BC Hydro Approved for Energy-based Rates

[DJP]

From a March 13th Statement:

BC Hydro is committed to supporting the adoption of electric vehicles in B.C. Today, the British Columbia Utilities Commission approved our energy-based rates for public electric vehicle (EV) charging service.

The new energy-based charges are 34.34 cents per kilowatt hour for all fast-charging power levels and 28.28 cents per kilowatt hour for Level 2 charging, and will be implemented by June 1, 2024. BC Hydro believes the proposed energy-based rates are fairer and are easier for customers to understand. These charges are in line with other public charging services in B.C.

An extended stay charge of 40 cents per minute was also approved by the Commission for fast charging stations, excluding level 2, five minutes after an EV stops taking electricity. This will help prevent lineups at our most popular charging stations, allowing more customers to access.

I guess this is another example of "be careful of what you wish for". This is a lot more than what they were charging using their time-based rates.

 

[marshall]

That's still dirt cheap fuel. Isn't the price for gas over two dollars a liter in the metro areas?

 

[R P]

That's still dirt cheap fuel. Isn't the price for gas over two dollars a liter in the metro areas?

Yup, Vancouver has had the dubious honour of highest gas prices in NA for many years now. And we just had another big carbon tax increase to stretch that further. One of the reasons I have two BEVs and no ICE car. But I don't think our electricity is the lowest, even with the TOU coming. But we are pretty well 100% hydro, and more coming online soon. Govt owned, so they are raking in the revenue on that, too.

 

[R P]

I guess this is another example of "be careful of what you wish for". This is a lot more than what they were charging using their time-based rates.

I want FREE. Paid a lot for my BEVs, so I figure I deserve some payback.

 

[aberdo]

I want FREE. Paid a lot for my BEVs, so I figure I deserve some payback.

Well you can come to Alberta where vehicle registration fees are:
ICE & hybrids - $84.45/year
BEV - $284.45/year

The Petro-Trudeau stations are $30/hr and I already pay $0.40/kWh for electricity during the summer.

 

[DJP]

That's still dirt cheap fuel. Isn't the price for gas over two dollars a liter in the metro areas?

Well, when people transitioned from horses to cars, I don't think they were comparing the price of gasoline to the price of horse feed consequently I don't buy into the argument that it's OK to overcharge by multiples of what electricity costs a person to charge at home because it's so much cheaper than gasoline. Of note about the cost of gas is that it has increased by $0.30 in the past 3 months on its own. An extra $0.03 for the carbon tax is nothing compared to that.

 

[R P]

Well, when people transitioned from horses to cars, I don't think they were comparing the price of gasoline to the price of horse feed consequently I don't buy into the argument that it's OK to overcharge by multiples of what electricity costs a person to charge at home because it's so much cheaper than gasoline. Of note about the cost of gas is that it has increased by $0.30 in the past 3 months on its own. An extra $0.03 for the carbon tax is nothing compared to that.

Yeah, oil prices went up at the same time as taxes which were already high to begin with. Here is the full breakdown of what we pay here. It's not just carbon taxes.
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/metro-vancouver-gas-prices-breakdown-price-pump
And for those blaming gas stations for gouging, need to understand that their Retail Margin (ie gross margins not net) is only 10 cents a litre. From that they have to pay all their fixed costs and employee wages. Not a very profitable business for sure. They make more money from selling confectionery items and lottery tickets in their stores.

As we move forward in the EV revolution, I see these same stores converting to charging stations, and eventually having to compete on how much they charge per kWh. Of course the govts then will be taxing that as well.

 

[SouthernDude]

My goodness. You canadians truly do pay a ton for energy. Here where I live its just USD $0.14 per kWh and I only pay about $3.00 per gallon of gas. We have no carbon tax here and I hope it stays that way. Would make everything more expensive.

 

[R P]

My goodness. You canadians truly do pay a ton for energy. Here where I live its just USD $0.14 per kWh and I only pay about $3.00 per gallon of gas. We have no carbon tax here and I hope it stays that way. Would make everything more expensive.

Yup, despite having an over abundance of all energy resources, incl hydro. And to explain that I would have to get into politics, but will leave it at that.

 

[marshall]

My goodness. You canadians truly do pay a ton for energy. Here where I live its just USD $0.14 per kWh and I only pay about $3.00 per gallon of gas. We have no carbon tax here and I hope it stays that way. Would make everything more expensive.

You pay 14 cents a kWh for pubic charging? Prove it. Outside of Tesla's midnight specials, no one here offers public charging that cheap.

We do have carbon tax trading here in Washington state. However, I don't buy much gasoline directly, electric car powered by hydroelectricity. So the carbon tax on gasoline doesn't directly affect me much.

My natural gas bill carbon tax was $13.63 this month. However, my natural gas bill also has a carbon tax credit of $27.04. So my natural gas bill was actually lowered by the carbon tax by $13.41.

 

[Puppethead]

You pay 14 cents a kWh for pubic charging? Prove it. Outside of Tesla's midnight specials, no one here offers public charging that cheap.

Here's a recent receipt from a ChargePoint charger at a public library in Minnesota, 15¢ per kWh plus a $1.00 fixed fee. Pretty cheap, although my home charging is only 4¢ per kWh.

 

[marshall]

Here's a recent receipt from a ChargePoint charger at a public library in Minnesota, 15¢ per kWh plus a $1.00 fixed fee. Pretty cheap, although my home charging is only 4¢ per kWh.


View attachment 22420

I have to wonder if they will be able to afford to repair it when it breaks.

 

[R P]

I think people are mixing up home kWh rates with public charge stations. They vary greatly and go all the way down to free, incl L3s.

