Fees for EV charging set to rise for first time in three years

For the first time in three years, fees for using Orkney Islands Council’s electric vehicle (EV) chargers could be going up – to align with the Scottish average whilst assisting the local authority with rising costs. 

OIC currently operates 31 EV charging points across the islands but the income from tariffs does not currently cover the cost of managing and maintaining the charging infrastructure. 

Charges were last increased in Orkney in 2022 and have remained among the cheapest across Scotland. 

The average tariff throughout other local authorities in Scotland for fast or slow charge point is 44p and for a rapid charge point is 61p per kWh – compared to Orkney’s 30p and 38p, respectively. 

The proposed increases recommended at Tuesday’s Development and Infrastructure Committee take into account a careful balance to ensure that the tariff is attractive to users but reduces the burden on the Council. 

These are: 

Rapid Chargers - 59p per kWh, minimum charge of £3.00, maximum stay 1 hour. Overstay penalty is £1/minute. 

Fast and Slow - 49p per kWh, minimum charge of £1.50, maximum stay 4 hours. Overstay penalty between 08.00 and 18.00 is £5, there is no overstay fee between the hours of 18.00 and 08.00. 

This means charging is the same as Shetland Islands Council and in line with the Scottish average. 

The Council’s Head of Neighbourhood Services, Lorna Richardson, said: “The EV charging network is budgeted to show an overspend of just over £92,000 by the end of this financial year due to increased utility costs and repairs to the charging equipment. In addition, in previous years some grant funding has been available to assist with maintenance costs, however this has not been the case for the past year. 

“The recommendation will help to recover a portion of the current budget overspend but will continue to make the charging network available to EV users. 

“The Council remains committed to the Scottish Government objective of increasing the use of electric vehicles which is why we have tried to reach a position whereby our tariffs still remain attractive to users.” 

This will require to be ratified by Full Council on 8 May.