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Winter Park to start charging people to charge their electric vehicles: Here's when, and how much

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Published  September 19, 2024 8:05pm EDT
Orange County
FOX 35 Orlando

Winter Park to start charging people to charge electric cars

The City of Winter Park says inconsiderate drivers have ruined it for everyone else when it comes to using the city's EV charging stations, which have been around for 12 years.

WINTER PARK, Fla. - The City of Winter Park will soon begin to charge people a fee to charge their electric vehicles, a service that has been free for more than a decade, and police will soon begin more enforcement – issuing citations – for those who violate the rules.

Beginning Nov. 1, 2024, the city will charge $3 an hour to charge an electric vehicle ($1 per 20 minutes). After three hours, the fee jumps to $13 an hour ($10/hour fee, plus $3/hour charge fee).

According to the city, as more electric vehicles have hit the road, so have complaints over alleged abuse of driver inconveniences, such as parking at a charging station without charging the vehicle, staying parked at a charging station after the vehicle has been fully charged, or keeping the vehicle parked for several hours or overnight.

The goal, according to the city, is for EV drivers to quickly charge and then move to a regular parking spot, allowing another EV user to park and plug in.

People FOX 35 spoke to in Winter Park agreed that change was needed.

"Five or ten hours, for sure. That's a little excessive, you should definitely have a limit," said Jaymme Ponder, who works in Winter Park.

"Use it responsibly, use it in moderation, as you need it," said Ernie Albino, who also works in Winter Park.

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Police will also be keeping up with enforcement, ensuring EVs parked at a charging station are plugged in and actively charging, and that non-electric vehicles do not park at a charging station.

"I think it's necessary. It's inconvenient, you know, but I think it's necessary," said John Donohue, who lives in Winter Park.

Winter Park Electric Vehicle Charging Station Fees: 

Winter Park installed six charging stations in 2012. It now has a total of 11 stations. 

The city said other cities in Florida also charge for EV charging stations, including Dunedin, Green Acres, Celebration, and Jacksonville Beach.

How will the city used the funds collectings from the new fee?

"Revenue generation is not the goal of these fees. Charging to Charge is being implemented to create a disincentive to excessive use of a station and to enhance the availability of chargers to more EV owners. The revenue will go to the city’s Electric Utility Fund, that in part: supports energy conservation and sustainability initiatives, pays for free energy audits to Winter Park electric utility customers, and administers rebates for qualified energy-efficient improvements such as duct and insulation repairs," a spokesperson told FOX 35 in an emailed statement.

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