Batavia city plans to reduce price of EV charging

Batavia City Council members plan to reduce the price of charging rates at electric vehicle charging stations within the city.

Council members discussed and agreed upon new EV charging rates and parking regulations this week during a Committee of the Whole meeting. The changes could be approved during Monday’s city council meeting.

Batavia electric superintendent Steve Allen presented the discussion to council members. Allen recommended reducing the rate to $0.25 per kWh for level two chargers and setting $0.50 per kWh rate for the incoming level three chargers.

Charging an electric vehicle in Batavia currently costs $0.40 per kilawatt-hour (kWh), or about $2.64 per hour, at the city’s level two charging station, which Allen said was much too high by today’s standards.

Batavia has a level two charging station at the Government Center downtown. The city also has level three chargers being installed at Batavia High School.

Allen suggested implementing a $1 per minute “loitering fee” for vehicles left parked in the stations after they’re finished charging, with a 10-minute grace period.

EV charging is monitored through apps that alert owners once their vehicle is done charging, which is when the grace period would begin.

Alderperson Christopher Solfa said he thought a 10-minute grace period was too aggressive and suggested extending it to between 45 minutes and an hour. Alderperson Abby Beck said she thought an hour was too long, but was comfortable with 20 to 30 minutes for a grace period.

Council members agreed on new charging rates of $0.25 per kWh for the level two chargers and $0.50 for the level three chargers. They also agreed on a 30-minute grace period and to charge $1 per minute after that period.

Staff will draft an ordinance to amend the city code and set the new charging rates, which are expected to be on Monday’s city council meeting agenda for possible final approval.

Alderpersons Dustin Pieper and Kevin Malone asked staff to bring back charging data after the new price goes into effect to give council a better understanding of how often the chargers are being used and if the reduced rate affected that usage.