Where the extra kWh came from
Every mile an EV drives comes out of your meter. Commuters who plug into a standard wall outlet often don’t notice how many kWh that adds until the first full-month bill. On Xcel’s time-of-use plan, charging right after work — the natural thing to do — lands squarely in the 5–9 pm weekday on-peak window, priced at roughly 2.7 times off-peak.
Scheduled charging, set in the car or the charger app to start after 9 pm, is free and often cuts EV charging cost substantially. Do that first, whatever else you decide.
Adding solar for the car
Because net-metering credits carry forward, a Colorado solar system doesn’t need to be producing at the moment the car charges; daytime surplus earns credits that offset overnight charging. The practical question is sizing. Utilities cap system size relative to expected usage, and a usage history from before the EV may understate your new load — tell us about the car so the design and the utility application reflect it.
If you already have solar sized for your old usage, the EV may push you past it. We design new systems; if your existing array was installed by another company, we don’t modify or take over that system, but a separate additional system is sometimes possible depending on your utility’s rules.
The charger itself
A Level 2 charger install typically runs about $2,500–$3,000 with us, depending on panel capacity and wire run. We install the Tesla Wall Connector and Enphase IQ EV Charger. The federal §30C charger credit ended for equipment placed in service after June 30, 2026, so don’t count on it. Xcel has offered home-wiring rebates tied to enrolling in a managed-charging program; check current terms before you buy.
If backup power matters to you, a bidirectional setup can use the car’s battery to run the house in an outage. That’s a different, larger project — from about $19k — covered on our EV-as-home-battery page.
What to do next
- 1Set your EV to start charging after 9 pm on weekdays, then compare one billing cycle.
- 2Estimate your monthly EV kWh with the EV fuel-cost calculator.
- 3If you’re still on a 120-volt outlet, get a Level 2 quote, and check whether your panel has room for a 240-volt circuit.
- 4If you’re considering solar, tell us about the EV (and any second one coming) so the system and utility application are sized for it.
- 5Decide whether you want backup power too — that changes the charger choice.
FAQ
Questions we hear
When is the cheapest time to charge an EV on Xcel in Colorado?
Outside the 5–9 pm weekday on-peak window. Overnight charging on weekdays, or any time on weekends and holidays, is off-peak under the time-of-use plan effective since November 2025.
How many solar panels do I need to cover my EV?
It depends on your annual miles and the car’s efficiency. The EV fuel-cost calculator estimates your kWh; divide that by a local production estimate for your roof and you have the added system size. We’ll do that math with your actual roof during a quote.
Is there still a federal tax credit for a home EV charger?
No. The §30C credit ended for chargers placed in service after June 30, 2026. Utility and local rebates may still exist; verify current programs before relying on them.
Do I need a new electrical panel for a Level 2 charger?
Not always. Many homes have room for a 240-volt circuit. Older 100-amp panels sometimes need load management or an upgrade. We check this on site before quoting a firm price.
Can I add panels to the solar I already have for my new EV?
If our company installed it, yes, subject to utility rules. If another company did, we don’t modify their system; a separate new system may be possible, and some utilities — Longmont, for example — treat expansions after 2025 differently for export credits.