BC Hydro Rates in 2025-2026: Tiered vs Flat + Optional Time-of-Day - What’s Best if You Own an EV?
- akaielectricltd
- Dec 13, 2025
- 4 min read
This 2025-2026 guide explains your residential rate choices with BC Hydro and how to pick the best one if you charge an EV at home. It covers the new optional flat rate, how the tiered plan works, and how the optional time-of-day pricing applies overnight discounts and early evening surcharges.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know!
Quick answer:
You can choose between tiered or flat pricing, and you can add optional time-of-day pricing to either plan.
The flat rate energy charge is 12.63 cents per kWh in 2025.
Optional time-of-day pricing applies a 5 cent per kWh discount to electricity used overnight from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and a 5 cent per kWh surcharge to electricity used from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
EV owners who can shift most charging to after 11 p.m. usually benefit from time-of-day pricing. If you often plug in right after work and keep charging through the 4 to 9 p.m. window, the surcharge can offset the savings.
If your household frequently hits the high-usage portion of the tiered plan, the flat rate can simplify bills and may lower costs, especially when paired with time-of-day overnight charging.
👉 Need help setting up smart overnight charging or a dedicated EV circuit
At-a-glance: which rate works best for common EV charging patterns
Scenario | Your charging habit | Recommended rate setup | Why it tends to win |
Apartment or townhouse with predictable overnight charging | Plug in after 11 p.m. and finish before 7 a.m. most nights | Tiered or Flat + add Time-of-Day | You collect the 5 cent overnight discount on most EV kWh while avoiding the 4 to 9 p.m. surcharge |
Detached home with higher total usage (EV + heat pump) | You regularly push into higher-usage months | Flat + Time-of-Day | Flat (12.63 cents) smooths high months and ToD adds savings for overnight charging |
Family with variable routines | Sometimes charge right after work | Flat without ToD, or Tiered without ToD | If you often charge during 4 to 9 p.m., the surcharge can erase overnight gains |
Two EV household | Large kWh with flexibility to delay | Flat + Time-of-Day and scheduled charging | Overnight scheduling maximizes discount across both vehicles |
Workplace charging available | Home charging mostly top-ups | Tiered without ToD | Your home kWh for EV is low, so complexity may not pay off |
Who qualifies in 2025
All residential customers can choose tiered or flat pricing, and can opt in or out of optional time-of-day pricing.
Time-of-day pricing is voluntary. You can combine it with either the tiered plan or the flat rate and you may switch plans later.
Dates, deadlines, and coordination tips
The optional flat rate and time-of-day pricing are available in 2025.
The time-of-day windows are fixed. Overnight is 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. with a 5 cent discount. On-peak is 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a 5 cent surcharge.
Use your vehicle or charger app to schedule charging after 11 p.m. and to finish by 7 a.m. on weekdays.
If you pair this with our EV load-management setup at home, you can avoid nuisance breaker trips and keep overnight charging reliable.
Stacking and special cases
Smart-charger features can automatically delay charging until off-peak. If your EV app is limited, many Level 2 chargers offer reliable scheduling.
If your panel is tight, an EV power management device or whole-home EV energy management system can allow a 40 A charger without an immediate panel upgrade.
Time-of-day pricing affects all household usage, not just EV charging. Pre-heat or pre-cool before 4 p.m., run dishwashers after 11 p.m., and avoid laundry during 4 to 9 p.m. for best results.
How to proceed in 3 steps
For EV owners at home
Check your last 3 to 6 months of usage. If you already shift a lot of use to late evening and overnight, consider adding time-of-day pricing.
Decide between tiered and flat. If you routinely have high-usage months, test the flat rate with time-of-day.
Schedule your EV to start after 11 p.m., and set an end time by 7 a.m. to hit the overnight window.
For new installations
Install a dedicated Level 2 circuit and configure smart scheduling.
If panel capacity is tight, consider EV power management to keep cost down while you test time-of-day savings.
Review your first two bills after opting in. If your usage pattern changes, you can adjust your plan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine the flat rate with time-of-day pricing
Yes. Time-of-day is optional and can be added to either the tiered plan or the flat rate.
Is the flat rate always cheaper if I have an EV
Not always. If you can keep most charging overnight and avoid 4 to 9 p.m., time-of-day on the tiered plan may still be competitive. The winner depends on how much total kWh you use and when.
What if I forget and plug in at 6 p.m.
Occasional on-peak charging will not ruin the plan, but frequent charging during 4 to 9 p.m. can reduce or eliminate savings from the overnight discount.
Do these rates change my charger rebate eligibility
No. Rate choices do not affect CleanBC or utility rebates. Rebate eligibility is determined by equipment and program rules.
Make it easy with Akai Electric
We install and configure Level 2 chargers with reliable scheduling so you can capture overnight savings. If your panel is near capacity, we can design a safe load-management solution that works with your rate plan.
Get a same-week quote
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