Tesla is charging customers for using the super chargers in the Town’s parking garage and powered by the Town’s electricity.
By: Doug Fansler, a Normal resident
The Town has not received any payments from Tesla per FOIA.
So the Town is giving away electricity and Tesla is charging it’s customers for it, but Tesla has not paid the Town of Normal. I assume it is because the Town has never invoiced them as they do not have the ability to meter the electricity to the chargers. So Tesla is keeping dollars owed to the Town. Not really their fault as they do not receive any invoices.
The Town Action Report states: “Tesla and the Town will work on a mutually acceptable way to reimburse Supercharger users for parking deck fees.”
Tesla and the Town agreed ‘work on a mutually acceptable way for Tesla to reimburse Supercharger users for any parking fees’.
I am unable to find any documents that requires the Town to seek or Tesla to send reimbursement for electricity used by Tesla’s chargers. Electricity is free, even though it is not.
Tesla charging charges can estimated at various sites. One is going from 10% battery to 100% battery will cost between $12 to $20 as there are lots of other variables. Older Tesla’s charge less efficiently than newer models.
Why is charging/electrical costs being paid with tax dollars when Tesla is getting paid as if they bought the electricity? Any EV owner that pays $60k or more can afford to pay for charging. They do for these Tesla superchargers at the Town’s parking garage, but the Town provides free electricity to Tesla with no reimbursements ever to date.
Since being installed have there been 100’s or 1000’s of charges? Nobody at the Town can tell you, but please ask the ‘professional’ staff. Tesla can tell you, but it is unlikely to tell anyone but the Town. Has or can the Town inquire?
As nothing free is really free, please inquire on behalf of taxpayers why we are footing the electricity bill and not being paid for that resource by the user? Note that was planned by ‘professional’ staff and past council members.
