Measurement Canada finally approved kWh billing for DC fast charging providers in February, more than two years after the process began. The temporary dispensation order allowed existing Level 3+ EVSE stations already in use across Canada to bill customers for the amount of electricity used during a charging session, instead of for how long they are plugged in.
The first charging provider to make the switch was Couche-Tard, who one week later started billing EV drivers $0.65/kwh (or $0.59/kwh for account holders) at their growing network of fast chargers.
We were expecting Tesla to quickly follow suit, but a month and a half later there is still no sign of per kWh billing at Superchargers, and it looks like a complicated government process is to blame.
According to information obtained by Drive Tesla, Measurement Canada wasn’t clear in their communications. Despite the temporary dispensation order applying to existing stations already in use, there is actually a lengthy application process before a charging provider is allowed to bill per kWh. For companies with less than 50 charging stalls, approval can take up to 30 days. For those with more than 50 stalls, like Tesla, the process can take up to 60 days.
This is despite Tesla, and several other charging providers, working very closely with government and being heavily involved in the consultation process.
This process was so unclear that Couche-Tard has had to revert back to per-minute billing at their charging stations while they submit their application and wait for approval.
From what we have been told, and from what we have seen in the marketplace, no charging provider has actually been approved for kWh billing in Canada, despite a month and a half passing by since the temporary dispensation order was approved by Measurement Canada. Given the confusion around the process, and that anything involving government bureaucracy is usually slower than anticipated, it will likely still be several more weeks, or even months, until we see kWh billing at Superchargers in Canada.
