EV Time-of-Use Rates: Charge Overnight and Pay Less

What a time-of-use rate is

On a standard residential plan, every kWh costs about the same no matter when you use it. A time-of-use plan splits the day into periods, usually peak, off-peak and sometimes a shoulder or super off-peak period, and prices each one differently. Peak hours are typically weekday afternoons and evenings, when the grid is busiest.

EV drivers are a natural fit because a car parked overnight can do almost all of its charging in the cheapest hours. Department of Energy research has shown this in practice: in San Diego, where rates were lowest between midnight and 5 a.m., EV home charging showed a sharp spike just after midnight.

How much off-peak charging can save

The difference between peak and off-peak prices can be large. Two New York utilities publish clear examples on their EV pages.

• Con Edison's whole-home TOU rate lists off-peak power (midnight to 8 a.m.) at $0.0522 per kWh year-round, versus $0.1711 per kWh peak outside summer and $0.2786 per kWh peak from June through September, before surcharges.
• Orange & Rockland's TOU delivery charge is 2.876 cents per kWh off-peak (9 p.m. to 10 a.m.) versus 44.651 cents per kWh during the summer weekday peak of noon to 7 p.m. Supply is billed separately.

A quick savings example

Say you add 300 kWh a month to your car, about 1,000 miles for an EV that uses 30 kWh per 100 miles. At Con Edison's listed off-peak price of $0.0522, that energy costs about $15.66. At its non-summer peak price of $0.1711, the same energy costs about $51.33. For comparison, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports the national average residential price was 18.16 cents per kWh in August 2026, or about $54.48 for 300 kWh.

Your utility's numbers will differ, and surcharges, taxes and fixed fees still apply. But the pattern holds: the more of your charging you move into off-peak hours, the more you save.

How to find your utility's EV or TOU plan

Start with your utility's website and search for "electric vehicle rate" or "time-of-use." Many utilities have a dedicated EV page that compares plans and links to a rate calculator based on your past usage. Con Edison, for example, links to a residential TOU calculator from its EV page.

Read the enrollment details closely. Some plans require you to register your EV. Mesa, Arizona's EV rate asks for a copy of your vehicle registration and your charger's make and model. Orange & Rockland requires EV-only meter customers to renew their registration each year or risk being moved to a higher-cost rate.

Schedule charging so you do not have to think about it

Most EVs let you set a charging schedule or a departure time in the car's screen or app, and many Level 2 home chargers have their own scheduling app. Set charging to start after your off-peak window opens, not just when you get home. If you plug in at 6 p.m. without a schedule, the car may do much of its charging during peak hours.

Check the schedule after daylight saving time changes and after software updates, and confirm your utility's off-peak window for each season, since some plans shift hours between summer and winter.

Whole-house TOU vs a separate EV meter

Utilities generally offer one of two setups, and the right choice depends on how much else in your home runs during peak hours.

• Whole-home TOU: the TOU prices apply to everything in your house. It works well if you can run laundry, dishwashers and pool pumps off-peak, but summer afternoon air conditioning can get expensive. Con Edison and Orange & Rockland both pair this option with a one-year price guarantee that credits you if you would have paid less on the standard rate.
• Separate EV meter: only the car's charging is on the TOU rate, and the rest of the house stays on the standard rate. It requires a licensed electrician and new equipment, may add a monthly fee (Con Edison lists an extra $20 customer charge for a second meter), and does not come with the price guarantee.
• Submetering: some utilities, including Southern California Edison, are adding options to measure and bill EV charging separately using approved submetering equipment.

Watch-outs before you switch

A TOU plan is a good deal only if your habits fit it. Check these before you enroll.

• Peak penalties: peak prices are higher than the standard rate, so heavy afternoon use can wipe out your EV savings. Con Edison also has a summer weekday super-peak from 2 to 6 p.m.
• Commitments: Con Edison requires one year on TOU and makes you wait 18 months to rejoin if you leave. Orange & Rockland makes you wait 12 months.
• Lost incentives: Con Edison and Orange & Rockland say TOU and EV-meter customers are not eligible for SmartCharge New York rewards, which pay standard-rate customers for off-peak charging.
• Supply vs delivery: some utilities quote TOU delivery rates separately from supply, so add both to compare plans fairly.