The Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) has released Decision 15/2023, which governs the installation of electric vehicle charging units. Following is the gist of the decision:

The decision mandates that the establishment and installation of private or public electric charging points are only allowed upon obtaining approval from the electricity distribution licensee. Moreover, compliance with the regulatory and technical requirements approved by the Authority and relevant authorities is required.

Once approved by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, the regulation establishes an electric tariff for charging electric vehicles. This tariff will be implemented in accordance with the approved tariff regulation for electricity connection and supply, based on the subscriber’s account’s consumption category. Owners of charging points will be subject to residential tariffs within their private residences.

The responsibility for installing and operating a private electric charging point lies with the property owner. If the property is rented, the tenant must obtain written consent from the property owner before installing or activating a private charging point. Regardless, the property owner retains responsibility for the tenant’s obligations, including updating the subscriber’s account data in the name of the lessee within the licensed electricity supplier’s system.

The owner of a private electric charging point is prohibited from commercially allowing others to utilize the services of the charging point.

The aforementioned regulations significantly help Oman achieve its goals of a special program for cutting down carbon emissions which has been launched by the ministry of Transport, Communication and information technology. This mission is divided into three phases:

The first phase talks about reducing three percent of carbon emissions by 2030. In terms of electric vehicles, the ministry aims to have 7,000 electric cars and eliminate 40% of carbon emissions from heavy equipment by using dual combustion technology. With the second phase culminating in 2040, the ministry plans to have 22,000 electric cars. Eventually, the last leg of its carbon neutrality plan in 2050 talks about zero carbon emissions.

With electric vehicle being at the helm of the future of travel and transport in Oman and across the world, such regulation indeed seems to be a step in the right direction.