 

[DJP]

As we move forward in the EV revolution, I see these same stores converting to charging stations, and eventually having to compete on how much they charge per kWh. Of course the govts then will be taxing that as well.

I hope that competition happens soon!

Just noticed that Chevron's recently free On the Run DCFC's are now charging $0.65/kWh. People were willing to be patient with their weirdly battery powered charging stations which were a bit like going to a casino to get a decent rate of power for a decent length of time but I'm not willing to pay $0.65/kWh when getting charging rates between 60kW to 3kW at a charger that boasts 200kW.

 

[R P]

I hope that competition happens soon!

Just noticed that Chevron's recently free On the Run DCFC's are now charging $0.65/kWh. People were willing to be patient with their weirdly battery powered charging stations which were a bit like going to a casino to get a decent rate of power for a decent length of time but I'm not willing to pay $0.65/kWh when getting charging rates between 60kW to 3kW at a charger that boasts 200kW.

Bummer, I was able to put up with the inconsistent charging when it was free. But I guess it was not forever.... Looking at the Hope chargers, I see they are .45/kWh, so they must have different prices depending on location.

 

[bwilson4web]

where I live its just USD $0.14 per kWh

My residential rate in Huntsville AL rounds up to $0.12 per kWh (thanks TVA.) Just curious, @SouthernDude which part of Dixie are you in? (We never ask "Where you are from?" because in Southern that means 'Where were you born?')

On my eclipse trip, 882 mi three days, SuperCharger rates ran $0.31/kWh. CCS rates varied from $0.00/kWh to:

• $0.42/kWh - ChargePoint, CCS-1
• $0.37/kWh - Blink, L2

The $0.00 rates were:

• Motel overnight L2 charging
• Public free L2 chargers (retail stores and public chargers)
• Calling CCS-1 charger support when unit failed to take payment
  
  • Not the App
  • Not any of my multiple credit cards
  • No bill or coin slot

Bob Wilson

 

[insightman]

My residential rate in Huntsville AL rounds up to $0.12 per kWh (thanks TVA.) Just curious, @SouthernDude which part of Dixie are you in? (We never ask "Where you are from?" because in Southern that means 'Where were you born?')

On my eclipse trip, 882 mi three days, SuperCharger rates ran $0.31/kWh. CCS rates varied from $0.00/kWh to:

• $0.42/kWh - ChargePoint, CCS-1
• $0.37/kWh - Blink, L2

The $0.00 rates were:

• Motel overnight L2 charging
• Public free L2 chargers (retail stores and public chargers)
• Calling CCS-1 charger support when unit failed to take payment
  • Not the App
  • Not any of my multiple credit cards
  • No bill or coin slot

Bob Wilson

After the eclipse, I took the back-roads on my return to Michigan to avoid the multi-lane parking-lot that I-75 in Toledo had become. It was a great day for a drive in the country. The traffic congestion I saw when I drove under I-75 caused me to wonder if the EV charging stations along the escape routes from the eclipse path everywhere from Texas to Maine had long lines.

 

[bwilson4web]

After the eclipse, I took the back-roads on my return to Michigan to avoid the multi-lane parking-lot that I-75 in Toledo had become.

I had to cross the Mississippi at Memphis. But the Tesla navigation system is traffic aware of detours and jams. It proposed several 'shorter time' routes that I took every time.

wonder if the EV charging stations along the escape routes from the eclipse path everywhere from Texas to Maine had long lines.

Jonesboro AR SuperCharger was slammed with at least 20 minute wait times. Fortunately, PlugShare identified the local Mark Martin Chevrolet GMC dealer as having a CCS-1 charger (thanks Mary Barra.) Shortly after they opened, I went to charge but like about 1/3d of the CCS-1 chargers, it would not work.

It rejected my credit cards and the App. So I called the 1-800 number and after their regular efforts, they remotely enabled charging which I fully exploited, 95% SOC, free charge.

The dealer was resentful about the unreliability and I shared that is common with many CCS-1 chargers and suggested they call the 1-800 number. In the heart of Ozark Mountain 'Coal Country', they didn't have a single EV and somewhat pissed that GM made them get one.

They were 'good ole boys' and I certainly enjoyed their company. I did share the binocular trick, point the eye piece at the sun and it projects a safe image on a surface. But you still need a 'light box' because of the surrounding band of light.

Bob Wilson

 

[SouthernDude]

You pay 14 cents a kWh for pubic charging? Prove it. Outside of Tesla's midnight specials, no one here offers public charging that cheap.

We do have carbon tax trading here in Washington state. However, I don't buy much gasoline directly, electric car powered by hydroelectricity. So the carbon tax on gasoline doesn't directly affect me much.

My natural gas bill carbon tax was $13.63 this month. However, my natural gas bill also has a carbon tax credit of $27.04. So my natural gas bill was actually lowered by the carbon tax by $13.41.

I was referring to home kWh rate.

My residential rate in Huntsville AL rounds up to $0.12 per kWh (thanks TVA.) Just curious, @SouthernDude which part of Dixie are you in? (We never ask "Where you are from?" because in Southern that means 'Where were you born?')

East Central Alabama. I am in Alabama Power's service territory. It is around $0.14 with them now. Every now and then I try to check on the price to see how it changes.

I think people are mixing up home kWh rates with public charge stations. They vary greatly and go all the way down to free, incl L3s.

Yes. I was doing that. I have no idea what your residential kWh prices are.

 

[R P]

Yes. I was doing that. I have no idea what your residential kWh prices are.

We also pay about 14 cent per kWh, all in here. We have a two tiered rate, the more you use, the more you pay. I am always in the 2nd tier. On June 1, we will have a TOU option where I might be able to save some by moving my EV charging to overnight.