Choosing the Best Energy Plan for Electric Vehicle Owners: Charging Strategies and Rate Plans

Driving an electric vehicle in Illinois offers significant advantages—lower fuel costs, reduced maintenance, and a smaller carbon footprint. But to maximize those savings, you need to think strategically about how and when you charge. The difference between optimal and suboptimal charging can mean hundreds of dollars per year in electricity costs.

This guide will help Illinois EV owners navigate electricity rate options, implement smart charging strategies, and ensure their home charging setup delivers maximum value. Whether you're driving a Tesla, Chevy Bolt, Ford Mustang Mach-E, or any other EV, the principles here will help you minimize your cost per mile.

The #1 Mistake Illinois EV Owners Make with Their Electricity Bill (And How to Fix It)

The most common mistake EV owners make is treating their car like a smartphone—plugging it in the moment they get home and charging immediately at whatever time that happens to be. This approach often means charging during peak electricity hours when rates are highest.

Why Timing Matters

The cost of electricity varies significantly based on when you use it. During peak demand periods—typically weekday afternoons and evenings—wholesale electricity prices can be 2-5 times higher than overnight lows. For EV owners on time-of-use rates, this price differential passes directly to their bills.

Consider this example for a driver covering 12,000 miles annually in a vehicle averaging 3.5 miles per kWh:

• Annual charging need: ~3,400 kWh
• Peak rate charging ($.15/kWh): $510/year
• Off-peak charging ($.04/kWh): $136/year
• Savings from smart charging: $374/year

That's nearly $400 in annual savings just from shifting when you charge—not how much you drive.

The Simple Fix

Most EVs have built-in scheduled charging features. Set your vehicle to begin charging after 10 PM or 11 PM (when off-peak rates typically begin) rather than immediately when plugged in. You plug in when you get home, but charging doesn't start until rates drop.

Flat Rate vs. Time-of-Use (TOU) vs. Real-Time Pricing: The Ultimate Showdown for Illinois EV Drivers

Illinois EV owners have several rate structure options, each with distinct advantages for different situations.

Flat Rate Plans

How they work: You pay the same per-kWh rate regardless of when you use electricity.

Pros for EV owners:

• Simplicity—no need to schedule charging or track time periods
• Predictable costs regardless of when you charge
• Good if your schedule requires irregular charging times

Cons for EV owners:

• No opportunity to save by charging at optimal times
• You may subsidize peak-hour users if you primarily charge overnight
• Generally higher average rates than off-peak TOU rates

Best for: EV owners with unpredictable schedules who can't reliably charge during off-peak hours.

Time-of-Use (TOU) Plans

How they work: Rates vary by time period—typically higher during peak hours (afternoon/evening) and lower during off-peak hours (night/weekend).

Pros for EV owners:

• Significant savings when charging during off-peak hours
• Predictable rate structure—you know exactly when rates are low
• Often designed with EV charging in mind, with very low overnight rates

Cons for EV owners:

• Higher rates during peak hours for ALL household usage, not just EV charging
• Requires discipline to shift charging (and other usage) to off-peak times
• May not save money if household has significant daytime usage

Best for: EV owners who primarily charge overnight and can shift other household usage to off-peak hours.

Real-Time (Hourly) Pricing

How they work: Rates change every hour based on wholesale market conditions. ComEd's hourly pricing program is the primary option in northern Illinois.

Pros for EV owners:

• Lowest possible rates during overnight hours when wholesale prices bottom out
• Potential for even greater savings than structured TOU plans
• Market-based pricing captures all periods of low prices

Cons for EV owners:

• Less predictable—you don't know exact rates in advance
• Extreme price spikes during high-demand periods
• Requires more active management or smart charging equipment

Best for: Tech-savvy EV owners with smart chargers that can respond to price signals, and those with high risk tolerance.

Comparing the Options

Genius Charging Strategies: How to Sync Your EV with Illinois's Cheapest Power Hours

Once you understand rate structures, implementing smart charging strategies maximizes your savings.

