Optiwatt + ComEd?

[VindictivePantz]

I received an email and snail mail notice from ComEd (the power company here in the great Chicago area) that offers a $100 if I connect my car to Optiwatt for an EV charging pilot they (ComEd) are running.

The threads I found related to Optiwatt specifically are from a couple of years ago, but since the request is coming from the power company, I wonder if they're cleared the 3rd Party App access for Optiwatt in this scenario?

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...k-with-3rd-party-apps-such-as-optiwatt.24047/
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/optiwatt-may-be-fixed.22895/
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/optiwatt-phantom-drain.18798/

I am concerned about 12V drain and will watch it, along with account access, over the next couple of days.

Any others receive the pilot information? I honestly hope someone from ComEd connected with Ford (and all other EV manufacturers) to get this cleared, but skeptical.

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[Paul H. Martinez]

I'm a ComEd Chicago area customer.
Not thrilled with ComEd. They refused to rebate me for the Level 2 Chargpoint charger/install as they claim the "funds ran out" I got it anyway and will deduct it on the federal tax filing. Now, I'm glad I didn't as it requires you to have your charger connected to them via WiFi, always. The Ford salesman recommended against it as well. He feels giving them control of your EV charging remotely allows them to control the charge and the cost, which might actually be higher.
I also enrolled in community solar that gives modest credit amounts each month but more so in summer or periods of greater sun light.
What I did enroll in with ComEd is:
https://hourlypricing.comed.com/
If you are able to charge overnight, the cost per kwh does go down. I've only had it a month so don't really know if there is any tremendous savings from it.

 

[VindictivePantz]

I'm a ComEd Chicago area customer.
Not thrilled with ComEd. They refused to rebate me for the Level 2 Chargpoint charger/install as they claim the "funds ran out" I got it anyway and will deduct it on the federal tax filing. Now, I'm glad I didn't as it requires you to have your charger connected to them via WiFi, always. The Ford salesman recommended against it as well. He feels giving them control of your EV charging remotely allows them to control the charge and the cost, which might actually be higher.
I also enrolled in community solar that gives modest credit amounts each month but more so in summer or periods of greater sun light.
What I did enroll in with ComEd is:
https://hourlypricing.comed.com/
If you are able to charge overnight, the cost per kwh does go down. I've only had it a month so don't really know if there is any tremendous savings from it.

Thanks - So far, they're not controlling anything but just gathering data. I too am enrolled in the hourly pricing program, and only charge between 11PM and 6AM, and have saved quite a bit compared to regular rates.

I am going to keep an eye on it; my biggest concern is possible 12V drain.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

I'm a ComEd Chicago area customer.
Not thrilled with ComEd. They refused to rebate me for the Level 2 Chargpoint charger/install as they claim the "funds ran out" I got it anyway and will deduct it on the federal tax filing. Now, I'm glad I didn't as it requires you to have your charger connected to them via WiFi, always. The Ford salesman recommended against it as well. He feels giving them control of your EV charging remotely allows them to control the charge and the cost, which might actually be higher.
I also enrolled in community solar that gives modest credit amounts each month but more so in summer or periods of greater sun light.
What I did enroll in with ComEd is:
https://hourlypricing.comed.com/
If you are able to charge overnight, the cost per kwh does go down. I've only had it a month so don't really know if there is any tremendous savings from it.

Paul, can confirm you’ll get a significant saving from being on ComEd’s hourly rate. I’ve been on if for over two years now and the savings are substantial. I pay an average of 8.5 c/kWh on hourly vs an average of 12.5 on standard rate. It’s not without risk: Christmas of 2022, temps dropped suddenly and the rates shot up to the max allowed of over $3/kWh for a few hours. But on average, it’s a good plan. I’m in downtown Chicago and we have electric baseboard heat.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

Oh, and whatever the “Ford salesman” says, I’d do the exact opposite.

