Time to pay up: No more free electricity at EV charging stations in Worcester

WORCESTER ― No more freebies. 

Starting sometime next month, motorists will pay to use the electric vehicle charging stations that are owned by the City of Worcester, according to John Odell, the city’s chief sustainability officer.

There are 30 city-owned chargers. The majority (24) are located in parking garages and there are six at South High Community School. 

The stations had been free of charge to encourage vehicle electrification and parking in city lots, according to Odell. The change comes as the city looks to expand its supply of chargers by adding six dual-port units at the Francis J. McGrath parking lot.

The amount users will pay hasn’t been finalized, but it could be 30 cents per kilowatt hour, said Odell, which is about three-quarters of the cost of a typical gasoline fill-up. 

It’s also roughly equal to the amount Worcester’s residential customers pay for electricity through the city’s municipal aggregation program, according to Odell. The average aggregation charge is 16 cents per kilowatt hour. That amount only covers the supply side of the electricity.

The free chargers have generated approximately $55,000 of electricity. Taxpayers haven’t paid the bill, said Odell. Renewable energy credits from the city’s solar projects that were sold on the open market offset the cost. 

National Grid covered up to 90% of the cost of the city-owned chargers, said Odell, with Worcester picking up the balance through state grants and renewable energy credits sold on the market. Odell anticipates that breakdown will continue when the city adds more charging stations.

Meanwhile, Worcester is looking to take ownership of four charging stations located within city limits that are owned by National Grid. The chargers are at least five years old and need maintenance, said Odell.  

Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on X: @henrytelegram.