SMECO Port Availability (09-24-2024)
- L2: 88% (60 of 68)
- DCFC: 75% (3 of 4)
- Goal: 97% Uptime
SMECO EV Recharge Network
In January 2019, the Maryland Public Service Commission approved a limited EV pilot program, enabling Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) to build a public EV charging network. SMECO now operates 36 charging locations across its service area, with expectations of high reliability—just as with their residential and commercial electric services. SMECO, along with other utilities in the pilot program, is held to a 97% uptime target, meaning each charging port should be functional at least 97% of the time annually.
Overall Port Availability on 09-24-2024: 88%
On September 24, 2024, I conducted a virtual “charger audit” of SMECO’s EV Recharge network using ChargeHub and Shell Recharge apps to assess the status of all 72 charging ports. The audit revealed that only 88% of the ports were online or in use—well below the 97% uptime target. This is a significant shortfall for a utility striving to meet the expectations of EV drivers and the reliability standards set by regulators.
Reliability at Risk
This shortfall in reliability is troubling, especially as Maryland strives to meet aggressive electric vehicle adoption goals. With one in four fast chargers offline, public confidence in the charging infrastructure—a vital component for widespread EV transition—could be undermined.
SMECO’s semi-annual report to the PSC flagged some of these ongoing issues. For example, the DCFC at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum showed only 62.8% uptime for the period ending June 30, 2024. The report cited “multiple hardware failures and part replacement delays” as the cause.
Another problematic site is White Plains Regional Park, where the chargers are currently out of service. SMECO’s report indicated the station had a 62.8% uptime in Q1-Q2 2024, with vandalism noted as the cause. While vandalism is understandably a challenge, there should be a hard limit on how long a station can remain non-operational, regardless of the issue. Extended downtime, whether from hardware failure or external damage, is simply unacceptable in the context of Maryland’s broader EV goals.
List of SMECO EV Charging Ports that Show Offline on September 24, 2024
Table
SMECO’s network plays a critical role in Maryland’s EV infrastructure, but the current levels of downtime are concerning. EV drivers need reliable access to charging stations, and gaps like these could slow adoption. The clock is ticking for utilities like SMECO to bring their uptime figures in line with expectations and ensure that their chargers are not stranded assets but a reliable resource for EV drivers.
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