Choosing Your EV Power Plan: Australian Rates & Maximum Savings

The Hidden Cost of Charging Wrong

You’ve just bought an EV. The car’s brilliant. But here’s the thing nobody tells you: how much you pay to charge it depends less on the charger, and way more on which electricity plan you’ve got.

Charge on the wrong plan, and you’re paying the same rate as you heat water at peak hours. Charge on the right plan, and you could save close to $1,000 per year just by switching suppliers or tariffs.

This guide breaks down how power plans work for EV owners, how solar changes the equation entirely, and which Australian electricity retailers are actually worth your time.

How Electricity Plans Impact Your Charging Costs

Not all power plans are built equal. Three types dominate the market for EV owners:

Off-Peak Charging Plans

The simplest option. You get a cheaper rate outside peak hours—typically 11pm to 7am, though this varies by retailer and network. You plug in when you get home, set the timer, and let it charge overnight.

The math: Off-peak rates run 6–12 cents per kWh, compared to peak rates of 25–35 cents. A 60kWh charge at peak costs you $15–21. On off-peak, the same charge costs $3.60–7.20. That’s roughly 75% cheaper.

The catch? You need discipline. Charge during peak hours and you lose the saving entirely.

Time-of-Use (TOU) Plans

More sophisticated. The day splits into three or four windows: peak, shoulder, and off-peak. Each has its own rate. This is where it gets interesting for solar owners.

Example breakdown:

• Off-peak (11pm–7am): 8 cents/kWh
• Shoulder (7am–2pm, 8pm–11pm): 20 cents/kWh
• Peak (2pm–8pm): 32 cents/kWh

The strategy flips depending on whether you have solar.

Solar-Integrated Plans

Have solar panels? The economics shift dramatically. Charging during daylight hours using your own generation is worth far more than exporting surplus to the grid.

For a detailed breakdown of solar-only charging strategy, rates, and how to maximize your setup, read our complete guide:

Read the guide: How to Charge Your EV with Solar Only

Why Solar Changes Everything (and What to Watch For)

If you have solar panels, your priority isn’t finding the cheapest electricity plan. It’s maximizing the hours you can charge while the sun’s up.

A 7kW solar system on a clear day generates 40–50 kWh. If you can divert even 20 kWh of that to your EV instead of exporting it at feed-in tariff rates, you’ve won. The EV charging is worth five times what the grid will pay for the surplus.

The trap: Some EV plans offer low overnight rates (8 cents) but shred your solar feed-in tariff to near zero. You save on charging but lose on export. Always compare the full package—what they offer for overnight charging, and what they’ll pay for solar you feed back.

The winner: Plans that keep a decent solar feed-in tariff (12+ cents) while offering competitive EV rates. OVO Energy’s The EV Plan does this explicitly. Others require reading the fine print.

Major Australian EV Power Plans: Who’s Offering What

AGL — Night Saver EV Plan

Best for: Simple overnight charging, no solar complications.

• Off-peak rate: As low as $5 to fully charge overnight (12am–6am)
• Grid import rate: 6 cents/kWh discount at bp pulse fast-charging locations
• Who it suits: Renters, apartment dwellers without solar, commuters with predictable home-charge times
• Website: AGL Electric Vehicles

Origin Energy — EV Power Up

Best for: Tech-savvy owners with smart chargers who want automated optimization.

• Smart charging rate: 8 cents/kWh for automated charging via the Origin app
• Requires: Compatible EV and existing Origin residential plan
• Also offers: All-inclusive salary-packaged EV subscriptions with major brands (Tesla, BYD, Polestar, Kia, BMW, Volvo)
• Website: Origin Energy Electric Vehicles

OVO Energy — The EV Plan

Best for: Solar owners and off-peak chargers who care about export revenue.

• Off-peak rate: 4.5 cents/kWh (midnight–6am) — the lowest verified overnight EV rate in Australia
• Solar bonus window: Free electricity 11am–2pm daily
• Solar feed-in: Guaranteed for all exported electricity (critical difference)
• Who it suits: Homes with solar; owners willing to shift some charging into the sunny afternoon window
• Website: OVO Energy The EV Plan

Red Energy — Red EV Saver

Best for: Weekend warriors and weekend solar offset.

• Weekend free charging: 12pm–2pm every Saturday and Sunday
• Available in: NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, ACT
• Who it suits: Owners who do shorter runs during the week, top up on weekends

Synergy (Western Australia) — EV Add On

Best for: WA residents; mid-day solar charging.

• Daytime rate: 8.4 cents/kWh (9am–3pm) — pure solar synergy window
• Off-peak rate: 18.9 cents/kWh (11pm–6am) — higher than east coast but still off-peak
• Who it suits: WA owners with solar generation that peaks 9am–3pm

Simply Energy — EV Off-Peak Rates

Best for: Budget-conscious, straightforward charging.

