As more vehicle manufacturers make the transition toward electric vehicles, San Patricio Electric Cooperative wants to ensure its system is prepared to support EV charging. This is particularly important during peak hours in the summer months, when the price to purchase power is the highest.
Increasing the load on our system during the peak could drive up costs for all San Patricio EC members. In an effort to control costs for our members, we’ve created an experimental rate to help incentivize charging electric vehicles during off-peak times.
Those under this pilot rate will purchase electricity at a lower rate of 5.2 cents per kWh during off-peak hours. However, these members will purchase power at a higher rate of approximately 28 cents per kWh during peak hours, defined as 3 to 8 p.m. in June, July, August and September.
Under San Patricio EC’s standard residential rate, power charges are set at about 7.2 cents per kWh. By using electricity strategically during the off-peak hours, members on this rate could realize savings on their electric bills.
Let’s break it down with an example. Let’s say a SPEC member uses 2,000 kWh of electricity during the month of June. He’s careful to charge his EV at night when power costs are lower and ERCOT demand has dropped off. Of his electricity use for the month, 1,900 kWh is used during the off-peak hours and just 100 kWh are used during the peak for air conditioning and other uses that cannot be avoided.
Off Peak: 1900 x $0.052144 = $99.07
On Peak: 100 x $0.281713= $28.17
The member’s total cost for the power supply portion of his bill under the pilot EV rate would be $127.24. Under the standard residential rate, he would pay $144.29. That’s a savings of $17.05 for the month. The savings could be even greater from October to May when there are no peak charges.
It’s important to note that this pilot rate applies only to the South Texas Electric Cooperative power supplier charges on your bill. It does not change San Patricio EC’s distribution charges, which recover the co-op’s cost to provide electric service, including installing, replacing, and maintaining the poles, wire, and transformers necessary to provide safe and reliable electrical service to our members. The power supplier charges cover the cost of electricity.
This pilot rate is available for up to 50 members with electric vehicles that are charged at a residence served by the cooperative.
If you have an electric vehicle and are interested in participating in this rate, please give us a call at 361-364-2220.