EV Charging and Time-of-Use Electricity Rates

If you charge at home, time-of-use (TOU) electricity rates are one of the biggest money-savers available to EV owners — and they're easy to take advantage of once you understand them.

What time-of-use rates are

Under a TOU plan, the price of electricity changes by time of day. Utilities charge more when demand is high and less when it's low:

• Peak (often late afternoon to evening): most expensive.
• Off-peak (typically overnight): cheapest.
• Mid-peak (shoulder hours): in between.

The gap can be large — off-peak rates are sometimes a fraction of peak rates.

Why this is perfect for EVs

EVs charge while you sleep, which lines up beautifully with cheap overnight rates. By scheduling charging for off-peak hours, you fill up at the lowest possible price without changing anything about your day.

How to set it up

1. Check if your utility offers a TOU or EV plan. Many have rate plans designed specifically for EV owners.
2. Find the off-peak window. Note exactly when cheap pricing starts and ends.
3. Schedule charging. Use your car's or home charger's built-in scheduler to start charging during off-peak hours.
4. Confirm it's working. Check that charging actually begins at the right time and finishes before peak rates return.

The savings add up

If off-peak charging cuts your effective rate roughly in half, you could halve the electricity portion of your driving costs. Over a year of regular driving, that's a meaningful amount — for doing essentially nothing once it's scheduled.

Don't forget public charging context

TOU mostly applies to home charging. Public stations set their own prices, which is why comparing nearby stations still matters when you're out. For the full breakdown of charging costs, see how much it costs to charge an EV.

A few caveats

• Avoid peak charging unless you really need it — that's when rates spike.
• Mind the off-peak end time so a slow charge doesn't run into peak hours.
• Re-check your plan periodically as rates and plan options change.

Bottom line

Time-of-use rates turn the natural EV habit of overnight charging into real savings. Set a schedule once and enjoy the cheapest miles you'll ever drive. When you're away from home, lean on ChargeScout to find well-priced public stations, since the same comparison instinct saves you money on the road. For timing public charging too, see the best times of day to charge.