Arlington EV charging rates jump 72 percent to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour

Arlington County electric vehicle drivers will pay 30 cents per kilowatt-hour for public charging starting November 1. This represents a 72 percent increase over the current base fee of $17.46 per kilowatt-hour.

The Arlington County Board approved the rate change on October 26. The adjustment applies to dozens of public slow-charging stations across the county. County leaders stated that the hike reflects rising costs for both station installation and electricity supply. They noted that increased demand from data centers and power grid upgrades have driven up regional energy prices.

Elijah Colson, an EV owner, described the increase as a major jump that brings charging costs close to gasoline prices. He stated that he typically spends nine or 10 dollars per session. Colson said the new rate remains lower than the 40 dollars he would spend on gas for a weekly fill-up. Shihyag, another EV owner, questioned why the rate increase was so steep for all users, pointing to data centers as a likely cause.

The county currently operates 51 public EV charging locations. The board indicated that demand for these chargers is growing. The new pricing structure takes effect in five days.