Staff proposes per‑kWh and dwell fees to make public EV chargers cost‑neutral

City staff recommended a two‑part fee structure for Fairfax’s four city‑owned electric‑vehicle charging stations at City Hall and Old Town Hall: 22¢ per kilowatt‑hour for delivered electricity and a dwell fee of $3 per hour after charging is complete, capped at $25 per session. Staff also proposed a 4‑hour maximum parking limit at most locations (Old Town Hall would retain an existing 2‑hour weekday limit). The recommendation was presented as part of a staff review of usage and operating costs.

Staff reported that in fiscal year 2025 the chargers supported more than 5,000 charging sessions and delivered over 70,000 kWh, avoiding about 62 tons of embodied carbon. Operating costs were about $11,000 with roughly $2,000 in revenue under the current rate structure (first 3 hours free; 43¢/kWh thereafter), leaving a recovery shortfall. Staff projected that the proposed 22¢/kWh rate plus dwell fees could raise approximately $14,000 annually — roughly covering estimated operating costs and creating a predictable funding source for maintenance and potential expansion.

Councilmembers broadly supported the principle of making the program cost neutral and deterring ‘‘charger hogging.’’ They suggested staff consider a short grace period (e.g., 15 minutes) for enforcement clarity and asked staff to monitor usage after implementation and report back with adjustments if electricity prices or usage patterns change. Staff said the proposed per‑kWh rate benchmarks below rates in surrounding jurisdictions and that parking enforcement would assist with dwell enforcement if the council adopts the change in the budget.