Australia’s efforts to expand its charging network to keep up with the EV ownership tsunami have taken a hit with the news that a new program meant to put a rocket under the rollout has bogged down badly.

Electricity companies are being encouraged to build charging stations connected to existing power poles under the plan, which gave firms in Victoria six months to identify 100 suitable locations for the installations. Problem is, they only picked 33 sites, according to a report in the Australian Financial Review.

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The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has now agreed to a six-month extension of the program, which has been controversial due to worries that the power companies could pay for the new infrastructure by charging all households a fee, regardless of whether or not they own an EV.

While the program has the potential to quickly grow the number of public charging stations, news of the huge shortfall has led to accusations that the companies – Citipower, Powercor and United Energy, known collectively as CPU – are living in a fantasy land when it comes to the infrastructure changes needed as the country switches away from petrol and diesel.

“The sales data shows Australians are already embracing EVs. And now we learn that CPU can’t even install chargers when they are allowed to and require extra time to add just 100 to their own network,” National Electrical and Communications Association director for NSW and ACT Mark Stedfut told the AFR.

“The networks’ self-serving fantasy is that there is a chicken-and-egg problem and that EVs won’t be bought until they are allowed to install thousands of chargers wherever they please is being shattered.”

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Stedfut went on to accuse the power firms of a “thinly veiled attempt” to use the demand for more charging infrastructure as an excuse to add to their profit margins. The AER said CPU faced delays in confirming locations with local councils.

CPU said support from councils has been overwhelming, and said its charging model has been a success and offers the cheapest public service in Victoria.

“Our model is working successfully, with EV drivers using our chargers at very high rates,” said Dan Bye, CPU head of customer connections and requests. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support of councils and the interest in our trial across metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria. We will soon announce new locations, including in many regional areas and tourist destinations.”

Australia currently has around 8000 public EV charging points spread across thousands of locations, including more than 4000 high-power DC charging plugs. VFACTS figures for August showed that EVs outsold petrol, diesel and hybrid cars for the first time.