The Ontario Energy Board has been tasked to identify options that lower electricity rates charged to public electric vehicle chargers.
Energy Minister Todd Smith is hoping to have a preferred rate by 2026.
The hosts of the charging stations pay high electricity costs when chargers are used during peak periods.
They are also charged for when they are idle.
Smith says a new rate would support electric vehicle adoption across the province by reducing the costs for charging infrastructure where demand is only beginning to emerge.
“With more than 150,000 electric vehicles already on the roads in Ontario, we’re continuing to look at new ways to increase the number of public chargers – including reducing electricity rates for chargers in areas where electric vehicle usage is just beginning to emerge,” says Smith.
Starting this month, the Ontario Energy Board will conduct public consultations on a new rate.
An ultra-low rate was put in place last year that allows those who use more electricity at night, including charging their EV, to save up to $90 per year.
The new rate, if approved, would be available to public EV charging stations with low utilization, between 50kW and 4,999 kW.
