District considers free EV charger install from PSEG affiliate; board asks for usage and cost controls

Bay Shore Union Free School District staff presented a proposal May 28 from LED Consulting, an affiliate of PSEG, offering to furnish and install electric vehicle chargers at no cost to the district. Board members asked staff to gather more information on locations, usage monitoring, and how to recover electricity costs before approving installation.

Staff said the offer would provide two pillars (two charging posts per station) at each of the district’s eight buildings, with commercial management software included for the first two years to monitor utilization. The chargers require proximity to power panels, so specific siting in each building is still under review. Presenters said LED Consulting would absorb any project overages and that there is no initial cost to the district.

Board members raised concerns about the ongoing electricity cost of charging staff vehicles and whether taxpayers would effectively subsidize private use. Staff recommended, as an initial approach, enabling charging only while staff are in the buildings and turning stations off at day’s end. The district noted the management software could allow monitoring and user‑level billing options (for example, charging by credit card or meter) and that staff would consult other districts with existing installations for best practices.

No installation vote was taken. Staff will return with a list of districts that have implemented chargers, recommended locations for each building, and options for software controls and user fees before the board decides whether to accept the offer. Staff also noted that utility incentives often have application windows and that timing influences installation schedules but does not obligate immediate acceptance.

Board members asked staff to pursue more operational detail, including how usage would be billed and when chargers would be active, before the district proceeds.