IPSWICH, Mass. — As summer heat drives up electricity demand, commercial EV charging sites face a hidden financial risk: demand charges that can spike 40% to 65% above winter rates. EVready Energy, the company behind the Energy Guardian platform, reports that active load management can mitigate these costs without requiring equipment changes.
Demand charges are calculated based on a site's single highest 15-minute power consumption interval. For a site running EV chargers, one unmanaged peak in July can set a surcharge that appears on every monthly bill through the fall. Energy Guardian, a network-agnostic platform, manages energy costs regardless of charger brand and requires no equipment replacement.
At Berger Chevrolet in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Energy Guardian managed ChargePoint and Blink charger loads against the building's base consumption over a single billing period. Without intervention, the site would have recorded a peak of 149.8 kW. Guardian held the actual peak to 116.9 kW—a reduction that saved an estimated $680.94 during that period and cut the dealership's single largest demand event by approximately 75%. The system intervened in only 7.1% of the period's 15-minute intervals, and no charging sessions were turned away.
"The Guardian software enables us to take advantage of opportunities to reduce costs, and the EVready Energy team is there providing friendly, expert guidance every step of the way," said Mike Ohlman of Berger Chevrolet.
EVready Energy CEO and Co-Founder Chris Nihan emphasized the seasonal nature of demand charges. "A DC fast charger can draw 150 kilowatts the moment a session starts. If that lands during your building's afternoon peak in July, you've just set a charge that follows you for a month—at the highest rate of the year. Guardian's job is to make sure that spike never registers."
For commercial operators heading into the summer rate season, EVready Energy recommends reviewing utility tariffs before the first heat-driven peak establishes the financial baseline for the quarter. To learn how demand charges work and how to manage them, visit EVready Energy.
EVready Energy provides EV charging strategy, certified installation, and ongoing energy management for dealerships, fleets, multifamily properties, parking operators, and public sector clients nationwide.