• Off-peak rate: 6–8 cents/kWh
• Best offer: Depends on your network and location; compare online
• Website: Simply Energy

The Game-Changer: Solar Sharer Program (July 2026)

Since 1 July 2026, the federal government’s Solar Sharer reform has been live in New South Wales, South East Queensland and South Australia. It is not yet a national scheme. Here’s why it matters:

Three hours of free electricity every day in the middle of the day. The window is 11am–2pm in NSW and South East Queensland, and 12pm–3pm in South Australia. Retailers in those regions must offer at least one residential plan that includes it, to any household with a smart meter, whether or not they have solar.

Two things to know before you bank on it: the free block is capped at 24 kWh per day, and it is opt-in — you have to actively switch to a qualifying plan, you will not be moved onto one automatically. Check the rest of the plan too, since some retailers offset the free window with higher supply charges.

This changes the math for EV owners overnight. If you can shift even part of your charging to that free window, you’re looking at:

• No cost for that portion of charging
• Flattened demand peaks (good for the grid)
• A reason to install a smart home charger that can schedule charging into the free window

Action: Check if your electricity retailer has activated their Solar Sharer plan for your smart meter.

What New EV Owners Should Prioritize

1. Check Your Postcode for Available Plans

Not all plans are available everywhere. Network coverage varies by state and distributor. Before choosing a retailer, use their postcode lookup to see which plans you actually qualify for. What works for a Sydney home doesn’t necessarily work in Adelaide.

2. Run the Numbers on Your Driving

• Do you commute 50 km daily or 10 km?
• Do you charge at home overnight or rely on fast charging on road trips?
• Do you have solar?

Overnight chargers benefit massively from off-peak plans. Road-trip warriors care less (they’re using public chargers). Solar owners unlock different savings entirely.

3. Pair Your Power Plan with the Right Charger

A cheap power plan is only half the equation. Your home charger needs to:

• Support smart scheduling (charge when you choose)
• Work with your EV’s native charging app (if supported)
• Handle the load of your electricity plan without upgrading your switchboard

Charge Wise’s RAEDIAN chargers (NORA portable and NEO wall-mounted) are solar-compatible and support scheduled charging. That means you can pair them with any of the plans above and actually use the smart features.

4. Talk to Your Installer

If you’re installing a charger, mention your power plan to the electrician. Some plans (especially TOU) work better with certain charger models and configurations. A few minutes of conversation upfront beats regret later.

5. Review Annually

Power plans change quarterly. What’s best now might not be best in six months. Set a reminder each January to check if your plan is still competitive. Loyalty discounts often disappear after 12 months—that’s when retailers expect you to leave.

The Real Savings Breakdown

Let’s put a number on it. Assume:

• You drive 300 km/week (12,500 km/year)
• Your EV’s efficiency is 5 km/kWh (realistic for most EVs)
• That’s 2,500 kWh charged per year

Scenario A: Standard tariff at 28 cents/kWh

• Annual charging cost: $700

Scenario B: Off-peak plan at 8 cents/kWh

• Annual charging cost: $200
• Annual saving: $500

Scenario C: Off-peak plan (8 cents) + solar (effective 3 cents)

• Home charging: ~1,500 kWh at 3 cents = $45
• Top-ups off-peak: ~1,000 kWh at 8 cents = $80
• Annual charging cost: ~$125
• Annual saving: $575

Over four years (typical EV loan), that’s $2,000–$2,300 in pure electricity costs you keep.

Next Steps: Choosing Your Plan

1. Compare online: Use Zecar’s EV plan comparison, Gridly, or Wattever — they let you filter by postcode and show exact rates.
2. Check your solar: If you have panels, talk to your installer about what your export rate currently is. If it’s under 12 cents, ask your retailer if you can switch to a plan that protects it.
3. Ask about smart chargers: If you’re installing a home charger, mention your electricity plan. A charger that can talk to your retailer’s app is worth the extra cost.
4. Review Solar Sharer: Confirm whether your retailer offers the mid-day Solar Sharer free electricity window.

Power Your EV with the Right Charger

Choosing the best power plan is the first step to affordable EV ownership. But the charger matters too.

Charge Wise’s RAEDIAN chargers are designed for Australian homes. The NEO wall charger and NORA portable charger are both solar-compatible and support the smart scheduling your power plan offers. Whether you’re charging on off-peak rates or diverting solar generation, the right charger makes all the difference.

Sources & Further Reading

• Best EV Electricity Plans in Australia (2026 Comparison Guide) — Zecar
• Best Electricity Plan for EV Owners 2026 — Gridly
• The Solar Owner’s Guide to EV Plans — Why Solar
• Compare Electricity & EV Plans — Wattever
• Charge With Amber — EV-Specific Plans