Only switch if the plan’s cheap hours match the hours your car is actually plugged in. An EV or time-of-use plan can cut charging costs for a car that charges overnight at home — and can raise your total bill if your household uses most of its power at peak times. Compare all-in rates and the strings attached before you move.
Key Takeaways
- Switch only if the cheap window matches when your car is actually plugged in.
- Compare all-in rates — and remember the whole house is repriced, not just the car.
- Check metering requirements, control strings and exit terms before enrolling.
- Two weeks of plug-in notes will tell you more than any advertised rate.
The Plans You Will Be Offered
| Plan type | How it prices power | Suits drivers who |
|---|---|---|
| Flat rate | One price per kWh, all day | Charge whenever; drive low miles |
| Time-of-use | Two or three prices depending on the time of day | Can keep charging inside the cheap window |
| EV plan | A special rate or credit tied to charging, sometimes with the charger or car enrolled | Charge at home most nights |
| Demand-based | Adds a charge based on your highest short-term draw | Rarely offered to households — read the terms carefully |
Names, windows and prices differ by utility and state. There is no national EV tariff, so this article gives you a method, not quotes: check your own utility’s current prices, and search the DSIRE database for utility programs in your state. For a baseline, the EIA puts the US average residential price at 18.31 cents/kWh.
Five Things to Compare Before You Switch
- The cheap window vs your real life. If the low rate runs late at night and your car is home and plugged in then, scheduling can fit. If you need a charge at 6 pm for an evening trip, it cannot.
- All-in prices, not headline prices. Add delivery and riders to each period’s rate before comparing. Our guide to the cost of charging at home shows how quickly the headline rate understates the real one.
- The whole house moves too. A time-of-use plan reprices everything — cooking, laundry, air conditioning — not just the car. A cheap car on an expensive house is a bad trade.
- Metering and control strings. Some plans need a smart meter. Some ask to pause or schedule your charging at peak times in exchange for the rate. Know which you are agreeing to.
- Contract terms. Minimum term, exit fees, and what the rate becomes when any introductory period ends.
Test Your Schedule Before You Commit
For two weeks, note when you plug in and unplug, then re-price those sessions at both plans’ all-in rates. Most drivers find the answer quickly: the car is flexible, the house is not. If your sessions already sit inside the cheap window, switching is likely safe. If half your charging happens at peak times, fix the schedule first — our guide to smart charging and time-of-use tariffs covers the scheduling side — then test again.
Hardware That Fits a Window
A charger with adjustable current helps on either plan. The EVDANCE EV-ACS3210T portable charger adjusts from 10 to 32 A in six steps (about 7.7 kW at full power, NEMA 14-50P, IP66): run it slower to spread a session across a long cheap window, or at full power to finish inside a short one. Scheduling plus the right current setting is what makes a time-of-use plan work in practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my utility make me join an EV plan?
Joining is normally voluntary. Some utilities tie certain rebates to an EV plan or a separate meter, but your existing flat rate usually stays available. Read the enrollment terms before you agree to anything.
Does switching plans require a new meter?
Often a smart meter is needed, so the utility can record when you used power; some plans read the charger or the car instead. Our smart meter guide explains the options.
Can I switch back if the new plan costs more?
Usually yes, but contracts may have minimum terms or exit fees, and some utilities limit how often you can change plans. Check the exit terms before you switch, not after the first bill.
Related Reading
- Smart Charging and Time-of-Use Tariffs: How Scheduling Cuts EV Charging Costs
- Do You Need a Smart Meter for an EV Charger?
- How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car at Home?
- Solar Panels and EV Chargers: How to Charge Your Car With Sunshine
