How to find the cheapest electricity rates for EV charging

Charging an EV at home costs a lot less than most people expect. But how much you pay depends on where you live, when you charge, and whether you’ve set up the right rate plan with your utility. Here’s how to make sure you’re paying as little as possible.

Start with home charging

The cheapest place to charge an EV is almost always at home. About 90 percent of EV charging happens at home, overnight, and for good reason: home electricity is far cheaper than public fast charging.

The national average home electricity rate in early 2026 is around $0.17 to $0.18 per kWh. Public DC fast chargers average around $0.47 per kWh. That’s nearly three times more expensive.

For an EV with a 75 kWh battery, filling up from empty at home costs roughly $13 to $14. At a public DC fast charger, that same fill-up could cost $35 or more. Home charging wins every time for everyday use.

Electricity rates vary a lot by state

Where you live has a big impact on what you pay. Some states have very cheap electricity. Others are much more expensive.

The cheapest states for home EV charging in 2026 are Washington ($0.08/kWh), Idaho ($0.09/kWh), and Oregon ($0.10/kWh). The most expensive are Hawaii ($0.32/kWh), Connecticut ($0.24/kWh), and Massachusetts ($0.23/kWh). The national average sits around $0.17/kWh.

If you live in a high-cost state, the gap between home and public charging is even more important to address.

Time-of-use rates are the biggest opportunity

Many utilities offer time-of-use (TOU) rate plans. Under TOU pricing, the cost of electricity varies by time of day. Power is cheapest at night when overall demand is low. It’s most expensive in the late afternoon and evening when everyone gets home from work.

EV owners are well-positioned to take advantage of this. You plug in at night and wake up to a full battery. The timing is natural.

Off-peak TOU rates typically range from $0.06 to $0.10 per kWh, depending on your utility. That’s a dramatic drop from the standard rate. In some areas, charging overnight on a TOU plan is equivalent to paying well under $1.00 per gallon in fuel cost terms.

Some utilities have EV-specific rate plans with even deeper discounts during overnight hours. Call your utility or check their website and ask specifically about EV rate plans. Many utilities have them, and they’re worth switching to.

Set your EV to charge overnight automatically

Once you’re on a TOU plan, you don’t have to think about it. Most EVs let you set a charging schedule from the car’s infotainment system or a phone app. You tell it when to start and stop charging, and it handles the rest.

A smart Level 2 home charger can make this even easier. Smart chargers connect to your home Wi-Fi and let you schedule charging, track your energy use, and even respond automatically to your utility’s pricing signals. If you’re serious about keeping costs low, a smart charger is worth considering.

Public charging: know what you’re paying

Public charging networks like Electrify America now charge by the kWh, which is straightforward to understand. But rates vary by network, by location, and by whether you have a membership or pay as you go.

Most networks offer a monthly membership that lowers the per-kWh price. If you use public fast chargers regularly, a membership can pay for itself quickly.

For occasional top-ups on road trips, public charging is a reasonable cost. For everyday charging, avoid it when you can. The savings from home charging add up fast over time.

How to find the cheapest rate in your area

Here’s a simple action plan:

First, check your utility’s website for EV rate plans or TOU options. Search for your utility name plus “EV rate plan” or “time of use rate.” Second, call your utility if you can’t find the information online. Ask what rate plan is best for someone who charges an EV at home overnight. Third, set up scheduled charging on your EV or home charger to take advantage of off-peak hours. Fourth, check if your utility offers any rebates for installing a home EV charger or for signing up for a TOU plan.

A few minutes of research can save you hundreds of dollars per year. The cheapest electricity for EV charging is already available to most owners. You just have to ask for it.