Fee to use Wellington County electric vehicle charging stations starts July 1

Electric vehicle owners will have to pay a fee to use Wellington County's charging stations will have to pay a fee as of July 1, when the no-charge trial period for the stations ends.

All three charging stations have been operational since April 4, which is when the no-charge trial program started, and are located at Puslinch Library, the county's social service office in downtown Guelph and the county's library branch in Arthur.

• Waterloo region and area to receive electric vehicle charging stations
• Condo owners reporting push-back over electric vehicles

Between April 4 and May 31, the county recorded 157 charging station uses between the three stations.

Puslinch Library had 111 uses, followed by 31 uses at the social service office in downtown Guelph and the library in Arthur with 15 uses.  

"The Puslinch Library had the most usage, but we attribute that to its convenient location, which is just off Highway 401," said Andrea Ravensdale, communications manager for Wellington County.

A level three charging station allows an electric vehicle to charge up to 80 per cent in 20 to 30 minutes.

Charging station fees

Wellington County looked at what other municipalities with level three charging stations charged to determine an appropriate fee.

Ravensdale said that after Thursday's council meeting, council approved a staff recommendation that the fee be set at $12 per hour, plus a $2.50 fee per session.