ST: "Free" Public EV Charging Requires EVCS Licence

Running a homestay or thinking of offering free or paid EV charging as an added perk for your guests? While the intention may be noble, Malaysia’s Energy Commission (ST) has made it clear that EV charging is still a regulated activity, even when no payment is involved.

ST clarified during a recent engagement session that any situation where electricity is supplied to others requires licensing. This applies regardless of whether charging is free or paid. Homestays, short-term rentals or even private premises that allow the public to plug in their EVs are therefore not exempt from regulation.

For most homestay operators, the good news is that a Public Distribution Licence (PDL) is usually not required. This is as the majority of homestay chargers operate well below the 100A (around 70kW) threshold. 

However, an Electric Vehicle Charging System (EVCS) licence is still mandatory, as the act of distributing electricity to guests qualifies as public use under the Electricity Supply Act 1990.

An EVCS licence is issued by ST and focuses on safety and technical compliance of the charging system. The application carries a one-time processing fee of RM100. Once approved, the licence is valid for 10 years and tied to a specific location.

Annual licence fees are modest for small installations. Operators pay either RM100 per year or RM0.44 per kW of installed charging capacity, whichever is higher. In practice, this means most AC chargers used in homestays will only incur the minimum RM100 annual fee. For example, a 7kW or even a 22kW AC charger still falls below the threshold where the per-kW calculation exceeds RM100.

The approval process typically takes up to 30 days. Applications must include electrical plans endorsed by a Professional Electrical Engineer, and ST assesses the charger based on schematics and safety compliance rather than physical inspection. 

Separate costs may apply if product certification such as SIRIM is required, but these are outside the core EVCS licence fee.

Operators should also be aware that running an unlicensed public EV charger is a serious offence. Under the Electricity Supply Act 1990, offenders can be fined up to RM100,000 upon conviction, with an additional fine of up to RM1,000 for every day the offence continues.

ST has reiterated that the definition of “public” is broad. Chargers accessible to consumers, guests or employees are considered public, even if no money changes hands. Only chargers used strictly for private purposes, such as a homeowner charging their own vehicle or a company charging its registered fleet, are exempt from licensing.

As EV adoption grows rapidly in Malaysia and more travellers expect charging access, homestay operators are encouraged to regularise their setups early. Applying for an EVCS licence is a relatively low-cost step that ensures compliance, protects guest safety and avoids regulatory risk.