Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I write to oppose the Citys proposed EV charging rate increases taking effect July 1, 2026.
The proposed rates — $0.41/kWh for Level 2 and $0.51/kWh for DC fast charging — are not competitive with nearby alternatives. Neighboring Palo Alto offers Level 2 charging at just $0.25/kWh, fast chargers in the area range from $0.28 to $0.54 per kWh, and Metas chargers are available at $0.38/kWh. At $0.41/kWh, Menlo Parks proposed Level 2 rate is 64% more expensive than Palo Altos and exceeds what Meta charges for fast charging. The proposed Level 3 rate is nearly double what some nearby chargers offer.
Cost recovery depends on utilization. If drivers can find cheaper charging nearby — and they can — they will. Uncompetitive pricing wont generate more revenue; it will strand the infrastructure while fixed operating costs remain.
I urge the Council to price competitively, retain some form of off-peak discounting to drive utilization, and review actual utilization data before locking in rates that could undermine the very cost recovery goal the fee schedule is meant to achieve.
Thank you for your consideration.
Webster Lincoln
East Palo Alto, CA
Sent from my iPad
