On-street installations — EV Charging Installation Practice

Sample questions

1. 01A council fits charge points on a residential street with no allocated parking, for anyone to use. What is their position under the Smart Charge Points Regulations 2021?

   • AOut of scope, as they are public charge points
   • BIn scope, but only if each is under 50 kW
   • COut of scope, as councils are exempt bodies
   • DIn scope, as residents are the main users

   Why: The Regulations do not apply to public charge points (reg 3(1)(b)), and the OPSS guide gives on-street charging installed by a local council for a street without allocated parking as an example of a public point. Councils are not an exempt class as such; it is the public use that takes the points out of scope.

2. 02A council suggests feeding a new on-street charge point from its unmetered street lighting supply to save a meter. What do the Unmetered Supply Regulations 2001 say?

   • AAllowed, provided the point is rated under 7 kW
   • BNot allowed, as charging is not a predictable load
   • CAllowed, once the charge point maker has agreed it
   • DAllowed, as street furniture is always unmetered

   Why: Regulation 3 of the Electricity (Unmetered Supply) Regulations 2001 allows an unmetered supply only where the load is of a predictable nature and is either under 500 W or impractical to meter, and the distributor, supplier and customer all agree. A charge point’s load depends on when cars plug in and how much they take, so it is not predictable, and it is far above 500 W.

3. 03Where an unmetered supply is allowed for street furniture, whose agreement do the 2001 Regulations require before it is given?

   • AThe local authority and the customer only
   • BThe installer and the electricity supplier only
   • CThe distributor, the supplier and the customer
   • DThe DNO alone, as it owns the network

   Why: Regulation 3(2) says an unmetered supply shall only be given where the authorised distributor, the authorised supplier and the customer have agreed to it. Disputes go to the Authority under regulation 4. The installer is not a party to that agreement.