Most of the energy an EV uses at home goes in overnight, which makes the timing of that energy worth understanding. FPL has three kinds of residential arrangements that affect what charging costs you: the standard residential rate, a whole-home time-of-use rider, and EV-specific rate schedules tied to its EVolution Home program. This post explains each one from FPL's own tariff, gives the on-peak hours, and shows how to schedule charging so it lands where you want it.
We are not quoting rates. They change, and the current ones are on your bill and in FPL's residential rates sheet. What does not change as often is the structure, and that is what decides whether a plan fits your household. For the wider picture, see the Florida Home EV Charging Guide.
The plans FPL lists
| Rate schedule | What it is | How EV charging is billed |
|---|---|---|
| RS-1 (standard residential) | The default residential rate | Your charger's energy is part of your normal household usage, at the same rate any hour of the day |
| RS-1 with RTR-1 (Residential Time-of-Use rider) | Optional whole-home rider with on-peak and off-peak periods | All household usage, including charging, is billed by time of day |
| RS-2EV | The rate schedule behind the current EVolution Home program | FPL-owned charger, sub-metered; monthly program charge plus on-peak and off-peak per-kWh charges |
| RS-1EV | The original EVolution Home rate, now a closed schedule | Continues for existing agreements; no new sign-ups under it |
Those descriptions come from the rate schedule sheets in FPL's electric tariff, section 8. Two practical notes:
- On FPL's standard rate, the per-kWh energy and fuel charges are listed at one level for the first 1,000 kWh in a month and a higher level above 1,000 kWh, per the September 2026 rates sheet. A household that already uses close to 1,000 kWh in summer may find its charging energy lands in the higher tier.
- FPL says TOU customers cannot also participate in FPL On Call, Budget Billing or EVolution (FPL time-of-use page). You pick one path.
FPL's on-peak hours
The RTR-1, RS-1EV and RS-2EV rate schedules in the tariff all use the same rating periods, in Eastern Time:
| Season | On-peak (weekdays only) | Off-peak |
|---|---|---|
| Winter: November 1 to March 31 | Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. | All other hours, including weekends. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day are excluded from on-peak. |
| Summer: April 1 to October 31 | Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 9 p.m. | All other hours, including weekends. Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day are excluded from on-peak. |
Put another way: on a summer weekday, off-peak runs from 9 p.m. to noon the next day. On a winter weekday there are two off-peak windows, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weekends are off-peak all day in both seasons. Always check the current tariff before you set a schedule, because rating periods can be revised.
Is the winter overnight window long enough?
For most drivers on Level 2, yes. The winter overnight window is eight hours. The Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center puts Level 2 charging typically at 7.2 kW and Level 1 at about 1.9 kW. Rough energy delivered in eight hours:
| Charger | Approximate power | Energy in an 8-hour window | What that means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (120 V outlet) | About 1.9 kW | About 15 kWh | Enough for a modest daily commute, tight for long drives |
| Level 2, typical | About 7.2 kW | About 58 kWh | More than most drivers use in a day |
| Level 2, 40 A charger | About 9.6 kW | About 77 kWh | Plenty of margin |
Those are energy-from-the-wall figures before charging losses, so the battery receives somewhat less. Our post on estimating home EV charging energy shows the full calculation, and Level 1 versus Level 2 covers when a 120-volt outlet is enough.
How to schedule charging
You do not need to plug in at 10 p.m. Almost every EV and every smart charger lets you set a schedule once:
- In the car. Most EVs have a scheduled charging or departure time setting in the charging menu or the automaker's app. The car waits until the start time even if you plug in at 6 p.m.
- In the charger app. Wi-Fi chargers usually have a schedule in their own app. Use one scheduler, not both: if the car and the charger have different windows, charging may not start at all.
- Pick start times with a buffer. A few minutes after the window opens avoids clock drift between the car and the meter.
- Set a departure time rather than a start time if your car supports it. It finishes charging just before you leave, which also means the battery is not sitting full in a hot garage all night.
- Remember the season change. On April 1 and November 1 the on-peak windows change. Set a reminder to update the schedule.
On EVolution Home, the FPL charger arrives set to charge off-peak and you can override it in the FPL EVolution app. For how the program compares with owning your charger, see FPL EVolution Home versus your own charger.
Is the whole-home TOU rider right for you?
RTR-1 applies time-of-day pricing to everything in the house, not just the car. In summer, on-peak runs noon to 9 p.m. on weekdays, which is exactly when South Florida air conditioners work hardest. FPL's own time-of-use page says that to benefit you must shift electricity use away from peak hours, and its example of a customer likely to save is someone who is away during weekday peaks and charges an EV only off-peak. The same page notes TOU requires an annual commitment, a new meter and about three months to enroll, and offers a rate analysis if you fill in its form. The tariff sets a term of not less than one year.
If you work from home and cool the house through the afternoon, run that analysis before switching. If the house is empty most weekday afternoons, the rider may suit you.
Not on FPL?
Parts of South Florida are served by city utilities with their own rates, including Homestead's HPS Energy and Lake Worth Beach Electric Utilities. Check with them for any time-based or EV rate before setting a schedule.
Questions homeowners ask
What are FPL's off-peak hours for EV charging?
Under the RS-2EV, RS-1EV and RTR-1 schedules in FPL's tariff, on-peak is weekdays 6 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. from November through March, and weekdays noon to 9 p.m. from April through October. Everything else, including weekends, is off-peak.
Does charging at night save money on FPL's standard rate?
Not by itself. On the standard RS-1 rate the price per kWh does not change by time of day, although usage above 1,000 kWh in a month is billed at a higher level.
Can I be on the TOU rider and FPL EVolution Home at the same time?
No. FPL's time-of-use page says TOU customers cannot participate in EVolution, and the EVolution Home page lists TOU customers as ineligible.
My car and charger both have schedules. Which should I use?
One of them. Pick whichever is easier to change, set the other to charge immediately when allowed, and test it with a plug-in that evening.
Does my charger need to be on Wi-Fi to schedule?
Not always. Most cars can schedule on their own. A charger's own scheduling and usage reports usually need Wi-Fi, and FPL's program charger requires a strong signal.
KRW Electric (EC13012832) installs home chargers across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach and handles the permit and inspection. Ask us about a charger and circuit sized for your car, or read more about home EV charger installation.
Reviewed by Kyle White, KRW Electric Company LLC — licensed electrical contractor EC13012832.
