Electric Vehicle Fuel Sold at Retail - Equipment Requirements, Units of Measure, and Fees
Summary
HB969 establishes new retail-sale requirements for electricity sold as a vehicle fuel, primarily affecting electric vehicle charging stations and other providers of public charging services. The bill requires the owner or possessor of a weight and measure used for retail EV charging to clearly display the name, address, and phone number of a local responsible person, either on or immediately adjacent to the equipment.
The bill also standardizes how electricity used as vehicle fuel is measured and sold. Retail electricity must be measured and sold in kilowatt-hours, and customers may be charged only for the kilowatt-hours dispensed during a charging session. In addition, the bill authorizes charging providers to impose separate service fees related to the retail sale of electricity, including fixed or time-based fees, so long as those fees are applied only at the end of a charging session and itemized on the customer’s receipt. The Comptroller is directed to determine the minimum price for the retail sale of electricity as a vehicle fuel, and the act takes effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
HB969 amends the Agriculture Article by adding a new section governing the retail sale of electricity as a vehicle fuel and clarifying that EV charging equipment is subject to state weight-and-measure rules. It creates new disclosure and billing standards for charging providers, requires sales to be denominated in kilowatt-hours, and permits separate itemized service fees. The bill also gives the Comptroller authority to set a minimum retail price for electricity sold as vehicle fuel, affecting pricing practices for charging networks, station operators, and consumers using public EV charging infrastructure.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad legislative support, passing the House 108-25 and the Senate 24-9. The vote margins suggest general agreement on the need to regulate EV charging sales practices and provide clearer consumer protections and pricing rules. No committee transcript was provided, so the available record shows support through final passage rather than detailed debate.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the pricing and fee provisions. Supporters likely view the bill as a consumer-protection and market-clarity measure that ensures customers are billed fairly and can understand what they are paying for at charging stations. Opponents may object to the Comptroller’s role in setting a minimum price, the restriction that customers be charged only for kilowatt-hours dispensed, or the authorization of additional service fees, which could affect business models for charging providers and raise concerns about regulatory burden or cost transparency.