On May 1, 2024, the Ontario government announced it was considering a new Electric Vehicle Discount Electricity Rates for public EV charging stations in low-demand areas. According to Ontario’s energy minister Todd Smith, the province’s existing rate structure increases operational costs for charging stations in areas with low EV adoption rates. The station will experience a sharp peak in demand when an EV is charged, but they still incur costs when the ports are unused, most of the day. The end result is these stations either operate at a loss or are not built at all, which affects accessibility
The proposed Electric Vehicle Discount Electricity Rate would help reduce costs for EV charging stations in low-demand areas. It would also improve accessibility and foster EV adoption across Ontario.
Other initiatives
The discount electricity rate is among several recent initiatives by the Ontario government to boost EV adoption in the province and to make charging infrastructure more accessible. The EV ChargeOn program provides funding for charger installation for areas outside of large urban centres, such as provincial parks. Residents can sign up for the Ultra-Low Overnight plan for home charging. The plan offers lower prices for electricity usage during overnight hours (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.).
Quick Facts
The Ontario government and the Ontario Energy Board began public consultation for the proposed electricity rate in May 2024.
If approved, the new rate would be available to public EV charging providers by January 1, 2026.
The discounted electricity rate would apply to public EV charging stations with low utilization, which is between 50kW and 4,999kW.
