Electric Vehicle Charging Fees

City Council action

The Sacramento City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Proposal items on June 11, 2024.

The assessment of fees to use an electric vehicle (EV) charger at all City-owned facilities was one of the approved budget items to cover on-going costs associated with providing EV chargers for public use. 

What is the change to the EV charging program in City facilities?

Presently, there are no fees associated with use of an EV charging space at any City facility garage or parking lot. The only exception are the SMUD-owned EV charging spaces at the Sacramento Valley Station, which are not maintained by the City of Sacramento.

Effective July 1, 2024, charging stations throughout multiple City-owned facilities will be programmed and prepared to activate charging fees. The actual date of rate activation is dependent upon this coordination. Once a site is activated to accept payment, customers will pay these fees through their personal ChargePoint account. 

Will daily or monthly parking fees still be collected?

Parking rates for daily or monthly parking are independent of EV charging rates. Parking fees are for the access and use of the parking spaces. Parking lots that do not currently charge a parking fee will remain free to park unless otherwise posted. 

The EV charging fees are only assessed when an EV charger is utilized. The EV charging rates are collected separately through the ChargePoint mobile app. 

When will rates go into effect?

The effective date after July 1, 2024, will be contingent upon completion of coordination efforts to implement the program. Some facilities may go live on different dates, depending on the facility type. This may take 30 days or more. 

How will EV charging fees be collected?

EV charging fees must be paid via the ChargePoint mobile app.

All City-owned facilities utilize ChargePoint EV chargers. The Sacramento Valley Station (Amtrak parking lot) also includes additional EV charging spaces owned and managed by SMUD using a different app and charging rates. 

Charging rates per kWh

  • SMUD Off-Peak Hours: $0.20 per kWh 
  • SMUD Mid-Peak Hours: $0.25 per kWh 
  • SMUD Peak Hours: $0.30 per kWh
  • Sacramento Valley Station (SMUD meter): $0.25 per kWh + transaction fee

Rates per kWh include current SMUD electricity rates, charging equipment maintenance costs, and ChargePoint fees.

Overstay fee: $10/hour overstay fee assessed by ChargePoint on the membership account if the vehicle remains plugged in past the posted time limit at any City-owned facility.

How to view charging rates

The charger screen will display a menu at the bottom edge of the screen. Select the “price” button to view the current charging rates for that space.

If the price screen reflects the word, "free", then no payment is required. Otherwise, charging rates will be reflected on the screen.  

Image of ChargePoint EV charging station screen open_in_full

Menu screen on a ChargePoint EV station

Sacramento Valley Station (Amtrak parking lot)

The EV chargers located near the middle of the Sacramento Valley Station (Amtrak) parking lot are operated by SMUD and the only public charging stations available in the parking lot. These spaces require payment of a charging fee and transaction fee. 

The City of Sacramento does not determine the pricing or maintain the equipment at these charging spaces.

These spaces require download of the a different mobile app to utilize the chargers. Please view the signage for updated information regarding the mobile app and fees.  

A separate parking fee is still required at a parking kiosk to authorize access to the facility. Parking fees may be paid at a kiosk or via the Parkmobile app. 

Image of SMUD EV charger at the Sacramento Valley Station open_in_full

SMUD EV charging space at Sacramento Valley Station

Citations and overstay fees

Regardless of whether payment of a fee is required to charge, the California Vehicle Code will be enforced. EV charging spaces may only be occupied for the exclusive purpose of charging a vehicle that is connected for charging purposes. 

An electric vehicle may not occupy a charging space unless it is actively charging.

  • An EV that has fully charged must be moved to a parking spot to avoid a citation for violation of California Vehicle Code section 22511 (a)(1), as it is no longer actively charging. 
  • If there is a time limit at the space, then the vehicle cannot occupy that space beyond the time limit, regardless of whether the vehicle has not fully charged. 
  • An overstay fee will be automatically assessed to the driver's ChargePoint account if the vehicle is connected beyond the time limit. 

ChargePoint Customer Support

Phone: 1-888-758-4389 (available 24/7) 

QR code linked to the Chargepoint app open_in_full

Scan to download ChargePoint to a mobile device

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