48° and Overcast
Image
4-16-2025 11:01pm
Electric Vehicle Charging Station Draft Policy Under Review in Westwood
Darlene Cancell
Editor
A policy for use of the Town of Westwood’s electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and associated charges has been drafted, said Town Administrator Christopher Coleman at Westwood Select Board’s remotely held meeting on April 7th.
In a brief six-minute discussion with Select Board, Mr. Coleman laid out a description of the draft policy. He also noted that EV charging stations are at the town's police station, Wentworth Hall, and would be coming to some of Westwood's schools. As noted by Mr. Coleman, ideas in the draft policy include:
- Rates charged to users of the town’s EV charging stations will raise revenue for the town;
- Rates would apply to personal vehicles of residents and non-residents alike, including town employees;
- Municipal owned vehicles could use the town’s EV charging stations without being charged a fee;
- Reserving some EV charging station spaces exclusively for the use of police and other municipal vehicles;
- Revenue collected would go into a general fund;
- Related signage would be erected.
Additionally, Select Board Member Robert Gotti noted that the draft policy includes a proposal that EV charging station rates be reviewed annually. He questioned, however, whether a more frequent review would be prudent, given the dynamic pricing of electricity.
Town Counsel Pat Ahearn commented that potential rates under discussion may not be competitive, and suggested that the town’s energy manager, Tom Philbin, be asked to survey competitors’ rates.
Select Board Clerk Marianne LeBlanc Cummings agreed. (She was acting as a chair pro-tem following Counsel Ahearn’s prodding to Chair Joe Previtera that he recuse himself, “given your situation.”)
“I, too, would like to see what is competitive in our neighboring communities because I just don’t have a framework,” said Ms. Cummings. She added, “I’m really interested in making sure our residents get the first and foremost benefit out of this.” She further suggested the idea that the rate charged to Westwood residents be lower than the rate charged to non-residents.
Mr. Coleman was agreeable to acting on or investigating all of the suggestions raised. He noted that the internal working group which had drafted the EV charging station policy would return to a Select Board meeting in May with a more complete recommendation, following feedback from this April meeting.
