After over an hour of discussion, Saskatoon City Council has agreed to start charging electric vehicle users $5.35 an hour to use the city’s Community Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at the Lawson and Lakewood Civic Centres.

The CEVCS, which was a free pilot project for the last two years, cost the City $135,000 to establish. In an attempt to keep user numbers up, Administration recommended charging just $3 per hour for a charge, but the Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services suggested the increased fee of $5.35 per hour, as it would offset 100 per cent of operating costs.

Administration reported that although it would offset costs, it is also estimated to cut user levels from 15 per cent to 6 per cent. Councilor Kathryn MacDonald says it doesn’t make sense to risk an over 50 per cent reduction in usership just to save a couple thousand dollars.

“Seeing that no other jurisdictions have any prices higher than $3, I think there is a valid reason for that, and as was shown in this analysis, there is a potential 50 per cent (user) reduction at $5.35. I just want to move forward with Option 4 at $3,” she explained.

Councilor Scott Ford countered that the small group of people who are charging EVs should pay for the service, not a subsidy that will have to be footed by taxpayers.

“I do feel that users should pay for a service, and I’m optimistic that the usage would be better than six per cent, so we would get cost recovery.”

Councilors Jasmin Parker and Katheryn MacDonald were opposed.