By Coral Gables Gazette staff
The City of Coral Gables has increased the price of electricity at its public electric vehicle charging stations, adjusting the rate from $0.30 to $0.39 per kilowatt-hour. City officials describe the 30 percent increase as part of a broader transition away from the ChargePoint network to Blink charging infrastructure, a shift intended to improve reliability, maintenance response, and the overall user experience for residents and visitors who rely on public charging.
Pricing change tied to infrastructure upgrades
The rate adjustment reflects both the cost of operating and maintaining public charging infrastructure and the city’s effort to modernize a system that has grown in importance as electric vehicle ownership expands across South Florida. Public charging stations in Coral Gables serve a mix of residents without home charging access, commuters, and visitors who rely on city-owned garages and curbside locations. As usage has increased, so have expectations for uptime, payment reliability, and customer support.
From ChargePoint to Blink
City staff has framed the move to Blink as a systems-level upgrade rather than a simple vendor change. Under the new arrangement, Blink will assume responsibility for network management, software integration, and ongoing operational support. City officials have indicated that the change is designed to address recurring complaints associated with the previous system, including intermittent outages, connectivity issues, and delays in resolving technical problems. The higher per-kilowatt-hour rate is intended to support those improvements while keeping pricing within the range charged by comparable public networks in the region.
Aligning local rates with market conditions
The increase brings Coral Gables’ public charging costs closer to prevailing market rates for non-residential EV charging, particularly in municipal garages and downtown districts. While home charging remains significantly cheaper for most drivers, public stations often carry higher prices due to equipment costs, network fees, electricity demand charges, and maintenance obligations. City officials have emphasized that the revised rate reflects these realities rather than a revenue-generating measure.
Public charging and sustainability goals
The transition also aligns with Coral Gables’ longer-term sustainability and mobility goals. The city has promoted electric vehicle adoption as part of its climate and emissions-reduction strategies, particularly in a community known for its walkable downtown and dense commercial core. Reliable public charging infrastructure is increasingly viewed as a necessary complement to those policies, ensuring that residents and visitors can confidently choose electric vehicles without concern over access.
How drivers may experience the change
For some EV drivers, the rate increase will be noticeable, particularly for frequent users who rely on public chargers rather than private home installations. At the same time, city staff has suggested that improved reliability and fewer service disruptions may offset the higher cost by reducing wasted time and failed charging sessions. In practice, the success of the changeover is likely to be judged less by the price itself than by whether chargers remain consistently operational.
A broader municipal trend
The shift from ChargePoint to Blink also reflects a broader trend among municipalities reassessing early-generation charging contracts. Many public agencies installed EV chargers years ago, when adoption rates were lower and network technology less mature. As usage grows, cities are increasingly evaluating whether legacy systems can scale effectively or whether newer platforms offer better performance and accountability. Coral Gables’ decision places it among cities opting to revisit those early choices as electric vehicles move further into the mainstream.
What comes next
City officials have not announced changes to the physical locations or number of charging stations as part of the transition, though they have indicated that the new system will support future expansion if demand continues to rise. Blink’s platform allows for centralized monitoring and data reporting, tools the city expects will help guide decisions about where additional chargers may be most effective.
The rate change takes effect as the transition to the Blink network moves forward. Drivers using city-owned charging stations are advised to update any associated mobile apps or payment methods to ensure uninterrupted access once the new system is fully in place. City staff has said that public information will be provided as the transition proceeds, particularly if users need to take action to migrate accounts or familiarize themselves with new interfaces.
As electric vehicles become a more visible presence on Coral Gables streets, the city’s charging network is increasingly part of everyday infrastructure rather than a pilot program. The higher rate signals a shift toward treating public charging as a mature municipal service—one that carries real costs, performance expectations, and accountability. Whether the move succeeds will depend on whether drivers experience the promised gains in reliability and ease of use, reinforcing confidence in the city’s approach to electric mobility.
Author: Coral Gables Gazette News Staff
Originally established in 1996 and relaunched as a digital publication in February 2025, the Coral Gables Gazette is an independent local news organization dedicated to factual, objective and accountable community journalism. Our newsroom reports on the people, policies, institutions and events shaping Coral Gables, Florida, providing residents with timely, informative coverage of the issues affecting their community. Our reporting includes City Hall, local government, municipal elections, public spending, real estate development, business, education, arts and culture, and neighborhood affairs throughout the City Beautiful. We follow City Commission decisions, examine public records and report on the businesses, organizations and individuals contributing to Coral Gables. We believe informed residents are essential to a healthy, engaged community. Stories published under the Coral Gables Gazette News Staff byline are prepared or compiled by the publication's editorial team. We strive for accuracy, fairness, transparency and clear distinctions between news reporting, opinion and advertising. Readers are encouraged to submit news tips, corrections, editorial inquiries and story suggestions through our Contact page and learn more about our standards through our Editorial Policy.
