Bucks County becomes first in PA to inspect electric vehicle charging stations

Bucks County will be the first county in Pennsylvania to inspect electric vehicle charging stations for accuracy and safety.

The Bucks County Commissioners on Wednesday approved $67,193 for equipment that will allow the county’s consumer protection weights and measures team to test EV charging stations.

“We all know a lot of folks out there now are driving EVs. However, nobody is inspecting the stations for safety, for accuracy, that you get what you’re paying for,” said Mike Bannon, who heads the Bucks County Consumer Protection and Weights and Measures Department. “We inspect gas stations to make sure when you buy a gallon of gas, you actually get a gallon of gas. Now we’re going to start checking to make sure when you buy a kilowatt of energy, you’re getting a kilowatt of energy.”

While every gas pump in Bucks County undergoes annual inspection to verify accuracy, no similar oversight exists for EV charging stations.

The county’s existing weights and measures team will conduct the new inspections.

“We’ve got a great team, trained people that go out and inspect gas stations on a regular basis. Now, they’ll be doing EV stations and it’s exactly the same thing,” Bannon said.

He noted his team has the authority to shut down chargers if problems or safety issues are found.

“Good job … it’s a good idea,” said Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo, a Republican.

The equipment will be purchased from Tesco, a Bristol Township-based company that provides similar equipment nationwide. 

County officials noted the benefit of supporting a local business.

“The really cool part about it is the company that’s providing the equipment is a Bristol Township business that provides for the whole United States,” Bannon said. “We’re very excited to do business with them.”

The new inspection program comes as Bucks County prepares to install its own EV charging infrastructure. 

The county is receiving funding through the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to install 16 chargers on county property, including in county parks.

“We want to make sure our chargers are working properly,” said Commissioner Bob Harvie, a Democrat. “If you’re coming to Core Creek Park and you want to plug in to an EV charger, we want to make sure that you’re getting the charge you think you’re paying for.”

Harvie noted the project has been in development for several years.

According to PennDOT data from last year, there are more than 63,000 electric vehicles in the state and 274,800 hybrid vehicles, which use electric and gas motors.

The inspection program will begin once the equipment is delivered and staff complete any necessary training.

“It’s a new field, and we’re very excited to be part of it and to kind of go out and roll out this program,” Bannon said.