Georgia Power just announced their new residential EV charging rates - Schedule EV-1. Off-peak hours (11 PM to 7 AM) at $0.0399/kWh, on-peak (2 PM to 9 PM weekdays) at $0.1847/kWh, and everything else at $0.0899/kWh. Plus a $12.95 monthly service charge. Has anyone run the numbers on whether this makes sense compared to their standard residential rates? I've got several clients in Savannah asking about it.
Georgia Power's New EV Rates - Anyone Analyzed These Yet?
Eleanor, I looked at similar TOU rates for CPS Energy here in San Antonio. The key is total household usage, not just the EV charging. If your clients can shift other major loads like water heating and pool pumps to off-peak hours, the savings can be substantial. For EV-only, you need to charge at least 400-500 kWh monthly during off-peak to break even with standard rates.
That's helpful Angela. Most EVs are charging 300-400 kWh per month so it's right on the borderline. The real challenge is that Georgia summer peak hours overlap perfectly with when people get home from work and want to charge. A Tesla Model S charging at 6 PM in July could cost $7-8 versus $1.50 if they wait until 11 PM.
Springfield City Utilities has been offering EV rates since 2013. Eleanor, the behavior change is the hardest part. We found that customers need programmable charging equipment to make TOU rates work effectively. Without it, they forget and end up charging during peak hours. Are Georgia Power customers required to have separate metering for EV charging?
No separate metering required Elmer - it's whole-house TOU which makes the analysis more complex. I've got a client with a pool, electric water heater, and two EVs. If they can optimize all their major loads for off-peak, they could save $80-100 monthly during summer. But one mistake during peak hours and the savings disappear quickly.
CenterPoint Energy in Houston has similar challenges with their residential TOU pilot program. Vivian here - the average customer saved about $25/month but 30% actually saw higher bills due to poor load management. Eleanor, are you recommending energy management systems for clients considering the EV rate?
Absolutely Vivian. I'm steering clients toward Nest or Ecobee thermostats with scheduling, timer-controlled water heaters, and smart EV charging equipment. The upfront cost is $800-1200 but pays for itself in 12-18 months with proper TOU management. Georgia summers are brutal - peak hour pricing reflects the true cost of capacity during those 2-9 PM periods.
PPL Electric in Pennsylvania launched something similar but with a demand charge component. Sylvia from Harrisburg here. Eleanor, does Georgia Power's EV rate include any demand charges or is it purely energy-based TOU? The demand piece can really hurt customers who aren't careful about coincidental peak usage.
No demand charges Sylvia - just energy and the monthly service fee. That's actually one advantage over some commercial rates. I think Georgia Power wanted to keep it simple for residential customers. The 18.47 cents per kWh during summer peak hours is steep enough to encourage off-peak charging without adding demand complexity.
Eleanor, I've been working with several Atlanta metro clients on these rates since they launched. The key insight is that air conditioning load during peak hours often outweighs EV charging costs. Customers who focus only on EV timing miss the bigger opportunity. Smart thermostats programmed for pre-cooling before 2 PM can save more than optimal EV charging schedules.
Also wanted to add - Georgia Power offers a $500 rebate for Level 2 EV charging equipment if customers sign up for Schedule EV-1. That helps offset some of the smart charging equipment costs Eleanor mentioned. I've got three clients who combined the rebate with Nest thermostats and are seeing $60-75 monthly savings during summer months.