charges per month across all four heads and that electricity costs are bundled into the city's regular electric bills, with per-site electricity running in the tens to low hundreds of dollars monthly. Councilors debated whether to repay Pacific Power for one head, replace two heads to remain on a single network, or pursue additional grant funding; Councilor Seth and others recommended pausing to ask Pacific Power about available replacement funds. The council gave unanimous informal direction to table a final decision and have staff follow up with Pacific Power and present precise cost and operational numbers at a future workshop.
