Arlington County Board members approved higher fees for access to county-operated electric-vehicle charging stations this past Saturday (Dec. 14), among other actions.
“We’re not trying to make big bucks. We’re just trying to meet our costs,” Board chair Libby Garvey said after the vote to raise the base fee from the current 14.52 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 17.46 cents.
A typical passenger vehicle requires about 0.346 kWh of electricity per mile driven. For 300 miles’ worth of energy, the cost using Arlington’s equipment would rise from $15.07 to $18.12.
In addition, those using the county charging facilities will be required to pay a fee of $3 per hour, up to $25, if they do not move their vehicles within 15 minutes of charging being completed.
Where charging is undertaken in a metered parking space, meter fees — $1 to $3.25 per hour — also will need to be paid.
The increase to 17.46 cents per kWh keeps Arlington’s fees below those charged for public charging stations operated by the Fairfax and Prince William counties and the city of Falls Church, although Falls Church provides the first hour of charging for free. Alexandria currently does not have any public charging stations.
The Dec. 14 approval, made as part of the Board’s consent agenda for items considered uncontroversial, also gave County Manager Mark Schwartz the power to adjust fees based on the ups and downs of electricity costs.
The rate structure is based on energy costs, plus a 25% administrative fee going to the county government and a 10% fee for the initiative’s private contractor.
Garvey said the imposition of a “dwell fee” for vehicles occupying electric-charging spaces after charging is complete was an important one to ensure all have access to charging.
“Once you’re done, you can’t just let it sit there,” she said of vehicles.
Currently, county-government charging stations are found at:
- Arlington Mill Community Center
- Long Bridge Aquatics Center
- Fairlington Community Center
- Madison Community Center
- Central Library
- Aurora Hills Community Center
- Courthouse Plaza
- South Irving Street Group Home
Public chargers are in the process of being installed at Lubber Run Community Center, and future sites are being explored. In a press release today, the county touted the growth in its charger network.
Arlington County Government is jump-starting the number of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations it offers for the public.
Just a few months ago, the County had provided just 15 public charging stations at facilities including Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center and Arlington Mill Community Center.
A total of 31 charging stations have now been installed at County facilities and are operational, including six at the surface parking lot adjacent to the County’s Bozman Government Center in Courthouse. An additional 12 stations were installed recently at Central Library in Ballston-Virginia Square and will be operational pending activation by Dominion Energy.
The County, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, was recently awarded a federal grant to continue the expansion of public electric vehicle charging at additional locations.
The charging infrastructure, distributed equitably across Arlington, supports the County’s sustainability commitments including a carbon-neutral target of 2050.
Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey, herself a new EV owner, says the County’s stations have helped her make the adjustment. “I’ve tried some other chargers, but they often charge a lot more and can be more difficult to use. The County’s chargers are so easy to use, and I know I’m getting a really good deal on the cost of the energy.” She added, “I am excited for our expansion of these charging stations across the county, which will help people transition away from fossil fuels.”
A new online map shows the locations of the County’s operational EV chargers. It will be updated as more are added. The federal Joint Office of Energy and Transportation offers an online map for stations across the country. In addition, the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy (AIRE) has curated a number of online resources to help achieve EV ownership.
Of the County’s current fleet of non-public-safety sedans and non-schools vehicles, 64% are EVs. They’re supported by 75 operational non-public fleet chargers.
Across Arlington County, private ownership of EVs stands at about 2%, slightly above the regional average. Most of those vehicles have been charged primarily at single-family homes.
The scores of new chargers installed and operated by Arlington County will make the EV option easier to consider for residents of multi-family dwellings and others with financial and space limits.
County officials report that, in June, the utilization rate of electric-charging stations operated by the government was 16%, with a range of 11% to 24%. During core hours (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.) the average utilization rate was 20%.
Final Plan for Gateway Park Approved: County Board members on Saturday voted 5-0 approving the master plan for Gateway Park in Rosslyn, accepting the staff recommendation.
The 3.7-acre park is located just south of Key Bridge. The cost to redevelop the site is estimated at $31 million, with about half funded by CoStar as part of an agreement with county leaders.
Funding Accepted to Support Incarcerees: Arlington County Board members on Saturday (Dec. 14) accepted a five-year, $1 million U.S. Department of Justice grant that will support expanded services by the Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR) safety-net provider.
Funding will assist programs aimed at diverting people from jail and supporting those who come out of incarceration. The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney will administer the funding, with no local match required.
Board Chair Libby Garvey said the funding would be a net win both for those facing incarceration and the overall community.
“All too often, people are incarcerated and when they’re sent out, they don’t have a place go to,” she said. “This diversion program helps get them on their feet.”
Fair Operations Shifted to County Government: County Board members on Saturday approved a memorandum of understanding that would shift operations of the Arlington County Fair from the non-profit Fair Board to the Department of Parks and Recreation, while maintaining the Fair Board’s oversight of volunteers and some programming.
“It’s getting to be way more than volunteers can actually handle,” Board Chair Libby Garvey said of the Fair, which has grown to attract about 150,000 attendees each August.
The Arlington County Fair, held at Thomas Jefferson Community Center, was first presented in 1976.
Photo via Marek Studzinski/Unsplash
