Stormont Suspends Free EV Charging for MLAs

Revelations that some MLAs used free on-site chargers while claiming commute allowances prompted the Assembly Commission to plan a uniform paid system with tighter monitoring and possible reimbursements.

Overview

The Assembly Commission met on Monday and decided to suspend use of the upper-car-park charging points until a new, paid system is in place.
Speaker Edwin Poots said the change followed reports that MLAs had been using free chargers at Parliament Buildings while visitors were required to pay.
Officials were asked to review data-retention and monitoring arrangements and to contact MLAs who used the chargers to arrange reimbursement where appropriate.
The revised system under development will require payment at all Assembly-run chargers, set uniform pricing, and introduce clearer billing and usage records.
The current charging arrangement dates to 2015 and was described as an operational decision; the commission said the new rules aim to ensure fairness for visitors and transparency over public spending.