Regulations: public charge points

Overview

The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 (‘the Regulations’) came into force on 24 November 2023 to ensure that the experience of consumers using public charge points across the UK is consistent and positive. This will support the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and help the UK reach its climate targets.

The Regulations build on four key areas of the consumer experience to ensure that consumers:

• can easily locate the right public charge point to suit their needs
• have ease of payment across public charge points
• can be confident that public rapid charge points will be in good working order
• are able to compare prices across multiple public charge point networks

What is covered

Charge points accessible to the public must comply with the Regulations, including those that provide electricity free of charge, whether this is for the whole charging session or for a period of the charging event.

The Regulations apply to charge points intended for public access, excluding those:

• at workplaces that are not open to the public at any time
• at residential premises
• used in specific occupations such as emergency services
• for exclusive use by a vehicle produced by a specific manufacturer

Extent of obligation

The Regulations place requirements on the charge point operator responsible for overall operation and consumer-facing responsibilities of public charge points.

A charge point operator means the person responsible for operating a public charge point, whether as an owner or on behalf of a third party.

How to comply

Dependent upon the type of public charge point, operators may need to comply with the following:

• contactless payment: must be provided for certain public charge points
• roaming: operators must enable consumers to pay through at least one third party roaming provider at their charge points
• reliability: average across network of 99 per cent for rapid charge points alongside publication of that reliability
• helpline: operators must provide a free to use 24/7 staffed helpline
• open data: operators must use the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) to hold and open data. Certain data must also be made public
• pricing: total rate of a charging session must be displayed clearly in pence per kilowatt hour
• reporting: operators are required to regularly provide reports to OPSS and The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)

The role of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)

OPSS enforces the regulations in the UK on behalf of the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).

Our approach to addressing non-compliance by those we regulate is set out in our Enforcement Policy, which should be read alongside guidance on the specific enforcement actions available to us under the regulations, and associated rights to make representations or appeal.

Read our Enforcement Policy

Read our guidance on enforcement actions and associated rights

Where to find out more

Public Charge Point Regulations 2023

Read OZEV guidance on the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023.

You may also be interested in the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations 2017.

Contact us

If you have a specific enquiry about compliance or wish to contact us regarding suspected non-compliance, please email: enquiries@beis.gov.ukopss.enquiries@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

Alternatively, you can contact our helpdesk on 0121 345 1201.

Or in writing to: