If FPL is your utility and you own a house with a garage, you have two broad ways to get a Level 2 charger at home. You can enroll in FPL EVolution Home, where FPL supplies, installs and maintains a charger under a 10-year agreement. Or you can buy a charger yourself and have a licensed electrician install it. Neither is right for everyone, and the answer depends on your house, your driving and how long you plan to stay.
A note on where we stand: this post is not a sales pitch for either path. If you enroll in FPL's program, FPL arranges the installation and its own electricians do the work. If you buy your own charger, we are one of the contractors you could call. What follows is a framework built from FPL's published program pages and tariff, so you can make the call yourself. For the wider picture, see the Florida Home EV Charging Guide.
What EVolution Home is, from FPL's own pages
- Term. FPL describes it as "a 10-year agreement, not a month-to-month plan."
- Equipment. A Level 2 charger rated 40 A / 9.6 kW, hardwired and wall-mounted with a 25 ft cable, per the program page.
- Two installation options. Full installation, where FPL permits and installs the required 240-volt circuit, or equipment-only, where you must already have a permitted 240-volt circuit (FPL EV FAQ).
- Billing. A fixed monthly program charge plus per-kWh charges for the charger's usage, with a lower off-peak rate. The charger is sub-metered, according to the RS-2EV rate schedule in FPL's tariff.
- Scheduling. The charger comes set to charge off-peak by default, and you can override it in the FPL EVolution app.
- Ownership. FPL owns, operates and maintains the equipment during the term. At the end, ownership transfers to you at no cost.
- Control. The tariff says FPL "reserves the right to remotely control charging session schedules and/or curtail the energy delivered by the Equipment."
Who is not eligible
Check these before comparing anything else. Per the program page and FAQ, the program is limited to customers who own a single-family home or townhouse with an attached garage, with a strong Wi-Fi signal at the charger location and an account in good standing. It is not available to:
- Condo and apartment residents (see condo EV charger installation for that route).
- Homes without an attached garage, including carport and driveway-only parking.
- Customers enrolled in solar net metering.
- Customers on FPL's Time-of-Use rate.
- Homes without a smart meter, or accounts with a pending disconnect.
If any of those apply, the decision is made for you, and owning your charger is the path.
Side by side
| Question | FPL EVolution Home | Your own charger |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront outlay | No upfront equipment or install cost; paid through the monthly program charge | You pay for the charger and the installation at the start |
| Who owns the charger | FPL during the 10-year term, then you | You, from day one |
| Charger choice | FPL's 40 A hardwired unit | Any listed charger: higher output, a NACS or J1772 cable, a specific brand, power sharing |
| How charging is billed | Monthly program charge plus sub-metered per-kWh charges, lower off-peak | On your normal FPL bill at your standard rate, or on a time-of-use rate if you choose one |
| Maintenance | Eligible repairs, replacements and updates included | Your responsibility, within the manufacturer's terms |
| Moving | Transfer to the buyer, transfer to an eligible new home, or terminate early with fees | Leave it, or take it with you and cap the circuit |
| Solar or TOU later | Net metering and TOU customers are excluded | No restriction from the charger |
| Who installs | FPL's electricians | A licensed electrical contractor you choose |
A five-question framework
- Am I eligible? Attached garage, single-family home or townhouse you own, no net metering, not on TOU. If not, stop here.
- How much will I charge each month? The program's economics depend on your kWh. FPL's FAQ says it plainly: your actual savings depend on how much you drive and when you charge. Our post on estimating home EV charging energy shows how to work out your monthly kWh.
- How long will I stay? The term is 10 years. Early termination needs 30 days' written notice and carries fees that decrease monthly, and transfers carry administrative fees. If a move is likely, read the agreement's terms on those.
- Do I want a specific charger? If you want a 48 A unit, a Tesla Wall Connector, a particular cable type or power sharing between two cars, the program's single 40 A model may not fit. See our charger roundup and NACS versus J1772.
- Is solar on my horizon? Net metering customers cannot enroll, according to FPL, due to equipment compatibility requirements. If you plan to add solar during the next decade, factor that in.
Doing the 10-year math with your own numbers
We will not quote rates here, because they change and they are on your bill and FPL's pages. Instead, here is the comparison to run with real figures from FPL's current residential rates sheet and a written installation quote:
- Program path: the monthly program charge for your option (full or equipment-only) times 120 months, plus your expected monthly kWh times the program's off-peak and on-peak energy charges, split by how much you will charge in each window.
- Ownership path: the charger plus the installation quote, plus your expected monthly kWh times the per-kWh total on your own bill, for 120 months.
Then adjust for what the numbers leave out: maintenance cover and FPL's remote control rights on one side, charger choice, freedom to move or add solar, and ownership from day one on the other. Rates are set by the Florida Public Service Commission and change over a 10-year span, so treat the later years as an estimate.
Your panel matters either way
A 40 A charger needs at least a 50 A circuit, because EV charging is treated as a continuous load and the breaker must be at least 125% of the charger's output (NEC 625.41, Mike Holt summary). Whether FPL or an electrician you hire does the work, your panel still has to carry it. If you are not sure it can, read does my panel have room for an EV charger. For the equipment-only option, FPL sets the requirements for the existing circuit, so ask FPL for them before anyone wires for it.
Questions homeowners ask
Is FPL EVolution Home cheaper than buying my own charger?
It depends on your monthly kWh, when you charge, how long you stay and what installation your home needs. Run both paths over 10 years with current FPL rates and a written quote, as described above.
Can I enroll if I have solar?
Not if you are enrolled in solar net metering. FPL's FAQ lists net metering customers as ineligible due to equipment compatibility requirements.
What happens if I sell the house?
FPL lists three options: transfer the program to the buyer, transfer it to an eligible new home, or terminate early. Transfers and early termination carry fees, and FPL asks you to contact Customer Service at least 20 days before closing.
Can I use my own charger and still get a lower overnight rate?
You can look at FPL's whole-home time-of-use rider, which has different rules and affects your whole bill. Our post on FPL EV rates and off-peak charging explains the options.
I park in a carport. Does the program work for me?
Not as currently published. Eligibility requires an attached garage. A charger you own can be installed outdoors with equipment rated for the location.
If owning your charger is the better fit, KRW Electric (EC13012832) installs home chargers across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach and handles the permit and inspection. Send us a photo of your panel and we will tell you what your home needs. More on the service: home EV charger installation.
Reviewed by Kyle White, KRW Electric Company LLC — licensed electrical contractor EC13012832.
