EV Charging Gets Easier For Apartment Residents

There is good news for all the EV owners who live in apartments in Bengaluru. Recently, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has directed apartment complexes to facilitate the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the state. This initiative will significantly benefit EV owners by addressing the long-standing concerns related to the practicalities of installing EV charging units in such residential areas. The directive came into effect on August 1, 2024.

EV Charging Unit Installations in Apartements

The KERC, in its response to persistent opposition from resident welfare associations (RWAs) concerning potential fire hazards and structural stability issues, has mandated the simplification of procedures for installing EV charging units.

The commission has directed the energy department and electricity supply companies (Escoms) to issue comprehensive guidelines and publish them on their websites. With this move, KERC aims to eliminate the bureaucratic hurdles that have previously deterred apartment residents from adopting EV charging solutions.

According to the new order, individual flat owners and occupiers allocated specific parking spaces in multi-storeyed buildings can install EV charging points for all types of vehicles, including two-wheelers. They are also allowed to connect these units within their existing sanctioned load.

Also, if necessary, they can enhance the load under the existing category tariff. Many believe that this flexibility will prove a significant relief for EV owners, allowing them to adapt their power consumption according to their needs without excessive red tape.

Safety and Compliance Regulations

The KERC directive emphasizes the need for strict adherence to Central Electricity Authority (CEA) safety regulations. The wiring or cabling must extend from the metering panel to the charging points to ensure compliance with established safety standards.

Additionally, the chief electrical inspector of the Karnataka electrical inspectorate has been tasked with issuing norms for housing energy meters. The authority will be specifying the type of electrical cabling, safety earthing, and a standard wiring diagram.

For installations in common areas, consumers, owners, or RWAs must obtain sanction from Escoms. Then they can extend wiring from the metering panel to the charging points as per CEA safety rules.

It has also been stated that meters for these stations should be housed in a new metering panel to ensure that there is clear and separate metering for EV charging. Additionally, Escoms are also required to arrange for the servicing of EV charging stations.

New Standards for Large Buildings and Complexes

The recently introduced directive also introduces specific standards for larger buildings and complexes. Buildings or complexes with a requisitioned load of 250 kilowatts (kW) or more and a built-up area of over 5,000 square meters are now required to have at least two EV charging points.

This mandate will ensure that larger residential and commercial buildings are adequately equipped to support the growing demand for EV charging infrastructure. Consumers, owners, and associations who wish to install additional EV charging stations will have to obtain permission from the distribution licensee, which can also be an Escom.

For installations in unidentified common areas, they must secure permission to extend wiring or cabling from the metering panel to the charging stations. They have to make sure that they comply with electrical safety regulations.

Facilitating New Connections and Community Charging Stations

Individual apartment owners can now also apply for new connections to charge their vehicles. Charges have been fixed by KERC at Rs 4.50 per kWh. This option allows EV owners to choose either to connect their units to their existing sanctioned load or to take a new connection under the EV charging tariff category.

EV Charging Has Been an Issue in Apartments

Presently, this directive is limited to Karnataka; however, we hope that it can be adopted by other states as well. This is because EV owners have been suffering from the problem of charging their EVs for a long time. More often than not, they do not have any place to charge these electric cars; hence, they opt for ICE vehicles.

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