Net Metering

[salmon creek gary]

Two shoes are going to drop on the EV's. One is free juice. LOT of places right now have free charging. Like the free lunch someone has to pay. The other is the tax lost by the gov on people not buying gas. Its only a matter of time till both of these go away and the screaming and crying will be fun to watch.

I recently read that some U.S. military installations - I forget which - have already told EV owners they can no longer charge vehicles at their government quarters unless they first get a separate electric meter installed for their charging station. Previously, the military covered the electric bill for government housing; military members who reside in family housing simply give up the rank-based housing allowance paid to those who reside "on the economy".
Two considerations have driven that change:
(1) The military budget will never stretch enough to continue paying the electric bill at gov't housing if/when EV ownership becomes the norm; and
(2) government housing at many installations is way to old to handle the added electrical drain on the wiring.

 

[Alexx1401]

I recently read that some U.S. military installations - I forget which - have already told EV owners they can no longer charge vehicles at their government quarters unless they first get a separate electric meter installed for their charging station. Previously, the military covered the electric bill for government housing; military members who reside in family housing simply give up the rank-based housing allowance paid to those who reside "on the economy".
Two considerations have driven that change:
(1) The military budget will never stretch enough to continue paying the electric bill at gov't housing if/when EV ownership becomes the norm; and
(2) government housing at many installations is way to old to handle the added electrical drain on the wiring.

Place I work we have free charging stations. When they first put them in they sat empty. Now? We have had near fights over them. As with everything "free" someone has to pay. The problem is people who are being given something "free", tend to just blow up when suddenly told they now have to pay. It will be the same with the tax. They are always sending trial balloons about changing to a mileage tax from a gas tax. Sooner or later they are going to do it and again the crying will begin

 

[gmerkt]

Back in 2021, I traded in my last hybrid vehicle because the WA registration fees began to include an extra $70 specifically (they said) for building the EV recharging infrastructure in WA. Since I and my hybrid vehicle did not and would not ever use any recharging station, I could only see it as gov't overreach.

My son has a Lexus CT200h that he bought new in 2012. It's a hybrid. Not a plug in. I ran his plate number through the DOL, he doesn't pay an electric vehicle tab fee of any kind for this one. I think the RCW requires the fee for vehicles using "electricity from any external source" so I guess that part includes plug-in hybrids.

 

[gmerkt]

Place I work we have free charging stations. When they first put them in they sat empty.

They had these at Fred Meyer a few years ago. But when for-profit companies started putting them in here and there, they went away. The restriction signs are still up, equipment long gone. I sometimes use the space to park my old Mercury because it's near the front door and many other drivers seem to be intimidated by the signs. Waste not, want not.

 

[Alexx1401]

They had these at Fred Meyer a few years ago. But when for-profit companies started putting them in here and there, they went away. The restriction signs are still up, equipment long gone. I sometimes use the space to park my old Mercury because it's near the front door and many other drivers seem to be intimidated by the signs. Waste not, want not.

Hell if they had a spot for that near the door and the charging unit was gone? I would park there too. Maybe have an old extension cord hanging out of the trunk and wrap it around the sign?