The ANWB is not against a block rate, a time-bound rate on top of the electricity rate.
The ANWB is waging a fierce battle against the charging station giants who, according to the association, are milking electric drivers with the so-called blocking rates. These rates, which are on top of the regular electricity rate, have become a additional revenue model for charging station providers and more and more electric drivers are hitting their wallets. To counter this, the ANWB is introducing a new feature in its Charging Pass app, which should ensure that electric drivers are not unnecessarily charged costs, especially during the night hours.
Electric drivers in the Netherlands are increasingly confronted with blocking tariffs on public charging stations, especially at night. Two years ago, this was still a rarity, but now almost one in three public charging stations in the Netherlands charges this time-based tariff. The idea behind a blocking tariff is to prevent cars from remaining connected to a charging station unnecessarily long after the battery is already full, so that others can also use the scarce charging points. The ANWB understands the usefulness of this, but believes that the current tariffs are overshooting their mark, especially when applied in the middle of the night.
That is why the ANWB has added a new Auto-stop function to its Laadpas app. This function automatically stops the charging session as soon as the battery is full between 23.00:07.00 and XNUMX:XNUMX, so that drivers do not have to incur extra costs while they are sleeping. “Everyone should be able to charge their car at night without having to get out of bed to avoid extra costs,” according to the ANWB. This new function is intended to protect electric drivers from unreasonably high costs and to breathe new life into the discussion about the application of blocking tariffs.
blocking rate
The ANWB emphasises that it is not against the concept of a blocking fee. With the growing popularity of electric cars and the limited number of public charging stations, a blocking fee can help prevent charging stations from remaining unnecessarily occupied. However, the association does believe that the time frame after which this fee comes into effect, and its amount, should be in proportion to the intended use of the charging station and its location. The ANWB finds the current policy of some providers, whereby a blocking fee is charged immediately after the charging session is completed, inappropriate.
The ANWB not only wants to protect electric drivers from unreasonably high charging costs, but also wants to start a discussion about blocking rates.
Especially for the more than half of Dutch households that do not have their own driveway and are therefore dependent on public charging stations, these blocking rates increase considerably. Where these drivers previously faced higher costs due to the use of public charging stations instead of their own power, they are now also confronted with additional costs due to blocking tariffs, often without having an alternative.
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The ANWB's efforts already seem to be paying off. Allego, one of the largest providers of charging stations in the Netherlands, has announced, following feedback from the ANWB, that it will adjust the blocking rate from 1 September 2024. From that date, the blocking rate will only be calculated after a session duration of four hours, and the hours between 23.00:07.00 and XNUMX:XNUMX will be excluded. This means that drivers no longer have to fear additional costs during the night hours, an important victory for the ANWB and for the electric driver.
The ANWB hopes that more providers will follow this example, so that the Auto-stop function may become redundant in the future. For the time being, however, the association remains vigilant and continues to advocate for fair rates and a better balance between the availability of charging stations and the costs for users.
