OPERATING PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) CHARGING POINTS
The Government is
launching its first National
Policy for Electric Vehicle Public Charging Infrastructure, aimed
at making charging infrastructure accessible to the public, to enable electric
vehicles to circulate in urban and densely populated areas as well as
facilitate charging for all residents across Malta and Gozo. The following
procedure is to be followed to install publically accessible electric vehicle
charging points. If the charging point
will not be publicly accessible, one will not need to apply for such
authorisation from the Regulator, however all other necessary permits need to
be obtained.
Step 1
Only businesses
authorised by the Regulator for Energy and Water Services (REWS) can
install publicly accessible EV Charging Infrastructures. Application for the grant, renewal or
transfer of an authorisation to act as an operator of publicly accessible
charging infrastructure can be found here.
The costs for applying
for this authorisation are as follows:
i.
A non-refundable application fee of five
hundred Euro (€500) for a new authorisation application or renewal of an
existing authorisation
ii. A fee of seventy-five Euro (€75) for each charging point payable every
three years from date of issue of grant of the authorisation.
Authorisation is granted by the
Regulator for a period of 12 years and this process can take up to six months.
Step 2
Authorised
CPOs can either identify the location to install the charging pillars
themselves or else bid to install the charging pillars on pre-determined sites which
will be allotted periodically by Government through public tender/calls for
expression of interest.
If the
location is identified by the CPO, it is important for the applicant to obtain
consent/necessary authorisation from the title holder of the land. It is also recommended that the applicant
contacts the local council to obtain clearance in writing.
CPOs can check with the
Lands Authority if the land identified is Government owned; in which case they
would need to obtain consent from the Lands Authority by filling in application
PLA1: https://onlineportal.landsauthority.org.mt/Application/PLA1, prior to apply for a permit with the Planning Authority
(Step 3).
It is very important that
as soon as the site is identified, the CPO consults with Enemalta Corporation
to discuss the feasibility of connecting with the electricity grid from that
location. CPOs would need to obtain a
‘no objection’ for the connection of the charging point(s) by submitting an email to evconsult.em@enemalta.com.mt. Enemalta will evaluate the application
and revert back with the conditions for connection to the grid of the charging
points, and a quotation for works.
The CPO will also need to
consult with Enemalta to determine whether trenching works are required. If trenching works need to be carried out
these can either be done by Enemalta and included in the works quotation; or
else the CPO will need to apply with Transport Malta for a trenching
permit. Road intervention works can be
carried out solely by contractors who are registered with Transport Malta. A full list of these registered contractors
may be viewed here. Trenching works
guidelines can be found here:- Trenching Excavation
Guidelines - Transport Malta (gov.mt).
Step 3
The
CPO must then apply for the necessary planning permits through his/her perit.
In
most cases only a Development Notification Order (DNO) will be required,
however it is advisable that the Planning Authority are consulted as an
exception applies in the case of certain areas as detailed in item (viii) of
Class 5 - Development related to public utility services, more information can
be found here : https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/552.8/mlt.
More
information on the permitting process of the Planning Authority can also be
found here: Planning Authority
(pa.org.mt)
Step 4
The CPO will then need to
apply with Transport Malta for a Signage and Marking Permit to install the charging
point (which is considered as street furniture). The
application form can be accessed here: https://www.transport.gov.mt/land/roads-and-traffic-management/traffic-management-division/permanent-traffic-management-forms-4523
Step 5
Once all permits are
obtained the CPO can install the charging points and apply with ARMS Ltd by
submitting an EV application form which
may be downloaded from ARMS website, to be provided with the necessary meter
using the link: https://arms.com.mt/en/services/apply-for-a-service/applications-forms
Step 6
Once the charging points are
commissioned, the CPO must register each charging point with REWS using the
appropriate application which will be made available soon.
The operation of publicly accessible electric
vehicle charging points is governed by legislation Publicly Accessible Electric Charging
Infrastructure Regulations, 2022 (Cap 545) under the Regulator for Energy and Water Services
Act.
For further information,
kindly contact Business 1st by calling 144.
Applicable
Laws
Publicly Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Regulations, 2022
Regulator for Energy and Water Services
Act
Development Planning Act
Competent
Authority
Regulator for Energy and
Water Services
REWS
Contact Details
last updated 13th Sep 2022