1. Typical public pricing ranges
Across southern Ontario, municipal EV charging rates typically range from $1-$2/hour or ~$0.30/kWh, with most cities moving from free or time-based pricing toward energy-based, cost-recovery models. While operators like FLO manage billing and access, municipalities largely control pricing, and are increasingly using fees and idle charges to balance cost recovery with charger availability.
• Level 2 (municipal / curbside / parking lots)
o ~$0.20-$0.40 per kWh or ~$1-$3/hour
• DC fast charging (municipal or third party)
o ~$0.35-$0.60 per kWh
2. News/Changes that might affect municipality public charging
Ontario's new Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) rate, effective January 1, 2026, significantly reduces electricity delivery costs for DC fast chargers (Level 3) public EV charging stations by cutting transmission charges to about 17% of the standard rate.
For municipalities that DC fast chargers (Level 3) own chargers-often with third-party operators like FLO-this means lower operating costs and improved project economics, especially for high-powered or low-use sites. While the EVC rate does not directly lower the price drivers pay, it reduces the need for municipal subsidies and makes it easier to expand charging infrastructure, particularly in underserved or early-adoption communities.
o The EVC rate does NOT reduce upfront capital costs (equipment, installation)
o It does reduce ongoing electricity delivery costs-especially demand-related charges
o Specifically, transmission costs drop to about 17% of the normal rate
3. CAC Scan:
• Burlington's EV charging currently has no fee but is moving to a paid model to reinvest in charging infrastructure, not green fleet. They have charging policy and pricing options report. The revenue will be utilized for electricity, licensing fees, maintenance and repairs. Does not include staff time to operate and maintain.
• Vaughan had free public charging 2017-2024. Since 2024, they are paid and have 75% drop of usage. The charge is $2/h (first 4h) and $3.5/h (after 4h usage). City of Vaughan: the revenue from the charging fee is used only for maintenance, and with low revenue it does not cover the full need.
• Mississauga has 12-year data of EV public charging usage. Similarly, they experienced a drop in usage after introducing fees but over time steadily increased and it is consistent. Charging $0.30/kWh. They use the revenue for recovery (asset life cycle, staff to monitor, maintain etc.)
• Aurora charges $2.40/h
• Peel Region: Charges an hourly rate of $1/hour for both staff and the public at hybrid sites. They are implementing "auto-charge" software to prioritize power output for fleet vehicles and authenticate them automatically. The revenues currently pay for subscriptions to software and SLAs.
• City of Brampton: $1/hour (first 3 hours) and $5/hour after 3 hours. They use dedicated chargers for fleet (behind gates) and public-facing chargers for staff. City fleet vehicles can use public chargers in emergencies, with costs handled through internal billing. Also invests all charging revenue into the maintenance of EV Chargers & software subscription fees
• Kingston: Have a mix of public and fleet charging on the same campus; where fleet chargers are specifically for fleet and if staff has own EV to come to campus must use public chargers and pay the standard market rate via the Flow app. There are not providing any kind of subsidized rates to staff/public to use fleet EV chargers in order avoid issues regarding the use of taxpayer-funded resources.
• Hamilton:
o $1.50/hour (Level 2 FLO-type)
o DC fast charging:
o ~$0.27-$0.57/min (~$16-$34/hour equivalent)