Drivers who charge their electric vehicles at FortisBC charging stations will no longer be billed per minute of time.

Instead, the service will bill them based on how much energy they use, something that is becoming more common at public charging stations.

“Using energy-based rates ensures that all drivers pay the same rate for the electricity they use regardless of charging speed,” said George Thompson, FortisBC’s EV infrastructure and investment manager, in a news release. “Supporting customers who are choosing low- and zero-carbon options for transportation is one of the ways FortisBC is helping to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions in our province.”

The change was approved by the British Columbia Utilities Commission and goes into effect Aug. 1 at FortisBC’s 22 fast charging locations.

Drivers will be charged at a rate of $0.39 per kilowatt hour (kWh).

The BCUC decision also allows FortisBC to implement an idling charge of 40 cents per minute for vehicles that remain at charging stations more than five minutes after they’re finished charging. No information was provided whether FortisBC will implement this charge.

FortisBC operates 42 direct-current fast charging stations at 22 locations across its electricity service area in B.C.’s southern interior.

You can find the FortisBC EV charging locations on the organization’s website.