What is a charge point operator?

A charge point operator, or CPO, controls the operation of electric vehicle chargers. It may own the equipment or run it for the owner. For public charging, the rules require a free staffed helpline available 24/7 [S2]. Your contract should identify the operator and your responsibilities as host. Checked October 2026.

Last checked 16 October 2026

What does a charge point operator do?

A charge point operator (CPO) is the organisation responsible for running chargers. The public charging guidance distinguishes that role from owning equipment or installing it. The party controlling how a public charger functions is the operator, even where another name appears on the cabinet [S1].

For your site, ask the proposed operator to identify who handles payments, faults, driver support and reporting. Put the responsibilities in a schedule you can compare against the host agreement. Read the operator guide for the wider checklist.

How does the operator business model work?

Do not infer ownership or funding from the letters CPO. Ask who buys the hardware, pays for electricity and receives charging receipts. Compare fully funded charging with buying equipment and appointing someone to operate it.

As an illustration, not a quote, assume drivers buy 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh, a measure of energy) in a month at 60p per kWh. Gross receipts are 1,000 × £0.60 = £600. An assumed host share of 10% of gross receipts gives £60 for that month. These are invented scenario inputs, not observed rates. A share calculated after deductions would produce a different result.

Ask for the revenue-share definition, permitted deductions and access to statements before assessing an offer.

Which operator regulations matter to your site?

For public chargers, the regulations cover payment, reliability, support and data. Kilowatts (kW) measure power, rather than energy sold. Requirements can depend on charger power and deployment date [S2].

Ask whether your intended users make the chargers public, who holds the compliance records, and how faults are escalated. Have your solicitor review the division of duties. Compare public and private chargepoints before agreeing the operating scope.

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