The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is moving ahead with an update to the fee schedule for its electric vehicle charging stations after the Board approved Resolution No. 26009 at its March meeting. The update follows a public hearing and is designed to keep the EV charging program operating without a loss. SBCTA maintains twelve Level 2 chargers and two Level 3 fast chargers at the Santa Fe Depot and the San Bernardino Transit Center, and use of these stations has continued to grow over the past year.
As electricity costs, maintenance needs, and system fees have increased, the current flat charging rates no longer cover the full cost of operating the program. In 2025, SBCTA’s EV stations delivered more than 275,000 kilowatt-hours of energy, but revenue fell short of covering expenses by about $35,000. To close this gap, the new fee structure uses Time-of-Use rates based on Southern California Edison’s pricing, which vary by time of day and season. The new structure also adds a small demand-based surcharge for Level 3 users to account for the higher electrical load of fast charging. Parking fees remain the same, although the grace period for Level 2 chargers is now one hour instead of two to help keep chargers available.
With this updated fee schedule, SBCTA expects the EV charging program to meet its annual costs for electricity, maintenance, and network services without relying on outside funding. Staff will continue monitoring usage and expenses and will return to the Board in the future if adjustments are needed to keep the program cost neutral. The updated rates help ensure reliable access to charging stations while supporting long-term financial sustainability.