Trade measurement policy for EVSE
EVSE must correctly measure the amount of active electrical energy supplied to or from an electric vehicle. They must not misrepresent the calculated cost of the energy supplied.
All EVSE made on or after 1 April 2026 must comply with the general certificate of approval for electric vehicle supply equipment (NMI 14/4/0). This includes the maximum permissible errors (MPEs) for accuracy.
The requirements are below and depend on the age of the EVSE. We aim to transition to a full EVSE control framework within 10 years. This policy is the result of extensive consultation with industry.
Note: We use the term EVSE in line with the international guide. EVSE has other names, for example electrical vehicle charging stations (EVCS). There are no requirements for electric vehicle chargers that do not measure active electrical energy for tax or billing purposes.
EVSE made before 1 April 2026
- EVSE made before 1 April 2026 does not need to comply with the general certificate of approval NMI 14/4/0.
- Under trade measurement laws, it is still an offence if the amount of energy sold from an electric vehicle is less than calculated.
EVSE made on or after 1 April 2026
- EVSE made on or after 1 April 2026 must comply with the general certificate of approval NMI 14/4/0.
- EVSE must be marked in accordance with the general certificate of approval.
- EVSE must be appropriately sealed to prevent unauthorised changes.
- The person or business that marks the EVSE is responsible for compliance.
- The MPEs apply only to testing in a laboratory under specific reference conditions.
- We will consider field testing and in-service MPEs after the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) publishes the OIML Recommendation and we consult with stakeholders about it.
- There is no requirement for EVSE testing or verification until we develop an EVSE control framework.
Policy action plan for an EVSE control framework
This action plan describes how we will develop and put in place the EVSE control framework.
The framework will consider:
- adopting the published OIML Recommendation
- pattern approval requirements (based on the OIML Recommendation)
- verification test procedures (based on the OIML Recommendation)
- a licensing framework for servicing license holders and verifiers.
EVSE will be pattern approved if it either:
- complies with the general certificate of approval for EVSE (NMI 14/4/0), or
- is approved under future pattern approval requirements. We would consult before introducing any new pattern approval requirements.
10-year transition to a full EVSE control framework
There are 2 key dates in the transition to the EVSE control framework: 1 April 2026 and 1 April 2036. This gives a 10-year transition period for EVSE.
- EVSE made before 1 April 2026 do not need to be pattern approved or verified.
- EVSE made on or after 1 April 2026 must be pattern approved, but do not need to be verified until a we have developed a verification framework.
- Until 1 April 2036, in the absence of any requirement for pattern approval and verification, we will take compliance and enforcement action only in cases where measurement is inaccurate or misrepresented.
- After 1 April 2036, we expect to have a full EVSE control framework in place.