Smart EV Charging in Hamilton: How to Save with Ontario's Time-of-Use Electricity Rates

Switching to an EV already saves money on fuel. But most Hamilton homeowners leave additional savings on the table by charging at the wrong time of day. Ontario's Time-of-Use (TOU) electricity pricing creates a meaningful opportunity: off-peak charging can cost roughly half of on-peak charging, and capturing that difference requires nothing more than a timer or a smart charger.

Here's what TOU pricing actually means for your charging costs — and how to set it up.

How Ontario's Time-of-Use Pricing Works

Ontario's Time-of-Use rates are set by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) and adjusted twice yearly — typically May 1 and November 1. Your electricity distributor (Alectra Utilities serves most of Hamilton) applies these rates to your consumption, divided into three tiers based on when you use electricity:

Period	Approximate Rate	When It Applies
Off-Peak	~8.7¢/kWh	Weekdays 7 PM – 7 AM; all day weekends; Ontario holidays
Mid-Peak	~11.3¢/kWh	Weekdays 11 AM – 5 PM (winter); 7 AM – 11 AM and 5 PM – 7 PM (summer)
On-Peak	~17.0¢/kWh	Weekdays 7 AM – 11 AM and 5 PM – 7 PM (winter); 11 AM – 5 PM (summer)

Rates shown are approximate and are regulated by the OEB. Check alectra.com or your most recent electricity bill for current rates. Rates change each May and November.

The most important pattern: everything after 7 PM on a weekday is off-peak. Since most Canadians plug in their EV when they arrive home — typically between 5 PM and 7 PM, right in the on-peak window — there's a straightforward optimization available.

What TOU Rates Actually Mean for EV Charging

Let's put this in real numbers. A typical modern EV uses roughly 20–25 kWh per 100 km (more efficient models closer to 15 kWh/100 km). For a household driving around 15,000 km per year:

• Annual charging need: approximately 3,000–3,750 kWh
• At off-peak rates (~8.7¢): roughly $261–$326/year
• At on-peak rates (~17.0¢): roughly $510–$638/year

That's a difference of $200–$312/year just by shifting when you charge — not how much you charge.

These estimates don't include Ontario's electricity delivery charges, which add to your bill regardless of when you charge. But the TOU component of those savings is real and compounds over years of EV ownership.

The Simple Strategy: Delayed Start Charging

You don't need a sophisticated charger to capture TOU savings. Most Level 2 chargers — and even many portable EVSE units — offer a delayed start feature. The approach:

1. Plug in your EV when you arrive home (any time)
2. Set a charging start time of 11 PM or later (to be comfortably past 7 PM)
3. Set a departure time so the car is fully charged by the time you need it in the morning
4. The charger handles everything automatically

Setting a finish time rather than a start time is actually better practice — you tell the car "be charged by 7 AM" and it calculates when to start based on how much charging is needed. Most EVs support this natively through their infotainment system, independent of what charger you have.

How Smart Chargers Make This Easier (and More Valuable)

A smart Level 2 charger goes further than simple scheduling. The relevant features for TOU optimization:

App-Based Scheduling

Set charging windows from your phone. You can program the charger rather than relying on the car's own settings — useful if you drive multiple vehicles or if your car's scheduling interface is inconvenient.

Energy Monitoring

Track exactly how much electricity you're using for charging and when. After a few weeks, you'll have precise data on your actual kWh consumption and cost.

Demand Response / Automatic TOU Scheduling

Some smart chargers integrate directly with Ontario's grid programs. The Enbridge Home Energy Rebate Plus (HER+) program requires a smart charger capable of demand response participation as part of the rebate qualification. The charger can automatically shift to off-peak windows without manual input.

Load Management

If your home has a smaller electrical panel (common in older Hamilton homes), a smart charger with load management can automatically reduce charging speed when other high-draw appliances are running — avoiding nuisance trips and potentially avoiding a panel upgrade.

Weekend and Holiday Charging: Always Off-Peak

One underappreciated aspect of Ontario's TOU schedule: all day Saturday and Sunday is off-peak, as are Ontario statutory holidays. If you primarily drive during the week and can top up on weekends, you can effectively charge at off-peak rates most of the time with no scheduling required — just plug in and go.

This is especially relevant for homeowners who work from home on Fridays or do most of their driving on weekdays — the weekend buffer is real.

Ultra-Low Overnight Rates: Is ULP Available in Hamilton?

Ontario also offers an Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) pricing option for some eligible customers. ULO provides a very low rate (around 2.8¢/kWh) from 11 PM to 7 AM in exchange for higher rates during daytime and evening hours.

ULO can be significantly cheaper than standard TOU for heavy overnight users like EV owners. However, not all utility customers are eligible, and the higher daytime rates mean it can backfire for households with high daytime consumption (air conditioning, appliances running all day).

Contact Alectra Utilities directly to find out if ULO pricing is available for your account and whether it makes sense given your overall usage pattern.

Hamilton-Specific Notes

A few things worth knowing specifically for Hamilton homeowners:

• Alectra Utilities territory: Most of Hamilton is served by Alectra Utilities (formerly incorporating Hamilton Utilities). Your TOU rates and any special programs (ULO, Green Button data) are managed through Alectra's customer portal.
• Older homes and panel capacity: Hamilton has a high proportion of pre-1980 housing. A 100A panel with aging wiring may need attention before adding a 40–50A EV circuit. A smart charger with load management can sometimes delay the need for a panel upgrade.
• Natural gas vs electric heat: If you heat with gas, your electricity bill is likely lower in winter, making the per-kWh impact of charging smaller in winter months. The TOU savings percentage remains the same, but the absolute dollar amount is lower.
• Year-round charging: Ontario's TOU schedule shifts between summer and winter, but off-peak windows (after 7 PM and before 7 AM on weekdays) remain consistent year-round. The scheduling strategy works in every season.

Quick Tips: Maximizing TOU Savings

• Set your car's departure time rather than a start time — it charges exactly what it needs, no more.
• Aim for 11 PM starts to give comfortable buffer after the 7 PM off-peak transition.
• Keep your battery between 20–80% for daily use; only charge to 100% before longer trips.
• Weekends are always off-peak — take advantage for top-ups without any scheduling.
• Ask about ULO pricing if your household uses minimal electricity during the day.
• A smart charger tracks your usage — check the data every few months to catch any unusual draw.

The Bottom Line

Ontario's TOU electricity structure genuinely rewards EV owners who charge at night. The savings aren't dramatic per charge — maybe $0.80–$1.50 per session — but across 300+ charging events per year, they add up to a real $200–$350 annually that stays in your pocket rather than going to the grid at peak demand.

A properly installed Level 2 charger with scheduling capability is the foundation. We include charger selection guidance as part of every installation quote — making sure you get a unit that fits your home's electrical situation and supports the TOU optimization features that make sense for your driving pattern.