UTE Approves 5% Price Increase for Public Electric Vehicle Charging, Plans Further Adjustments in 2026

The Administración Nacional de Usinas y Trasmisiones Eléctricas (UTE) approved a 5% increase in tariffs for EV charging at its publicly accessible stations, starting January 2026. This adjustment responds to observed discrepancies between current prices and the real costs involved in delivering the service, which encompasses electricity provision, infrastructure maintenance, and operational management. The decision follows an analysis indicating sustained divergence between prevailing rates and expenses, driven in part by the dynamic growth of Uruguay’s EV market and the rapid expansion of the public charging infrastructure, now totaling over 300 stations nationwide, including more than 100 fast-charging points.

UTE has emphasized a gradual implementation strategy to avoid imposing a significant financial strain on users while preserving the economic advantage of electric mobility relative to fossil-fueled alternatives. Alongside the tariff correction, the utility plans up to two additional price revisions in 2026 to further reconcile pricing with operational realities. The tariffs will apply uniformly across both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) charging stations, affecting both base connection fees and per-kilowatt-hour consumption costs.

The utility also announced measures to optimize infrastructure usage, including a new penalty fee for vehicles occupying charging slots without actively drawing power, set to commence in May 2024. This fee aims to enhance the availability of chargers amid increasing demand. Discounts remain in place, offering up to 40% off for taxis and app-based transport fleets and 30% for private and commercial users, to incentivize sustained EV adoption.

This pricing strategy and infrastructure expansion align with Uruguay’s commitment to developing a comprehensive national EV charging network, ensuring the availability of points approximately every 50 kilometers, thereby supporting the continued growth of electric mobility across the country.