Charge@Home Program
A quick and convenient way to charge!
Do you own a plug-in hybrid or an electric vehicle (EV)? MGE's home charging program makes it quick and easy to upgrade to a Level 2 (L2) charger. L2 chargers can charge up to six times faster than a standard 120-volt electrical outlet and offer more flexibility to charge when you want.
No up-front costs*
This program provides an L2 charger without having to pay up-front costs. You'll pay a monthly fee of about $20 (66 cents per day) plus the cost of electricity.
Enroll now!
Benefits
- Charge your battery faster than with a standard outlet. L2 chargers can provide 10 to 25 miles of range per hour.
- Schedule charging remotely through your smartphone and pay less to charge when signed up for MGE's Time-of-Use rates or Charge Ahead program.
- No up-front costs. Pay about $20 a month (66 cents a day) on your MGE bill.
- MGE coordinates installation of the charging station.
- No worries. MGE stands behind the licensed electrician's work and the charging station for the 10-year term.
Advancing new technologies
As part of our commitment to advancing new technologies as we target net-zero carbon electricity by 2050, MGE offers Charge@Home to help make EV ownership easier for our customers. This program helps us learn how to best manage the impact of EV charging on our distribution system.
Frequently Asked Questions
To apply for Charge@Home, eligible customers must have an EV in their possession or on order. To help determine if your home is EV ready, we recommend considering your daily, monthly and annual driving habits to determine if you need Level 1 (L1) or Level 2 (L2) charging.
- If you drive less than 50 miles a day, an L1 charger will likely meet your needs. Occasional longer trips might be best handled by a stop at a public fast charger rather than investing in home upgrades. L1 chargers likely require little to no home upgrades.
- If you drive more than 50 miles a day, an L2 charger may be required. To get started, you should explore the full range of L2 charging options for your home with a licensed electrician. Visit energy.gov for important details to consider about L2 charging options.
Participants will be charged $0.66 per day plus applicable sales tax for the 10-year term of the contract. The daily charge will be included on the customer's utility bill following the installation date. There are no up-front costs for typical installations.*
The energy used to charge your vehicle through the charging station will be added to your home electric bill. Your electric rate determines the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to charge your vehicle. For customers on the standard Rg-1 rate, the costs are the same regardless of the time of charging.
Customers on a Time-of-Use rate participating in Charge@Home also can schedule charging through the smartphone app during off-peak periods to align with reduced electric rates.
Actual electric bill costs will vary based on how much you drive and the efficiency of your EV. Someone who drives 12,000 miles a year can expect to pay $40 to $120 a month when charging at home, depending on the vehicle. Check out MGE’s Explore My EV tool for personalized estimates.
Participants agree to share information and data about the charging station and their charging activities with MGE. MGE will use hardware and software included with the charging station to periodically communicate with and control the charging station. These activities are intended to test web-based communications with, and management of, charging sessions.
An MGE-contracted electrician will install an L2 charger at your home. A typical installation includes extending a dedicated 240-volt circuit from the electrical panel to the charging station, which requires drilling holes and running electrical wire and conduit. It also includes mounting the charging station to an interior garage wall or exterior wall.
If installation requires work that is not typical or exceeds program cost allowances, the customer will be responsible to pay for the extra work required to continue participation in the Charge@Home program. The electrician will provide a written estimate of the cost of the additional work and/or any cost that exceeds program cost allowance prior to participating in Charge@Home.
Participants can choose a J1772 or NACS connector type. Customers interested in a NACS connector must let the electrician know at the time of the in-home review; otherwise, a J1772 connector type will be provided.
To participate, you must:
- Be an MGE residential electric customer.
- Live in a single-family home.
- Sign a 10-year service agreement and pay about $20 per month plus the cost of the electricity.
- Own the property or get permission to install the equipment.
- Have a suitable location to add a charging station.
- Have an electric panel with sufficient capacity to add a dedicated 20- to 60-amp circuit.
- Have Wi-Fi internet service to the charging station.
- Work with MGE to test and evaluate remotely managed charging sessions and allow MGE to test scheduled charging and reducing/ramping charging.
Step 1: Complete the enrollment form.
Step 2: An approved electrical contractor will reach out to schedule an in-home review.
Step 3: Confirm interest based on the in-home review results and sign the agreement.
Step 4: Schedule installation.
Step 5: Charge your EV!
It typically takes four to eight weeks from the time the enrollment form is received until the charger is installed.
Once enrolled, participants may terminate the agreement by providing 30 days' written notice and purchasing the charger for the buyout amount in the table below. A bill of sale will be generated at the time of buyout and signed by both the participant and MGE.
Buyout Payment by Months Enrolled | |
|---|---|
| Months Enrolled Prior to Exit | Buyout Amount |
| 1-12 | $1,440 |
| 13-24 | $1,340 |
| 25-36 | $1,230 |
| 37-48 | $1,110 |
| 49-60 | $980 |
| 61-72 | $840 |
| 73-84 | $690 |
| 85-96 | $530 |
| 97-108 | $360 |
| 109-120 | $180 |
Yes! The L2 station provided through Charge@Home is on the Charge Ahead eligible equipment list. Learn more about Charge Ahead.
Please see the Charge@Home program service agreement.
In the event that a charging station stops working, customers should call ChargePoint driver support (1-888-758-4389) to complete virtual troubleshooting. If ChargePoint determines the station needs to be repaired or replaced, MGE will work with the customer, ChargePoint and the electrician to complete the necessary work.
MGE shall provide, at its cost, all necessary maintenance for the charging station. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the customer will be liable to MGE for any damage to the charging station caused or allowed by the customer including, without limitation, damage caused by the customer's misuse, abuse, removal, transfer or tampering with the charging station or damage caused by vandalism.
*$0 up-front cost applies to typical installations within the program cost allowances. See "What is Included with a Typical Installation" in the FAQ above for more details.
