The landscape of EV charging in the UK is evolving with the introduction of the UK Public Charging Regulations, aimed specifically at standardising the charging experience for EV drivers. These regulations, pivotal for charge point operators and hardware manufacturers, apply to all public charge points, excluding those in workplaces and restricted use areas like private garages and shared residential car parks.
It’s important to be aware that failing to comply with these regulations can result in substantial penalties, with fines reaching up to £10,000 per charge point and even higher for more serious violations.
In this blog, we will:
- List upcoming public charging regulations and their scope
- Outline the timelines for implementing these changes
- Explain the implications for your operations, focusing on how to adapt and comply effectively.
Our objective is to provide a clear, detailed overview of upcoming regulatory changes, helping you navigate them with ease. We will as well explore how Monta aligns with these developments, offering solutions that facilitate compliance and enhance user experience.
Contactless payment integration by November 2024
For any charge point over 8kW, the operator must provide a contactless payment terminal for the user to pay contactlessly for their charge. This includes slow, fast, rapid, and ultra-rapid charge points. Existing charge points that have been made publicly available must also have a contactless payment terminal installed.
Monta is compatible with Payter contactless payment terminals and we support hardware to hardware integrations of other payment terminals.
Achieving 99% reliability in charge point networks by November 2024
Networks should have, on average, a reliability of 99% across a calendar year. Reliability is determined as a charge point sharing an ‘available’, ‘charging’, or ‘reserved’ object status via OCPP. If the charge point sends an ‘unknown’ or ‘blocked’ status, this would impact reliability. The reliability must be published on the operators website.
Monta offers a detailed and customisable reporting system and debugging tools. You can set reports and alarms based on the charge point state making it possible to react quickly when the charge point is unreliable. Additionally we offer advanced debugging tools and the possibility to escalate an issue all the way through to the manufacturer if needed.
Open charge point data reporting by November 2024
By 24th November 2024, operators must record and report accurately on both reference and availability data for each charge point in their network.
Reference data includes; location, connector type, payment methods available and pricing
Availability data includes; whether the charge point is working (defined as either available, charging or occupied), updated within 30 seconds of the status change occurring.
Monta provides operators with real-time reference and availability data within the Monta Platform, and free of charge to the public within the Monta app.
Payment roaming integration by November 2025
Operators must make their charge points available to at least one third party roaming platform and a user must be able to pay via the roaming platform. Operators must also make the Secretary of State department aware when a third party roaming platform is allowed or disallowed to provide payment on their charge points.
Monta is integrated with over 510,000 roaming charge points across Europe and accepts payment via GooglePay, ApplePay, and credit/debit card. Users can also set up and manage payments through a Monta Wallet.
Annual reporting requirements for operators starting January 2026
Each calendar year, operators must submit reports to the Secretary of State detailing;
- total no. of CPs in operated
- reliability of the network as a % (99% being the standard, as above)
- reliability of each CP, inc. location & status
The first report is due 14th January 2026, for the total calendar year 2025. Then annually on the 14th January for the previous calendar year.
Monta reports containing this data (and much more) are readily available to our customers through a dedicated reporting section on the Monta platform. This means operators have full visibility of their network performance at any point in time.
Helpline for charge points users
Operators must provide their charge point users with access to a free telephone line, accessible 24/7/365, for any support queries related to charge point functionality. This hotline number must be displayed clearly on, or in close proximity to, the charge point. Each call must be recorded and quarterly reports must be submitted to the Secretary of State detailing; no. of calls, categorised by both type of assistance sought and length of time to resolve, in 10 minute intervals.
While the operator should manage the helpline to resolve hardware issues, Monta packages can include 24/7 support in instances where additional software support is required.
Ensuring price transparency at charge points
Operators must clearly display the price for charging in pence per kWh, visible either on the charge point itself, or on a device (such as a smartphone). The charging price cannot change once the charging session has started.
Within the Monta app, customers can view the price per kWh of any charge point on the network. This means the customer can explore options available to them and select the most cost-effective charging option. Monta can also remotely update pricing to the charge point.
Penalties for non-compliance with regulations
For each charge point that fails to meet the requirements for Contactless Payments, Roaming, Reporting, Open Charge Point Data, and Price Transparency operators could receive a maximum penalty of £10,000 per charge point.
For a network that cannot maintain a reliability of 99%, there is a maximum penalty of £10,000.
For any operator that obstructs enforcement or intentionally fails to comply with the new regulations there is a maximum penalty of £250,000.
As the UK gears up for the new Public Charging Regulations, Monta is ready to assist charge point operators and manufacturers in navigating these changes. Our solutions are designed for ease of integration and enhanced operational efficiency, ensuring a seamless transition to a compliant EV charging network.
For more information or to discuss how we can support your specific needs – get in touch with us and let’s work together to adapt in this evolving landscape.
Monta
