What are your Electric Rates

[ChuckA]

Depends on how you look at it. If the point is to see how much we're paying to charge an EV (instead of buying gas), and we assume we're gonna keep owning the home and having electric service either way, then the correct way is to just count the incremental kWh rate. (I suspect that's what most people mean for this context.)

But if you're trying to compare electric rates in total (including your TVs, lights, oven, A/C, etc), then yes, count the fixed charges as well.

All charges on the electric bill that are based on kWh used need to be included in incremental cost/rate.

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[RickMachE]

Depends on how you look at it. If the point is to see how much we're paying to charge an EV (instead of buying gas), and we assume we're gonna keep owning the home and having electric service either way, then the correct way is to just count the incremental kWh rate. (I suspect that's what most people mean for this context.)

But if you're trying to compare electric rates in total (including your TVs, lights, oven, A/C, etc), then yes, count the fixed charges as well.

Not the point I was making.

My bill has per kWh fee for electricty generation. Then per kWH fee for distribution. Then about 3 other fees, plus sales tax, based on kWh or amount. All is incremental, not fixed. Only fixed fee is monthly charge.

 

[Kabish]

I have an EV Plan with SDG&E.

Basically I do 99.9% of my charging during the Super Off Peak hours which is billed at $0.08674 per kWh. $0.02298 for delivery and $0.06376 for generation. You absolutely cannot beat that price unless you go solar lol

 

[JSeis]

Geez, you all have some incredibly cheap power ?

Here there's a discounted plan if you have an EV, but it's still $0.19 off-peak (9pm - 4pm) and $0.48 peak (4pm-8pm) during the week, $0.37 peak on the weekends, along with a fixed daily basic charge equivalent to approximately $12 per month.

Not as cheap as Chelan/Grant counties. They own (through local public utility districts) their own hydroelectric dams. I recall their rates at about 1/3 of ours.. say 2 cents per KWh! Bitcoin mining there as well.

 

[dbsb3233]

Not the point I was making.

My bill has per kWh fee for electricty generation. Then per kWH fee for distribution. Then about 3 other fees, plus sales tax, based on kWh or amount. All is incremental, not fixed. Only fixed fee is monthly charge.

Ah, I see what you mean now. I thought you were including the fixed fee(s) as well. Mine has a few fixed fees: fixed charge ($19.00) and street lights ($3.10). But it also has a "franchise fee" which appears to really be a small tax (3.6%), as it varies month-to-month with usage. As well as a demand charge for the peak 15 minutes of the month. All-in-all, mine works out to just over 10c/kWh (24x7).

 

[timbop]

Depends on how you look at it. If the point is to see how much we're paying to charge an EV (instead of buying gas), and we assume we're gonna keep owning the home and having electric service either way, then the correct way is to just count the incremental kWh rate. (I suspect that's what most people mean for this context.)

Yes exactly, although I am sure there is some variability in the schemes the utilities come up with.

All charges on the electric bill that are based on kWh used need to be included in incremental cost/rate.

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yup

Not the point I was making.

My bill has per kWh fee for electricty generation. Then per kWH fee for distribution. Then about 3 other fees, plus sales tax, based on kWh or amount. All is incremental, not fixed. Only fixed fee is monthly charge.

Yep, since we have "energy choice" here in NJ the core utility that supplies the infrastructure charges a per-kilowatthour "delivery" fee and then if you buy their electricity there is a "power generation fee" that is also per kilowatthour. There are a couple of other intentionally vague items on the bill that are kwh related, and a nominal flat $5 "connection" fee.

So yeah, not including those flat fees just to be connected to the grid is the correct way to calculate the rates for this discussion since those fees would be paid regardless of owning a BEV.

 

[Theburn16]

Plus all the other fees. Loaded cost is all that matters. Any per kWh charge on the bill goes with that. Any non-fixed cost too...

i have less than $11 in other fees and taxes, my power bill is less with this rate plan and charging my car than my bill ever was before I switched to it. I live in a 1700sq ft home by myself and my power bill last month was $49 total.