Strategy 1: Schedule Charging for Super Off-Peak Hours

The absolute lowest electricity prices typically occur between midnight and 5 AM when demand is at its daily minimum. Most EVs can be programmed to charge during specific windows:

• Tesla: Use the "Scheduled Departure" feature or set specific charging start/stop times
• Ford: The FordPass app allows charging schedule programming
• Chevrolet: MyChevrolet app enables departure time and charge level settings
• Most other EVs: Similar scheduling features are standard

Set your schedule and forget it—your car will automatically wait until the cheapest hours to begin charging.

Strategy 2: Use a Smart Charger

Smart Level 2 chargers add intelligence beyond what's built into your vehicle:

• Integration with utility rates: Some chargers automatically respond to real-time pricing, charging when rates are lowest
• Usage monitoring: Track exactly how much energy your EV consumes and what it costs
• Load management: Coordinate with household demand to avoid peak charges
• Remote control: Start, stop, or adjust charging from anywhere via smartphone

Popular smart chargers include ChargePoint Home Flex, JuiceBox, and Emporia's EV charger. Many qualify for utility rebates—check ComEd and Ameren programs.

Strategy 3: Consider Your Weekly Routine

Not every night needs to be a charging night:

• Weekend charging: If your TOU plan has lower weekend rates, you might save by doing your primary charging on Saturday and Sunday nights
• Skip the daily top-off: Unless you're driving significant daily miles, charging every 2-3 days during optimal windows may be more efficient than daily charging
• Precondition while plugged in: On very cold or hot days, pre-heat or pre-cool your car while still plugged in (during off-peak hours). This uses grid power rather than battery power, extending your range.

Strategy 4: Enroll in EV-Specific Programs

Illinois utilities offer programs specifically for EV owners:

ComEd programs:

• EV smart charger rebates
• Managed charging pilot programs that provide incentives for utility-controlled charging during off-peak hours
• Integration with hourly pricing for automated price response

Visit the ComEd EV resources page for current offerings.

Beyond the Home Garage: Commercial Fleet Strategies & Future-Proofing with Solar Power

For businesses with EV fleets or homeowners thinking bigger, additional strategies apply.

Commercial Fleet Charging

Businesses with multiple EVs face unique challenges and opportunities:

• Managed charging systems: Software that sequences vehicle charging to avoid demand spikes
• Demand charge management: Level 2 charging spread over longer periods may be cheaper than fast charging that creates demand spikes
• Off-hours charging: Scheduling fleet charging for overnight dramatically reduces costs
• Separate metering: Consider dedicated meters for EV charging on EV-specific commercial rates

Solar + EV: The Ultimate Combination

Pairing solar panels with EV charging creates a synergistic system:

• Daytime charging from solar: If your EV is home during the day (or you work from home), charge directly from your solar panels
• Net metering optimization: Export excess solar during peak hours when credits are valuable; charge your EV from the grid during super off-peak hours when rates are lowest
• Future-proofing: As EV adoption grows, electricity demand will increase, potentially raising rates. Solar provides a hedge against future price increases.

Battery Storage Integration

Home batteries like Tesla Powerwall can optimize the entire system:

• Store cheap overnight power for use during peak hours
• Store solar production for overnight EV charging
• Provide backup power during outages, including for EV charging

Some EVs with bidirectional charging capabilities (like the Ford F-150 Lightning) can themselves serve as home batteries, powering your house during outages or high-rate periods.

Putting It All Together: Your EV Charging Action Plan

Here's a step-by-step plan to optimize your EV electricity costs:

1. Review your current rate structure: Are you on a plan that rewards off-peak usage? If not, evaluate TOU or hourly pricing options.
2. Set up scheduled charging: Program your EV or charger to charge during the lowest-cost hours.
3. Install a Level 2 charger: If you haven't already, a 240V charger provides flexibility and speed for overnight charging.
4. Check for utility programs: Enroll in any available EV incentive programs or managed charging options.
5. Monitor and optimize: Track your charging costs over a few months and adjust your approach based on actual results.