Energy resale is the practice of purchasing electricity from a utility or supplier and then re-selling that electricity to another party—typically by charging users per kWh (or via time-based fees) for EV charging sessions. In EV charging, energy resale is most common in public charging, workplace charging, multi-tenant buildings, and fleet depots where electricity costs need to be recovered and allocated fairly.
What Is Energy Resale?
Energy resale occurs when a site owner or operator acts as an intermediary between the electricity supplier and the end user.
– The site buys electricity under its own utility contract
– Electricity is delivered through EV chargers to drivers or internal departments
– The operator invoices users based on a tariff (kWh, time, session fee, idle fee, subscription)
– Revenue is used to cover energy costs, operations, maintenance, and investment recovery
Depending on local regulations, “resale” may be treated as selling electricity, selling a charging service, or cost recovery—definitions and obligations vary by market.
Why Energy Resale Matters for EV Charging
Energy resale is a core commercial mechanism that enables EV charging to scale sustainably.
– Converts EV charging from a pure cost center into a managed service with recoverable costs
– Enables fair billing for employees, tenants, visitors, and fleet departments
– Supports investment into more chargers through predictable revenue streams
– Improves transparency and reduces disputes when billing is based on measured kWh
– Helps operators manage profitability through tariff design and energy cost controls
How Energy Resale Works in EV Charging Operations
A typical resale workflow includes:
– Users authenticate (RFID, app, fleet ID, or ad-hoc card payments)
– A charging session is metered and recorded (kWh, time, duration, location)
– A tariff is applied to calculate the final cost
– The user is billed via invoice, app wallet, payment terminal, or corporate cost center
– The operator reconciles revenue with utility bills, demand charges, and operational expenses
Energy resale usually depends on accurate session data and consistent tariff logic within the CPMS.
Common Energy Resale Models
– Public CPO resale: users pay per kWh/time at public chargers
– Workplace charging resale: employees pay at-cost or at a defined rate
– Tenant / multi-property resale: building owners re-invoice tenants for charging usage
– Fleet internal resale: cost allocation across departments, routes, or vehicle groups
– Hospitality and retail: charging bundled into services or billed separately for transparency
Some sites avoid direct resale by offering “free charging” as a perk, but that shifts costs into operating budgets and often requires usage controls.
Metering and Billing Considerations
Energy resale is strongly linked to how energy is measured and what is considered “billing-grade.”
– kWh-based pricing requires reliable metering and clear rounding rules
– Some markets require certified metering (for example, MID or other legal metrology requirements) when selling electricity by kWh
– Transparent receipts and session summaries reduce disputes
– If billing is time-based rather than kWh-based, metering requirements may differ, but consumer clarity is still important
– Demand charges and site losses can affect true cost and should be considered in margin calculations
Regulatory and Contractual Considerations
Energy resale can be regulated differently depending on country and site type.
– Some jurisdictions restrict who can sell electricity and under what license
– Some treat EV charging as a service rather than electricity resale, changing obligations
– Consumer protection rules may require clear price display, receipts, refund policies, and complaint handling
– Roaming agreements can introduce settlement rules that differ from direct customer billing
– Landlord/tenant agreements often define how electricity can be recharged and documented
Good practice is to align tariff structure, metering approach, and invoicing workflow with the local legal and contractual context.
Benefits of a Well-Designed Energy Resale Setup
– Fair, scalable cost recovery as EV adoption grows
– Better control of charging behavior via tariffs (idle fees, time windows, priority access)
– Improved planning for expansion based on revenue and utilization data
– Higher trust from users through accurate billing and transparent session records
– Easier sustainability and cost reporting when energy is measured per session
Limitations to Consider
– Poor metering accuracy or inconsistent tariff logic can create disputes and reputational risk
– Payment handling, refunds, and chargebacks add operational complexity
– Utility tariffs, taxes, and demand charges can make “true cost per kWh” difficult to model
– Regulatory rules can change and may differ across cities or countries
– Free charging policies can undermine resale economics unless demand is managed carefully
Related Glossary Terms
Charging Tariffs
Charging Session Revenue
MID Metering
Energy Meter Accuracy Class
Charge Point Management System (CPMS)
Demand Charges
Energy Margin Optimization
Ad-hoc Charging