Timing beats hardware on CORE
A 48-amp Level 2 charger pulls about 11.5 kW. Running it in the 4–8 p.m. window at CORE’s 2026 rate of $5.47/kW adds roughly $63 to that month’s demand charge; a 32-amp setting at about 7.7 kW adds roughly $42. Set the charger or car to start after 8 p.m. and the demand charge doesn’t see it.
The chargers we install — the Tesla Wall Connector and the Enphase IQ EV Charger — both support schedules, so this is a one-time setup, not a daily chore.
What CORE offers for EV owners
CORE’s COREV Connect program pays a $15 annual bill credit for connecting a compatible EV to its charging-data platform. The earlier COREV Charge program is at capacity. We didn’t find a CORE rebate for the charger itself as of September 2026, and the federal §30C charger credit ended June 30, 2026.
Our typical Level 2 install runs about $2,500–$3,000, more if your panel needs an upgrade.
Utility type
Electric cooperative
Wholesale: Several long-term suppliers (its Xcel Energy supply contract ended after 2025)
How exports are credited
Exports banked 1:1 as kWh credits
System size limit
10 kW AC residential (25 kW commercial) and ≤200% of annual usage
Net metering, in plain English
Residential systems 10 kW AC or smaller whose expected production is no more than 200% of the past 12 months’ usage are net-metered: generation offsets CORE-supplied energy kWh-for-kWh, surplus rolls forward, and an annual true-up within 60 days of the end of the April billing cycle pays leftover credits at avoided cost. Systems larger than 10 kW are not net-metered; their exports are credited monthly at avoided cost.
Time-of-use: CORE’s standard residential rate (as of 1/1/2026) is a $20.00 monthly service charge, $0.1155/kWh, and an on-peak demand charge of $5.47/kW based on your highest 60-minute use between 4 and 8 p.m. An optional time-of-use rate (AT) charges $0.2705/kWh on-peak and $0.08558/kWh off-peak plus a $5.47/kW basic demand charge.
Sources & dated facts
- Colorado law (C.R.S. 40-9.5-118) requires every electric co-op to offer net metering to systems of at least 10 kW residential and 25 kW commercial, carry excess kWh forward month to month one-for-one, and credit any annual excess within 60 days.As of Sep 23, 2026
- CORE net metering is available to residential systems of 10 kW (AC) or less whose proposed annual production does not exceed 200% of the member’s 12-month usage.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
- CORE’s avoided-cost rate was $0.04473/kWh through April 2026 and is $0.04616/kWh as of May 2026; it is recalculated annually.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
- CORE performs the annual true-up within 60 days of the end of the April billing cycle, crediting excess generation at avoided cost.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
- Residential systems over 10 kW are not net-metered but receive a monthly credit at avoided cost for kWh delivered to CORE.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
- Interconnection applications are submitted through CORE’s PowerClerk portal; battery systems follow the same Level 1 (≤25 kW) procedures.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
- Nearly 9,000 CORE members had rooftop solar interconnected at the end of 2023, totaling more than 52 MW.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
FAQ
Questions we hear
When should I charge my EV on CORE?
Outside 4–8 p.m. CORE’s residential demand charge is based on your highest hour in that window, so charging overnight keeps the EV off it entirely.
Does CORE give a rebate for a home EV charger?
We didn’t find one on CORE’s site as of September 2026. CORE does offer a $15 annual credit through COREV Connect for sharing your EV’s charging data.
Is CORE’s time-of-use rate better for EV owners?
It can be if most of your use shifts off-peak: the 2026 AT rate charges $0.08558/kWh off-peak versus $0.2705 on-peak, with a $5.47/kW demand charge. We can compare it to the standard rate using your own usage.