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The Electricity Cost of Running Commercial EV Chargers in Texas

May 4, 2026Get Electricity StaffElectricity Guide

The Electricity Cost of Running Commercial EV Chargers in Texas

For commercial property owners in Texas, installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations presents a compelling business opportunity. With public charging rates to drivers typically ranging between 35¢ and 55¢ per kWh, and average commercial electricity rates in Texas running at 8.6¢ to 9.2¢ per kWh (according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration), the spread on paper looks highly profitable.

However, many businesses are shocked when their first post-installation utility bill arrives.

The primary cost of running commercial EV chargers is rarely the per-kWh energy rate itself. Instead, it is the dramatic increase in TDU demand charges triggered by the peak electrical load of simultaneous charging sessions.

In this guide, we will break down the electrical footprint of Level 2 and Level 3 chargers, detail the impact of demand charges on your ROI, outline the 30C federal tax credit requirements, and explain how to structure your utility plan with GetElectricity.

1. Charger Types and Their Peak Demand Footprint

The rate at which EV chargers draw electricity varies significantly by charger type, which directly dictates their impact on your building’s electrical demand:

  • Level 2 Chargers (208/240V, 7 kW to 19 kW per port): These units deliver a steady, moderate load over 4 to 8 hours. Four Level 2 ports charging simultaneously pull approximately 28 kW to 76 kW of peak power. They are ideal for locations with long dwell times, such as office parks, hotels, and multi-family residential complexes.
  • Level 3 DC Fast Chargers (480V, 50 kW to 350 kW per port): These units deliver rapid charges in 20 to 45 minutes. A single 150 kW DC fast charger draws 150 kW of peak demand—frequently doubling or tripling the entire electrical load of a mid-size commercial building. They are suited for highway corridors and convenience retail with rapid turnover.

2. The Demand Charge Trap

In Texas, transmission and distribution utilities (TDUs)—such as Oncor or CenterPoint—calculate commercial delivery fees based on your peak electrical draw (measured in kW) during any single 15-minute interval of the billing cycle.

If a building peaks at 55 kW without chargers, and four drivers plug into Level 2 chargers simultaneously at 3 PM on a hot summer day, the peak demand will spike.

Visualizing the Impact: Peak Demand & EV Charger Costs

Here is a side-by-side comparison of a typical commercial property's monthly electricity costs before and after installing Level 2 and Level 3 EV chargers. Notice how the TDU demand charges dramatically swell your utility bill:

3. Strategies to Mitigate Peak Charger Costs

To protect your property's electrical overhead, implement the following operational strategies:

  • Dedicated Utility Meters: Request your TDU to install a separate commercial meter solely for the EV chargers. This isolates charger demand spikes from your primary building's HVAC and lighting load, preventing double-dipping on peak demand thresholds.
  • Load Management Software: Utilize smart chargers equipped with local load limiters. These systems throttle the charger output if the building's total electrical draw approaches a predetermined threshold, keeping your peak demand below expensive pricing tiers.
  • Time-of-Use Scheduling: Restrict charger activation or offer discounted rates to drivers during off-peak hours (e.g., overnight) when the building's base load is minimal.

4. The Federal 30C Tax Credit

The federal 30C Alternative Refueling Property Credit offers tax credits covering up to 30% of qualified installation costs (up to $100,000 per port).

[!IMPORTANT] Prevailing Wage Compliance: To qualify for the full 30% credit on commercial properties, developers must meet strict federal prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements during construction. Failing to meet these rules drops the tax credit value to just 6%.

Optimize Your EV Charging Plan with GetElectricity

Before signing a hardware contract, you must analyze your site's electrical capacity and utility plan. GetElectricity helps you manage this setup:

  • Load Profile Modeling: We analyze your historical Smart Meter Texas interval data to simulate the demand charge impact of adding Level 2 or Level 3 chargers.
  • TDU Tariff Selection: We help you evaluate whether a dedicated commercial meter or a time-of-use (TOU) plan is the most cost-effective path for your charging stations.
  • Commercial REP Negotiations: We negotiate customized commercial contracts with retail providers to secure plans with low demand penalties and flexible peak charge structures.

Ensure your EV charging project remains profitable. Analyze your commercial rate options on GetElectricity today.