Electric vehicle adoption in Ontario is accelerating, and condo boards are asking a practical question: how do we fairly charge for EV electricity? Submetering provides the answer by measuring each charging station's consumption individually.
Without individual metering, EV charging electricity is typically absorbed into common area costs. This creates an obvious fairness problem: non-EV owners subsidize EV owners. As more residents adopt EVs, this cost sharing becomes increasingly untenable.
There are several approaches to EV charging submetering. Dedicated circuit metering involves installing a meter on each EV charging circuit, measuring consumption and billing it to the suite owner. Networked charging stations with built-in metering can track usage per user and integrate with billing systems. Panel-level metering can capture entire parking area consumption for allocation.
Load management is a critical consideration. Most condo electrical systems were not designed for dozens of simultaneous EV chargers. Smart load management systems can stagger charging times, limit charging speeds during peak periods, and prioritize based on scheduling or need.
The billing question is important. EV charging electricity can be billed as part of the suite's electricity bill if the circuit is individually metered to the unit. Alternatively, it can be billed separately as a managed service. The approach depends on the building's electrical configuration and the board's preference.
Planning ahead matters. Boards considering EV charging infrastructure should evaluate their building's electrical capacity, plan for future growth (not just current demand), consider both Level 1 and Level 2 charging needs, and ensure metering is included in the design from the start.
Submetering data from the building can help with this planning. Existing interval data shows the building's peak load profile, available capacity, and consumption patterns, which informs how much EV charging the building can support.