Some California Tesla owners may be eligible to receive up to $350 as part of a class-action settlement addressing Supercharger idle fees. The settlement resolves a lawsuit that alleged Tesla disabled or threatened to disable Supercharger access for drivers who did not pay these fees, which were charged when a vehicle remained plugged into a busy Supercharger station after its charging cycle concluded.
Tesla has denied wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement, which provides several potential avenues for compensation. The company will refund all eligible idle fees, with the exact amount determined by Tesla's records. Drivers whose Supercharger access was restricted for less than 30 days due to unpaid idle fees may receive $50. If the restriction lasted longer than 30 days, the payout could reach $350.
Additional provisions of the settlement benefit owners of older Tesla vehicles and former owners. Current owners of affected older Teslas will have their Supercharger access restored and any unpaid idle fees waived. Former owners who no longer possess the affected vehicle may still qualify for a $10 payment.
Eligibility for the settlement is subject to specific criteria. California residents must have purchased a Tesla prior to December 16, 2016, and still owned it as of that date. The vehicle must also have been described in its agreement as "Supercharger Enabled," "Supercharger Hardware," or "Supercharger Hardware & Access." The deadline to file a claim is September 25, and eligible drivers can submit their claims online or by mail.