The meeting was to discuss a single Officer Key Decision on varying the Pay as you go price per kWh that can be charged by the Electric Vehicle Charge Point Operator (CPO), ESB Energy Ltd¹ for the provision of electricity at rapid charging points.

Contract Variation: Rapid Electric Vehicle Charge Points

The meeting was scheduled to include a decision on whether to accept a variation to the price paid by the Council to ESB Energy Ltd to operate rapid electric vehicle charging points.

The original contract was tendered in March 2022 and required bidders to provide a maximum price that would be maintained for 2 years and then rise based on CPI +3% each year.

The report prepared for the meeting explains that in the intervening period, the war in Ukraine and energy prices shocks have redefined the wholesale market for energy and fundamentally affected the operating dynamics for Electric Vehicle Charge Point Operators.

As a result of the change in market conditions, ESB Energy Ltd requested an increase to the pay as you go price per kwh. The report says that If they are unable to increase the PAYG Average Price per kWh, the CPO would not be able to successfully install and operate the required Electric Vehicle Charge Point infrastructure in Hackney and the delivery of electric vehicle charge points throughout the borough may be compromised.

The report goes on to say that For the success of the borough-wide EV charge point programme, and to foster a collaborative long-term working relationship between the Council and the EVCP supplier, it is recommended that the price variation requests are agreed by the Group Director for Climate, Homes and Economy.