 

[Paul H. Martinez]

I would normally agree with the car salesman scepticism. I should have clarified. This wasn't the person that actually sold me the car, it was another sales person at the same dealer that was their own so called "EV expert" that they scheduled me for an information session about the new vehicle as some of us may agree that the abundance of technology involved in a Mach E might be somewhat overwhelming for new owners. The salesman drove a Mach E (assuming it was dealer provided) but he also bought a second for another family member and had driven them since the first 2021 model was available. He spent an hour with me going over the features, the the Ford Pass App and the operation of the car. Something I'm grateful for as I'm sure much of it would have taken much longer for me to figure out on my own. We also discussed charging. I mentioned the "incentive" ComEd offered for the connected Level 2 home units. He only advised caution when allowing a utility company unlimited access to any connection in my home and from what he had learned it may or may not offer some potential savings. He seemed very sincere, offered lots of valuable information and I didn't see reason to doubt him.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

I would normally agree with the car salesman scepticism. I should have clarified. This wasn't the person that actually sold me the car, it was another sales person at the same dealer that was their own so called "EV expert" that they scheduled me for an information session about the new vehicle as some of us may agree that the abundance of technology involved in a Mach E might be somewhat overwhelming for new owners. The salesman drove a Mach E (assuming it was dealer provided) but he also bought a second for another family member and had driven them since the first 2021 model was available. He spent an hour with me going over the features, the the Ford Pass App and the operation of the car. Something I'm grateful for as I'm sure much of it would have taken much longer for me to figure out on my own. We also discussed charging. I mentioned the "incentive" ComEd offered for the connected Level 2 home units. He only advised caution when allowing a utility company unlimited access to any connection in my home and from what he had learned it may or may not offer some potential savings. He seemed very sincere, offered lots of valuable information and I didn't see reason to doubt him.

Sounds good. Which store was this, Paul?

 

[Paul H. Martinez]

Tirapelli in Shorewood

 

[eStang]

Thanks - So far, they're not controlling anything but just gathering data. I too am enrolled in the hourly pricing program, and only charge between 11PM and 6AM, and have saved quite a bit compared to regular rates.

I am going to keep an eye on it; my biggest concern is possible 12V drain.

I got onto the pilot. Based on how I understand things to work there should be no risk or impact on the vehicle 12V. OptiWatt is controlling just your wifi connected EVSE and they are monitoring your vehicle SOC via Ford's cloud server APIs. There is no direct communication between OptiWatt and your vehicle.

If after the monitor-only phase they require giving them control of my vehicle charging time, I will likely opt out. I briefly enabled that feature for a few days and my vehicle was never brought up to my target charge level. It was nerve-wracking not knowing what I would wake up to.

 

[Byrus]

Funny, I got the same email and snail mail and was going to ask if anyone else had. I started to sign up but at the point where it sounded like they had control I never completed the process. It also wasn't entirely clear that this was just a pilot program when signing up even though that's what the com ed materials said. I'll look at it again next week.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

I think they also have a program where they cycle your A/C in the summertime. They are concerned about peak demand vs non peak. I frankly don’t understand why controlling the EVSE is advantageous to them. Most charging happens at night when demand is lowest.

And I agree with all of you, this is our transportation. We can’t wake up to an empty battery because ComEd wanted to control their peak demand. That’s why we pay a “Capacity Charge” to them each month.

 

[Cedars]

I am in the Chicago area and got the same email and am giving it a try. I am also on the hourly pricing plan. I like how it visualizes the cost per charge quickly, gives a nicer overview of the hourly rates, and estimates the gas savings vs a comparable car of your choosing.

By the way, I installed my L2 charger last February and got it fully reimbursed by ComEd in April.

 

[VindictivePantz]

I am in the Chicago area and got the same email and am giving it a try. I am also on the hourly pricing plan. I like how it visualizes the cost per charge quickly, gives a nicer overview of the hourly rates, and estimates the gas savings vs a comparable car of your choosing.

By the way, I installed my L2 charger last February and got it fully reimbursed by ComEd in April.

Agreed.

I think my L2 installation was before that program was in-place, but I did get some Federal Tax credits to offset some of the electrical + the charger itself back in 2023.

 

[Paul H. Martinez]

How was the reimbursement applied?

they denied me claiming the electrician I hired wasn’t “properly licensed”
Parker electric and they did a fantastic job.

 

[Cedars]

How was the reimbursement applied?

they denied me claiming the electrician I hired wasn’t “properly licensed”
Parker electric and they did a fantastic job.

They just sent me a check....
I remember there was something missing that I had to submit, but overall it was pretty seamless as long as all docs were submitted.

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