FortisBC is changing how electric vehicle (EV) owners pay to charge their cars and trucks. 

Instead of a per-minute cost customers will pay based on the actual amount of electricity they use. 

"Using energy-based rates ensures that all drivers pay the same rate for the electricity they use regardless of charging speed," said George Thompson, EV infrastructure and investment manager. "Supporting customers who are choosing low- and zero-carbon options for transportation is one of the ways FortisBC is helping to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions in our province." 

EV owners will pay $0.39 per kilowatt hour (kWh) at 22 stations in the Okanagan and Kootenays starting August 1, as approved by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC). 

The BCUC decision also gives Fortis the option to implement an idling charge of $0.40 per minute for vehicles remaining at a station more than five minutes after it has finished charging. 

The aim is to help reduce the time other customers have to wait to use a station during busy periods.

Fortis owns and operates 42 direct-current fast charging stations at 22 sites across the Southern Interior.