Free electric vehicle charging ended Oct. 30 in Gulfport. The new policy charges $0.30 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and adds a $5 idle fee per hour for vehicles that remain connected after charging.
Photo by Trei Johnson
Gulfport drivers now have to pay to plug in. The City ended its free electric vehicle (EV) charging program on Oct. 30 and launched its first official fee schedule. Council approved the ordinance on Oct. 21.
The new policy charges $0.30 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and adds a $5 idle fee per hour for vehicles that remain connected after charging. City officials said the rates recover energy and maintenance costs while funding future upgrades to Gulfport’s EV network.
Gulfport’s Electric Vehicle Charging Rate
Public Works Director Tom Nicholls first proposed a $0.25 rate at the Oct. 7 meeting. After reviewing cost projections, Council raised the rate to $0.30 and kept the idle fee unchanged.
Council members voted unanimously for the new structure on Oct. 21. They agreed to review the rates once the City collects enough usage data but did not set a timeline.
City leaders said the change positions Gulfport to manage growing demand from residents and visitors who drive electric vehicles. The policy supports the City’s sustainability plan and long-term goal of expanding clean-energy infrastructure.
Drivers can expect convenient access to charging stations across Gulfport at a rate officials consider fair and competitive. The City will monitor usage trends and adjust pricing as needed to balance affordability with environmental responsibility.
With the new ordinance in effect, Gulfport joins other Florida cities adopting paid EV charging models as part of broader efforts to promote renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.
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