 

[Ro4dR4ge]

In southern California this is a TOU-Prime plan for EV users: it sucks.

 

[Ejectionseatfixer]

I am a night worker and havent broken down my KWH charge rate yet although Im curious about it. My charging times are always off peak, My electric bill for last month was 30.00 higher than average. My gas bill for my 2017 Toyota Sienna I traded in was 45.00 at the current rate per fill.

 

[Kabish]

In southern California this is a TOU-Prime plan for EV users: it sucks.

You sure you are on an EV plan??

Might be an Orange County thing. In San Diego (the true SoCal) Our rates are no where close to that. I only pay 9 cents per kWh 0:00-07:00 and then on Sat from 0:00-14:00 and Sun 0:00-14:00 at 9 cents per kWh. Our peak times though are from 4-9 at some ungodly rate, think its like .68kWh. I'm on the EVTOU5-Residential plan.

$0.55919kWh on Peak time.

 

[Eraser]

In Sacramento we use SMUD. They offer time off day pricing or fixed. Unless you're very diligent and don't use your AC during peak times, the time of day pricing sucks. They moved everyone over to this a few years ago claiming it saves you money. Technically that is true if you work at it. If you don't they will hammer you hard during the summer peak time period. This approach is primarily to save them money, not the customer.

I switched back to the fixed pricing a couple years ago. Based on my historical usage this works best for me. I also like not worrying about time of day pricing. If it's hot, turn on the AC and don't worrying about the price since it stays the same.

 

[Eraser]

In southern California this is a TOU-Prime plan for EV users: it sucks.

Jesus, and I thought my rates were on the high side.

 

[phil]

Jesus, and I thought my rates were on the high side.

Yes, California electric rates are ridiculous. They make the utility customers pay extra to subsidize all the solar users and their net metering.

 

[dtbaker61]

Yes, California electric rates are ridiculous. They make the utility customers pay extra to subsidize all the solar users and their net metering.

wow....

that's NOT why CA rates are so high. Net metering is not a 'subsidy'... and actually helps the grid stability by reducing the Load on infrastructure at peak times (when the sun is out).

I think you'll find that the cost of CA power is high because their wholesale cost of NON-renewable energy is super high in part because they have to move the energy a long way from centralized generation plants, and they have HUGE infrastructure bills and insurance claims from the fires that they started with poorly maintained power lines moving (non-renewable) energy from centralized generation plants far away...

As more people/business get rooftop solar, and matching battery backup in homes and neighborhoods, the loads go down, and reliability goes up.

I'd encourage you to become part of the solution, and get solar to help offset the added load your new EV is consuming.

 

[Eraser]

I think you'll find that the cost of CA power is high because their wholesale cost of NON-renewable energy is super high in part because they have to move the energy a long way from centralized generation plants, and they have HUGE infrastructure bills and insurance claims from the fires that they started with poorly maintained power lines moving (non-renewable) energy from centralized generation plants far away...

I would argue these are self inflicted problems, similar to why our(California) gasoline is so much more expensive than the rest of the country. I think people like to talk about being green and using sustainable XY and Z. Given the choice of paying $2+ less per gallon in gasoline or pay more but be considered "green", I'm fairly certain I know what most people would choose, green...as in dollars.

As more people/business get rooftop solar, and matching battery backup in homes and neighborhoods, the loads go down, and reliability goes up.

I'd encourage you to become part of the solution, and get solar to help offset the added load your new EV is consuming.

Speaking only for myself, I didn't buy an EV to go green or to do my part to "save the planet". I bought it because of the cost savings (and it is a cool car). If there was no cost savings over a similar ICE vehicle I would never consider an EV. To your point, if solar had an ROI of 5-7 years or less I would jump on it immediately, but the numbers aren't there for me even with a new EV. At the end of the day I'm not willing to spend extra money just say I'm being green with little ROI. No judgement if that's your thing, to each their own.

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