Electric Vehicles
ChargeSmart Program
Electric vehicle owners can take advantage of the Ameren Illinois ChargeSmart program to save money. By shifting your household electric usage — including electric vehicle charging — to off-peak hours (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.), you may be able to save on your energy costs.Get Started
1. Enroll in ChargeSmart
2. Plug in overnight
3. Save on your EV fueling costs and energy delivery fees
The facts about our ChargeSmart Program
While standard delivery service rates always apply, there are different price periods or times of the day that influence your monthly bill while on this charging program:
- Preferred Charging Period (PCP): 11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. A credit for your electric delivery service is given for every kWh of usage during this period.
- Non-Preferred Charging Period (NPCP): 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. During the highest one hour of total household usage from the billing period that occurs within this timeframe, there will be an additional charge for each kWh used.
- Standard Charging Period: 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. There are no additional credits or charges for electric usage during this time period.
- First-year Bill Credit: We understand that it takes time to adjust. To offset potentially higher charges for usage during the NPCP, we offer a monthly bill credit for your first 12 consecutive months enrolled in the ChargeSmart program. This will give you time to see how household usage impacts your bill and to make adjustments for maximum savings
Take Charge of your EV Lifestyle
Owning an EV means your energy usage can ebb and flow with your driving habits and other lifestyle factors. When at home, it is important to know when to charge. This at-home charging program encourages you to charge during the preferred charging times from 11 p.m. – 7 a.m.
Overnight is the best time to charge. Ameren Illinois offers a better way to fuel your EV when demand for electricity is lowest. Charge overnight from 11 p.m. - 7 a.m. during the preferred charging period (PCP). When you plug in during the PCP, you will receive a credit on your electric delivery service for every kWh used.
To assist as you make the shift to charging overnight, Ameren Illinois provides a monthly bill credit to you as an electric delivery service customer enrolled in ChargeSmart. This credit will be automatically added to your bill for the first 12 consecutive months to help you adjust to charging during the preferred charging period.
There are ways to manage your usage when you need to charge outside of the Preferred Charging Period. Here are a couple suggestions:
- Avoid charging during the non-preferred charging period. If you need to charge outside of the preferred charging period, plug in during the morning or evening hours to prevent a higher peak usage charge.
- Shift how you use electricity during the mid-day hours. If you must charge during the non-preferred charging period, you can avoid a higher peak hourly delivery charge by adjusting your energy usage over time. For example, if you need to charge your EV and do the laundry, then set your EV charger to start when the laundry is done.
- Year, make, model, and VIN of EV
- Information on charging equipment (Charger manufacturer, model, voltage, and amp rating)
- Certified installer information if applicable, including company information and ICC Docket number
Preferred Charging Period (PCP): A credit for your electric delivery service is given for every kWh of usage during this period.
Non-Preferred Charging Period (NPCP): During the highest one hour of household usage from the billing period that occurs within this timeframe, there will be an additional charge for each kWh used.
EXAMPLE: EV Peak NPCP Usage Calculation
Assuming Peak hourly usage: 6 kWh
Assuming NPCP charge/kWh = $0.65
$.65/kwh x 6 kWh = $3.90 Total Peak Hourly Delivery charge on bill
EXAMPLE: EV PCP Credit Calculation (summer)
Assuming total PCP usage for the billing period: 230kWh
230 kWh x $0.02 summer EV credit = $4.60 total Credit on bill
EV peak NPCP usage charge and PCP credit comparison:
-$ 3.90 Peak Delivery Charge
+$ 4.60 PCP Credit
+$ 0.70 credit
In this example, the difference between the charge and the credit for this scenario would be $.70, meaning there is a small difference in billing before adding the extra usage for charging. Remember: Charging your vehicle overnight can help keep electricity costs used for fueling an EV low.
You can learn more about your energy usage by logging in to your Ameren Illinois online account.
