By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — What an altruistic gesture — to provide a free charge to the owners of electric vehicles.

That is what the Town of Casco has been doing for more than five years. The first EV charger to come to town is located behind the Casco Community Center near the back door entrance. The second EV charger is near the South Casco Fire Station on Brown Avenue.

Last summer, Selectman Eugene Connolly suggested that with the rising costs of electricity, maybe the town should consider recouping that expense.

A switchover is in the works.

“The EV stations. Right now, we have an older one that is a Level 1 and an honor system. We will be moving to Level 2, and a network so people have to pay for it,” according to Casco Town Manager Anthony “Tony” Ward.

In related business, the town is in the process of an energy audit, Ward said.

As part of the audit, the town is analyzing it use of electricity for lights, heating and computers.

Most likely, the next step will be finding the least expensive route to get electricity.

“If we go with a broker, we would be saving anywhere from $8,000 to $9000 a year. Right now for energy rates, we are paying 16 cents per kilowatt. If we go out to bid, it could be 11 cents, and the high end would be 12 cents a kilowatt,” Ward said.