FortisBC is changing the rate protocol for the company’s electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in southeastern B.C. including those in Rossland and Trail.
As of today, Aug. 1, EV drivers in the Southern Interior service area will see a difference in how charging stations charge patrons, and how the pay is calculated.
Instead of paying a per minute cost for charging an EV, customers will pay a rate based on the actual amount of electricity they use.
“Using energy-based rates ensures that all drivers pay the same rate for the electricity they use regardless of charging speed,” said George Thompson, EV infrastructure and investment manager in a release.
“Supporting customers who are choosing low- and zero-carbon options for transportation is one of the ways FortisBC is helping to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions in our province.”
Instead of basing its rate on the amount of time taken to charge your EV (EV charge acceptance rate), the new rate is energy-based, and drivers will pay $0.39 per kilowatt hour (kWh) at all stations.
The move comes after the B.C. Utilities Commission’s approved FortisBC’s application to move from time-based to energy-based rates at all 22 of its EV fast charging locations, and is in line with other public charging services in B.C.
The BCUC decision also gives FortisBC the option to implement an idling charge of $0.40 per minute for vehicles that remain at charging stations more than five minutes after the EV has finished charging.
This could help reduce the time other customers have to wait to use a charging station during busy periods.
The mileage of course depends on several factors, including the make, model and size of the electric vehicle, its battery capacity, as well as the terrain and conditions you’re driving in.
The battery size of a modern EV can range anywhere from about 30 kWh in a small EV like the Mini Cooper SE to over 200 kWh in a large and powerful EV like the GMC Hummer EV truck.
FortisBC owns and operates 42 Direct-Current Fast Charging stations at 22 sites across its service area in B.C.’s Southern Interior.
This includes higher-powered 100-kilowatt (kW) chargers, which can charge faster than the standard 50-kW chargers.
Local EV sites include those in Trail, Rossland, Christina Lake, Grand Forks, Salmo, Castlegar and Nelson.
Prior to Aug. 1, 50 kW fast charging EV stations in Rossland and Trail charged $0.26 per minute.
Since opening its first public charging station in 2018, FortisBC says each year there are more drivers using the company’s charging stations.
FortisBC says that last year, drivers charged up their vehicles 38 per cent more often than in 2022.
