COUNCILMEMBER AHMAD’S BILL TO ENSURE SAFE, CONTINUOUS OPERATION OF EV CHARGERS PASSES CITY COUNCIL

Councilmember Nina Ahmad (At-Large) issued the following statement after the Philadelphia City Council passed Bill Number 240674, which she introduced on September 5, 2024. This ordinance will direct the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) to ensure structurally safe and fully operational Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) in City of Philadelphia parking spaces.

“EV chargers are meaningless if they are not operational,” said Councilwoman Ahmad. “The federal government made a generational climate investment to support America’s transition to EVs. Today, we are doing our part to ensure Philadelphians have safe and reliable EV charging infrastructure while creating good-paying union jobs.”

Iggy Fletcher, IBEW Local 98 member and Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program Instructor said, “In order to reach our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the use of electric vehicles, there is need to install and maintain many new Electric Vehicle Charging Systems (EVCS) throughout the city of Philadelphia. The urban environment poses the most challenging to EVCS infrastructure.”

This codification of this ordinance complies with the final rule for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Standards and Requirements.

This bill:

• Applies to properties with 10+ parking spaces that are built or significantly upgraded after the effective date
• Authorizes L&I to regulate the installation and maintenance of EVSEs and issue fines for non-operational EVSEs
• Permittees are responsible for the maintenance and repair of EVSEs
• Electrical work on EVSEs requires an electrician with an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program certification or equivalent certification
• Creates job opportunities for small businesses and unions: remote maintenance (i.e. troubleshooting/IT), electrical on-the-ground maintenance that requires certification, and on-the-ground maintenance for vandalism and non-electrical issues
• Effective April 1, 2025

Bill Number 240674 is supported by IBEW Local 98. Click here to view the bill text.

 

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Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad represents the City of Philadelphia as an at-large council member. Her term began in January of 2024 – since then, Councilmember Ahmad and her team have worked to address major issues in Philadelphia such as maternal health care, human trafficking and threats facing the environmental and economic wellbeing of Philadelphians.