Electric-vehicle owners using charging stations owned by Saanich will have to pay for the service starting Jan. 4.
The municipality says it will start charging a fee of $1 per hour to offset some of the costs associated with installing 20 new charging stations in the new year.
A three-hour time limit will remain in effect.
Mayor Fred Haynes said in a statement the user fee will help promote turnover so more people can access charging stations.
Saanich has 75 public EV charging stations. Of those, the district owns and operates 12 Level 2 EV charging stations at its four recreation centres, Cedar Hill Golf Course and municipal hall. The 20 new public charging stations will be added at Saanich facilities, recreation centres and parks.
The new user fee will be aligned with the $1-per-hour fee coming next month in Esquimalt and Victoria.
