With Canada setting a target of achieving 90% electric vehicle adoption by 2040, thefts from EV charging stations are increasingly becoming a significant concern nationwide. The surge in the price of copper, a key component in EV charging cables, reaching a record high of approximately $20.99 per kilogram earlier this month, has led to a rise in theft incidents. Officials report that these thefts have resulted in significant losses, with B.C.’s provincial power company estimating over $1 million in damages over the past year.
Notably, the theft of cables from EV charging stations is part of a broader trend of copper thefts across the country, affecting various infrastructure components such as phone equipment and power cables.
According to Hydro-Québec, the operator of the largest charging network in the province, thefts involving charging station equipment and cables have more than doubled from nine incidents in the first six months of 2025 to 20 in the same period of 2026. The cost of replacing stolen charging cables can run into tens of thousands of dollars per unit.
Despite the relatively low value of the copper in the cables, estimated at only a few dozen dollars, the thefts pose significant risks to the perpetrators as they tamper with hazardous equipment, emphasizes Hydro-Québec.
Police in Edmonton reported 14 incidents of copper wire thefts from EV charging stations between January and July this year, causing damages totaling around $41,590. This marks an increase from the 12 reported incidents during the same period in 2025, although authorities suspect that the actual number of thefts is higher than reported.
In British Columbia, B.C. Hydro reported approximately 130 stolen cables across the province since October 2025, leading to replacement costs of about $1 million for the power authority. B.C. Hydro spokesperson Susie Rieder highlighted the high value of copper in the cables, making them an attractive target for theft.
Enhanced security measures, including additional cameras, alarm systems, and on-site security officers, have been implemented by B.C. Hydro at various sites to combat the thefts. Rieder emphasized the need for a targeted approach to address the specific risks at each location.
Personal chargers also at risk
Individuals are not spared from these thefts, with personal chargers being targeted as well. Greg Dent shared footage of his EV charger being stolen outside his Langley, B.C., home in July, highlighting the financial and security implications of such incidents.