EV charging station fees take effect at Lakewood and Lawson Civic Centres 

WATCH: The city won't be picking up the tab at two electric vehicle charging stations any more. It follows concerns over the way public money is being used.

Effective Thursday, Oct. 30, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at Lakewood and Lawson civic centres will begin charging user fees.

It follows a city council decision in August, when the city’s environment, utilities and corporate services committee voted to end a pilot program and begin charging users $5.35 per hour at city-operated electric vehicle EV charging stations.

The two-year pilot was launched in May 2023 with no user fees to support community EV adoption. The pilot experienced “consistent growth in usage and received positive user feedback,” according to a city report.

“I don’t think taxpayers should be subsidizing costs on people who choose to buy a Tesla,” Ward 4 Coun. Troy Davies said in August.

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The city recently said about 44 users access the chargers each month.

Fees are in effect 24 hours a day, including weekends, statutory and other holidays. The maximum charging duration is three hours.

Charging fees can be paid using the ChargePoint app, RFID card or by credit card or digital wallet.

More information can be found at saskatoon.ca/CityEV.