This is a problem that all municipalities must face: the number of electric vehicles in circulation is increasing, but the supply of charging stations is insufficient. In Verviers, there are four municipal terminals (and 27 additional points are planned with the Region by 2026).
According to the Union of Cities and Municipalities of Wallonia, 74% of the municipalities surveyed are seeing an increase in the number of requests for the installation of private street charging stations as well as the passage of cables on public roads. As no supra-municipal regulations exist, the City of Verviers has never issued authorization for the passage of a cable on the sidewalk. “This practice remains prohibited and subject to fines”she recalls.
A solution authorized after a request to the administration
On June 6, the Municipal College thus adopted a procedure to regulate these private installations with a solution: the opening of roads and the placement of slabs equipped with a chute necessary for the passage of the charging cable.This avoids cluttering the public highway by avoiding leaving the cable lying around and avoiding any risk for pedestrians. No alternative solutions will be authorized such as removable covers, retractable stems,…” The cable cannot remain in the trunking outside of load times.
To do this, a request to open the road must be made to the Works services, accompanied by a deposit of €1000. The work (such as maintenance) will be the responsibility of the owner and must be carried out by an approved contractor, once the College’s agreement has been obtained.
This authorization will only be issued if there is no alternative allowing the vehicle to be parked on the applicant’s private plot. On-street parking, at the location of the chute, must also be present when the request is submitted. This arrangement “will not result in the granting of a parking space, nor specific marking, nor any privatization of public space”. The municipal administration finally encourages the private sector to think about making its terminal accessible to the public, “taxation for self-employed people and companies encourages this solution and this for the benefit of the community and the owner”.
