Fees and Penalties that apply to Argyll and Bute Public Chargers
Q. How much does it cost to charge with Argyll and Bute Council?
A. The 2026/27 tariff come into effect on 1st April 2026
- kWh - £0.70
- pre authorisation will be taken - check SP Recharge App for full details
Q. Do parking fees apply while I am using charge points
A. Not at this time
Q. What penalties may apply if I don’t use EV charging bays correctly?
A. There are penalties for both electric vehicles and non-electric vehicles if EV charging bays are not used appropriately:
| Penalty type | Charge |
|---|---|
| Local Penalty Charge for non EVs -if non EV car parked in charging bay penalty applies |
£60.00 penalty reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days. If paid after 28 days the fine increases to £90 |
| Local Penalty Charge for EVs - EVs must be plugged into charger and not just using a bay for parking |
Same as above |
| Overstay Charge – applied to CPS account | £30 |
Maximum stay times apply for some chargers, and overstay penalties apply if you are over the maximum stay time:
- 22kw / Fast Charging Unit – 4 hours maximum stay
- 50kw / Rapid Charging Unit - 2 hours maximum stay
It is important to remember that charging times will vary depending on the vehicles on board convertor capability, capacity of the charger used, the size of a vehicle’s battery and the amount of charge your battery has upon arrival at the charging point. The maximum stay periods apply regardless of these factors, and users should select the charger type which best meets their needs at the time of use.
While we try to accommodate as many EV users as possible, we cannot cater to every make and model of EV and therefore have set maximum timescales to allow for optimum use of the chargers by as many users as possible.
Q. When will I be charged for my charging sessions and any additional payments?
A. If you have a Scottish Power account you will be invoiced monthly.
If you pay via contactless option a pre authorization amount of £45 will be held until the end of your charging session, where the difference will be immediately released. Please note it can take 7 - 10 days to show in your account due to your bank and how they process pre authorisations. SP release the funds immediately
Q. If I incur a fine while charging my vehicle, do I pay this to Scottish Power?
A. If you incur an overstay penalty while charging your vehicle, this will be added to the invoice for your Scottish Power account or taken immediately from your chosen contactless payment method
If you wish to appeal an overstay penalty you should email evc@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Any parking fines will be enforced by Argyll and Bute Council and paid directly to us.
Q. What should I do if I have a question about my Scottish Power invoice?
A. If you have a question about your invoice, use the email ScottishPowerRecharge@EVdriverservices.co.uk and provide as many details as possible to help their investigation.
Q. How can I report a faulty or vandalised charger?
A. All of the council's charge points are connected to Scottish Power network. They monitor the condition of these charge points daily and arrange for repairs or maintenance as required. They can be contacted through by phone on the number above
