Starting on January 1, 2023, the Town of Frisco will implement a fee of $.25 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the use of Town owned electric vehicle charging stations. Since 2019, the Town of Frisco has installed a total of five dual-port charging stations, including two newly installed charging stations at 3rd Avenue and Granite Street, which have been open to the public since early December.
While all charging stations have been free to users and will remain free until December 31, 2022, the intent has always been to transition these stations to fee-based usage after an initial promotional period to encourage the use of electric vehicles. As most motorists have diesel or gasoline vehicles and pay for that fuel, electric vehicle owners should also expect to pay for their energy use.
During the October 11, 2022 meeting, Town Council supported charging a fee for electric vehicle charging based on typical fees at other municipal locations in the area and in order to cover operating costs for the Town’s EV stations, including the Town’s utility costs and network subscription fees. Any remaining funds earned from the fees will be used toward maintenance not included in the warranty, or staff time to respond to customer inquiries and coordinate with the EV charging station contractor.
An overstay charge of $20/hour after four hours, with a maximum of $50, will also apply in order to promote turnover at the charging stations and allow more users to charge their vehicles.
The two new charging stations at 3rd Avenue and Granite Street were funded largely through the Charge Ahead Colorado grant program, administered by the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) and Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC). Program objectives include improving air quality, encouraging the deployment of EVs across the state, and supporting implementation of the Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan 2020. Since its inception in 2013, the Charge Ahead Colorado program has provided funds for more than 1,000 EV charging stations across the state.
The grant reimburses up to 80% of the cost of each charging unit, up to $18,000 total for both units recently installed on 3rd Avenue, and the Town of Frisco is required to provide a 20% ($4,688) match. The Town anticipates receiving the full reimbursement amount upon final approval of the grant application.
The ongoing addition of charging stations in Frisco supports the countywide Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan, which encourages adoption of more EVs through expanded infrastructure and incentives. This is one element of the Summit County Community Climate Action Plan (CAP) adopted by the Town of Frisco in 2019. The CAP sets a goal of reducing emissions from transportation 25% by 2030 and 91% by 2050. Emissions from transportation activities account for one-third of the County’s total emissions. Over 90% of transportation emissions come from driving gas and diesel-powered cars and trucks.
Frisco’s five charging stations are located on 3rd Avenue between Main and Granite Streets, the Day Lodge parking lot at the Frisco Adventure Park, as well as the at the Frisco Bay Marina Park, by the playground. The charging stations are also listed on the ChargePoint and PlugShare mobile apps.
Please visit SustainableFrisco.com for more information on sustainability initiatives and programs.