Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
116. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Transport the rationale for the current pricing structure for public electric vehicle (EV) charging, including the reason ESB public chargers are charging approximately €0.66 per kWh, which is almost double the cost of peak-rate home electricity and more than triple the off-peak rate available to smart-metre customer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72812/25]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the EV charging network over the coming years, targeting national roads and motorways, Local Authority sites, and destination schemes such as the Shared Island Sports club scheme. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles.
Price setting by electricity suppliers and charge point operators is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned. Each such company has its own approach to pricing decisions in accordance with factors such as their overall company strategic direction and developments in their cost base.
There are no current plans to introduce regulation on charging costs within the public EV charging sector. However, the Department will continue to monitor developments in the EV charging market, including pricing trends and impacts on users who rely on public charging, as part of its ongoing engagement with stakeholders and its wider work on the delivery of a fair, accessible and reliable EV charging network.
