TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve a recommendation to remove the usage fee of the electric vehicle charging stations from the municipal code
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Michael Prousa, TED Project Manager
BACKGROUND:
In 2011, the City of Naperville obtained three electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS), which were received as part of the Smart Grid Initiative. Two of the EVCS were installed at the Electric Service Center in order to test and monitor the impacts of EV charging on the electric utility system as well as to test the associated billing in upcoming EV utility rates. The third unit was installed in the Van Buren Surface Lot in Downtown Naperville.
In 2013 the City installed a fourth unit in the Van Buren Parking Facility and also replaced the unit in the Van Buren 1 Surface Lot.
In 2014, the City passed an ordinance detailing a usage fee for EVCS in the Van Buren 1 surface lot and the Van Buren Parking Facility. This fee was put in place to offset the electricity cost that the City provides for the charging stations.
The stations located at the Van Buren 1 surface lot and the Van Buren Parking Facility are currently out of order and with the age of the stations, City staff are currently in the process of replacing the chargers at this location through an RFP.
DISCUSSION:
This year, City staff will award an RFP for the replacement of our two dual charging stations in the Van Buren 1 Surface Lot and the Van Buren Parking Facility. The Transportation, Engineering and Development Business Group (TED) have been working with several city departments to determine whether a fee should be required to use the electric vehicle charging stations.
In doing research of similar municipalities in the region, the City found that most municipalities do not charge users to park at the charging stations. The reason that some municipalities do charge to park, is that they are attempting to encourage rotation of the EVCS parking spaces.
From 2015 through 2017 the electric vehicle charging stations averaged $56.08 per month in electric utility charges. The revenue for the chargers during this time averaged $133.00 per month. During this time, the City had credit card processors installed on the charging stations for convenience to the customers. These credit card processors were often requiring of maintenance and were often out of order. City staff supports the elimination of the fee for use of the EVCS as the utility cost is not a significant cost to the City. The Downtown Naperville Alliance (DNA) also supports the elimination of the fee for use of the EVCS.