LA DWP rate options for EV owners

I know that there has been discussion on the charger rebates but I found some info on the LADWP website regarding us folks who will be using the standard charger that came with the PIP.

Here's a LINK to the information for you DWP customers.

I filled out the online application two days ago, got a call from them this morning and they will be sending out a new Time Of Use meter that will allow me to receive the EV discount.

Might want to check it out!

 

I initially thought the same.... We visited some friends in Arizona who were on a whole house TOU meter plan. The claimed to have save a good chunk of change. That made me really look at our power usage. No one is home during the daytime. As long as your main draws of power occur after 5 pm and really if you can push it to 8 pm you will save $$$$.

I've been on the TOU plan for quite a while now and I remember receiving my first bill..... Saved almost $90.00 compared to non-TOU billing.

I've got solar panels now. I generate power and feed the grid at the most expensive time during the day then draw the power down at the cheaper end of the spectrum. For me it will be worth it....

 

Hi Frank.... let me see if I can address your questions one by one...

So you had a whole house TOU installed as a part of the DWP Level 2 Charger Rebate? Is there a separate meter installed for your solar roof, if so how does that affect the cost of the installation?

I already had a TOU meter prior to the solar install. The TOU meter did not affect any part of the solar panel install
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Also, what kind of monthly bills were you receiving prior to the solar upgrade (from the looks of it you must have had over a $200 (say $250) bill a month to get a $90 discount????

My DWP bill was in the $500+ range per month. Since we draw down our power in the NON peak hours this plan made alot of sense for us.
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I am waiting on my PiP and am trying to line up the level 2 charger now, assumed the $2k LADWP Discount was the best way to go until I saw that the TOU meter would allow them to ding us when we used the level 2 charger during the day (when we most likely would benefit from it...defeats the premise of the quickcharger doesn't it (read=LADWP doesn't want you charging your car during the day).

Correct me if I am wrong, but the TOU changes all of that IF you have photovoltaic on the roof. The photovoltaic runs the meter backwards during the day, theoretically even when you might be using the level 2 charger???? Then, when the sun goes down, after 7pm or maybe later in the summer, you start taking, and getting charged from the grid?

Without the TOU your meter would just run backwards right? So IF you sized your roof photovoltaic correctly it would seem that you would want to NOT have the TOU. We would eventually like to install photovoltaic on the roof, so by going this route, and sizing the output correctly there should not be any real advantage to getting a TOU???? Correct me if I am wrong please!

Ok.... let's see if I can make sense of all this as I'm not a TOU expert by any means..... If I have any of this info incorrect then please forgive my lack of TOU information.

Since I'm on the TOU plan then I am generating power that causes the meter to run backwards during the most expensive part of the day. So.... if you are using a Level 2 charger during the day as long as the meter is running backwards then you should be a-ok..... Then.... at night when we're drawing our power from the grid we are charged a lower per kw rate. I have my timer set to start charging my PIP at 8:30 pm.

Remember TOU is exactly what it stands for Time Of Use. You are billed for the rate of electricity based on the TIME that you USE it. Since most of our energy consumption is off Peak we save a good chunk of $$$$. Hope this makes sense.
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All of this is pushing me toward putting in a permitted 20amp, dedicated 240v socket for the $250 ($300 for the upgrade) EVSE Upgrade or similar cheap system and installing it all on my lonesome (no DWP Rebate)

Sounds good to me if that is what will work best for you.

As of now I'm happy with my current setup and I can't wait to see what my DWP bill looks like once my EV discount is applied!

Here is what I decided to sign up for...... Option 2(DWP Website info)
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When you switch to an electric vehicle you can expect your energy consumption and cost to change. LADWP offers four service options for residential customers who have an EV.

There are two levels of home chargers available to EV owners: Level 1 chargers and Level 2 chargers. More information on the two levels of home charges is available on the EV Rates, Meter Options, and Home Chargers Fact Sheet.
Option 1: Electric Vehicle Time-of-Use Rate

If you expect to charge your EV primarily at night and on weekends, you may consider installing a second meter in your house dedicated to the EV charger that will be billed on our Residential Time-of-Use Rate. Your regular house meter and electrical panel will remain unchanged. Under this option, you may receive substantial savings, including the EV discount of 2.5 cents per kilowatt hours (kWh) on top of already reduced rates for off-peak energy consumption. The EV discount applies to off-peak hours for up to 500 kWh per month. Through this option, you will also qualify for the Residential Electric Vehicle Home Charger Rebate. You can get a rebate of up to $2,000 toward the cost of charging equipment and installation.

Under the Time-of-Use Rate, customers enjoy the lowest rates during off-peak hours, second lowest during low-peak hours, and highest during high-peak hours, as follows:

• Off-Peak Hours: 8 p.m. – 10 a.m. weekdays and all day on weekends (receive EV discount of 2.5 cents/kWh for up to 500 kWh)
• Low-Peak Hours: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.; 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. weekdays
• High-Peak Hours: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays

Customers who opt to use Level 1 chargers can simply plug in to a dedicated standard outlet and begin charging.
For the current Residential Time-of-Use Rate, click here .
Option 2: Residential Time-of-Use and Electric Vehicle Discount

Residential customers who are on the Residential Time-of-Use Rate for their entire household, including the EV charger, can receive the EV discount of 2.5 cents per kWh for up to 500 kWh of off-peak energy use. As described above, the Time-of-Use rates are based on when the electricity is used, unlike the standard rate that varies according to how much energy is used. This option is most suited for customers who already consume most of their energy during off-peak hours—on weeknights or anytime on weekends. Customers who elect this rate option may receive substantial savings if they charge their EV and use most of their household electricity during these off-peak hours.
For the current Residential Time-of-Use Rate, click here .

 

Sorry.... I actually went for Option 4 not 2

Option 4: Add EV Discount to Existing Time-of-Use Service

I already have a time-of-use meter for my residence. I want the electric vehicle discount rate.

 

Excellent Frank! Glad the setup should work for you! I have my charger set to charge after 8PM. Everything is working as planned so far....

Let's see if the summer months change anything. Shouldn't but this will be our first season of having both TOU and PV panels on the roof... Have my fingers crossed.

Please report back once you receive your first bill......

Good Luck!

 

Hi Frank.... I would follow up with them on the EV discount. SInce I've got PV panels on the house I get a very detailed 4-5 page reconciliation with my bill and my EV discount has a separate line item.

Are you being ultra conservative during the high peak periods during the day? I shut down as much as possible and it seems to have made a huge difference.

Loving my panels.... have about 250.00 in credits with DWP for electricity. Hopefully if all goes well I should owe them zero dollars for this entire year!