Community

Get energized: PEC’s new EV charging stations up and running

It's now easier than ever for electric vehicle drivers to access the Hill Country

PEC is making a plug for a more connected future: With the launch of two PEC electric vehicle charging stations, drivers of electric vehicles now have new inroads into the heart of Texas.

The Johnson City installations make it easier than ever for electric vehicle drivers to access the Hill Country by establishing a comfortable recharge point midway between Austin and Fredericksburg on U.S. Highway 290 (the nearest existing station was in Dripping Springs). At 55 miles from San Antonio’s most outlying station, they’re also the nearest charging opportunity for drivers heading north from there on U.S. 281.

The stations, located at our Johnson City headquarters, each contain two 6.6-kilowatt Level 2 charging ports, which the public may use to charge vehicles at a rate of 3 cents for every 30 seconds, or $1.80 per half hour. Two more PEC charging stations will be installed at our Northwest Operations Center in Marble Falls this winter.

A car charging up at one of PEC's electric vehicle chargers.
Park, charge and go: The 6.6-kilowatt Level 2 ports cost $3.60 per hour, allowing visitors to charge up while enjoying the city’s restaurants and attractions.

The installation of these public charge stations provides PEC with an ideal opportunity to better understand this trend within the context of our immediate service area.

Most electric vehicle charging occurs at home. That’s where PEC is able to offer our members substantial support through options like our Time-of-Use Rate. The rate option, introduced this spring, offers members economy prices for energy used at night, which is when most drivers of electric vehicles charge their cars.

Johnson City Mayor Dawn Capra is excited that the city, already a Hill Country destination thanks to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, Science Mill, Johnson City Lights Spectacular celebration and more, now offers one more avenue for incoming visitors.

“PEC, headquartered here in Johnson City, has been connecting communities for nearly 80 years,” Capra said. “I’m pleased that our city can be an integral point in the wider Hill Country community network.”