Many PG&E customers are looking for ways to save money on their energy bills, especially with the rise of electric vehicles and business charging needs. You might be wondering if PG&E’s Smart Rate for businesses is the same as the CARE program. Let’s clarify the differences.
PG&E’s Business EV Smart Rate is specifically designed for businesses that operate electric vehicle charging stations. It features a monthly subscription charge based on your anticipated maximum monthly EV charging consumption. This allows businesses to manage costs by choosing a subscription level that fits their needs.
A key component of the Business EV Smart Rate is the Time-of-Use (TOU) rate. This means the price of electricity varies depending on the time of day. Charging during off-peak and super off-peak hours is significantly cheaper, encouraging businesses to shift their EV charging to times when renewable energy is more available and demand is lower. Conversely, charging during peak hours will be more expensive.
The CARE program, on the other hand, is a California state-wide program designed to help low-income households manage their electricity costs. It provides a discount on monthly energy bills for eligible residential customers. Eligibility for CARE is based on household income and size. CARE is not specific to EV charging and applies to the overall residential electricity consumption.
In short, the PG&E Smart Rate for Business EVs and the CARE program are not the same. The Smart Rate is a business-focused rate structure designed to optimize EV charging costs through subscription levels and time-of-use pricing. The CARE program is a residential assistance program for low-income households to reduce their overall energy bills. They serve different customer groups and have different objectives. If you are a residential customer looking for bill assistance, you should investigate the CARE program. If you are a business managing EV charging, the Smart Rate might be a relevant option for you.
