Compliance Statement to Clients Regarding the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023
As your charge point operator, we want to assure you that we are fully aware of our obligations under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 (PCPR23) and are committed to ensuring full compliance.
What constitutes a public charge point?
The PCPR23 defines a public charge point as one that is intended for use by the general public.
Specifically, it includes:
Charge points in public car parks:
Where parking bays are not designated to individual households or groups of households.
Regardless of the car park being available to everyone or only people purchasing goods or services.
Charge points with restricted access during specific hours
Charge points located in privately owned car parks that are accessible to the public, such as those at supermarkets, hotels, or similar locations.
A public charge point does not include:
A charge point that is not accessible to the public at any time, such as a workplace charge point intended exclusively for use by employees, contractors, or visitors.
A charge point that is restricted for exclusive use by specific vehicle manufacturers, certain occupations, or for the residents and visitors of residential premises.
Blink’s Obligations under the regulations
Below is a brief overview of our obligations under the regulations, the steps we have taken (or are actively taking) to meet each requirement, and the actions we kindly request from you as we work together to implement these regulations.
1. Pricing Transparency
The effective date is 24 November 2023.
We must clearly display the maximum price for charging sessions in pence per kilowatt-hour at all charge points or through a separate device. Additionally, the price must not increase above the highest price displayed once charging has started, and the consumer must not be required to enter into a contract with us to view the price for the charging session.
How is Blink meeting this regulation?
Blink is fully compliant with the pricing transparency requirements. We provide clear transparency of the cost of charging in the following ways:
1. Mobile App & QR Code: Consumers can view the price through our mobile app solution or by scanning a QR code on the charge point, which directs them to our website or app. This process does not require consumers to register or enter into any contract, ensuring full transparency prior to starting the charging session.
2. On-Screen Pricing: Where charge points have the capacity to display pricing on their screens, we have ensured that the maximum price is clearly visible to consumers.
3. Dynamic or Off-Peak Pricing: We will shortly offer dynamic or off-peak pricing, where the cost of charging may change during the session. However, it is important to note that the price charged to the consumer will never exceed the maximum price displayed prior to the start of the charging session.
2. Contactless Payment
The effective date is 24 November 2024.
All new public charge points with 8kW or more, and all existing charge points of 50kW or above, must offer contactless payment options by 24 November 2024. If a private charge point is opened to public use, we have one year from the date it is opened to the public to install contactless payment options.
How is Blink meeting this regulation?
Blink can install a contactless payment terminal to the public charge point or pair one payment terminal to multiple public charge points. In the network that we operate, all new public chargers over 8kW will have contactless payment capabilities and this will be detailed in the quote we provide. Additionally, we are committed to retrofitting our existing public chargers of 50kW+ with contactless payment options.
In the event you have a private charge point that you wish to make public, we will get in touch with you regarding fitting contactless payment options. If you own the charge point, the price of fitting this will be detailed in the quote we provide.
3. Reliability
The effective date is 24 November 2024.
Rapid charge points must maintain a minimum 99% reliability, calculated as an annual average across the network. Information on our compliance must be published on our website and we also have reporting obligations to the Secretary of State.
How is Blink meeting this regulation?
Blink already actively monitors the reliability of charge points through our system. We are building on this by enhancing our tracking mechanisms to ensure compliance with the 99% uptime standard. Our system will actively track and record the required charge point status data, and we will publish this reliability information on our website. In addition, we will submit an annual report to the Secretary of State and the enforcement authority, as required by the regulation.
4. 24/7 Helpline
The effective date is 24 November 2024.
A free, 24/7 staffed helpline must be accessible to consumers and clearly advertised on all charge points.
How is Blink meeting this regulation?
We have established a 24/7 helpline via a new 0800 support number and we are working with our partners to ensure that this is advertised on all charge points to ensure compliance (it is already visible on our app and website). Additionally, we will keep a record of every call and submit quarterly report to Secretary of State in line with the requirements.
5. Open Data
The effective date is 24 November 2024.
Data about our charge points must be accurate and we must use the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) to hold and open our data. The data must be made publicly available and in machine-readable format to be accessible to stakeholders, including government bodies, distribution network operators, transmission owners and electricity system operators.
How is Blink meeting this regulation?
Blink will provide the data in line with this regulation. These standards are still being developed as the Government consults with the industry. Our Technology Team is collaborating with relevant industry bodies and the government to finalise the Open Data standards and connections for sharing the data to ensure compliance.
6. Roaming
The effective date is 24 November 2025.
All public charge points must enable payments through at least one roaming provider. Additionally, we are required to notify the Secretary of State of our roaming providers, as well as any additions or removals.
How is Blink meeting this regulation?
Blink has already integrated with multiple third-party roaming providers to ensure compliance with this regulation.
To further comply with this regulation, we plan to activate roaming functionality across your public charge points that are part of our network in advance of this deadline. We will confirm the go live date ahead of the launch and the deadline for your response. Unless we receive specific instructions from you before this deadline, we will proceed with enabling roaming as mandated.
This roaming functionality is essential to making charge points more accessible for EV drivers. As your charge points are part of our public network, this change will take effect unless you notify us otherwise or choose to withdraw your charge points from public use before the compliance deadline. If you have any concerns or specific questions, please feel free to reach out to us at hostsupport.uk@blinkcharging.com, or directly with your Account Manager.
We are committed to supporting the PCPR23’s objectives of improving the consumer experience with EV charging by providing clear pricing, ease of access and greater reliability to EV drivers across the UK.
Your cooperation with the roaming regulation is invaluable in helping us achieve these requirements and ensuring that our network delivers the highest level of service.
Thank you for your continued collaboration and support.