So you’ve just had a home EV charger installed — congratulations, you’re now able to wake up every morning to a full “tank” without ever visiting a servo again. But there’s a second decision that often gets overlooked once the installation is ticked off the list: how you’re actually paying for the electricity that charges your car. For WA households, that’s where the Synergy EV Add-On Plan comes in.
At EVCI, we install EV chargers across Perth every week, and one of the most common questions we get straight after handover is “now what do I do about my power bill?” This post breaks down what the Synergy EV Add-On Plan is, how it works, and the pros and cons to weigh up before you switch.
What Is the Synergy EV Add-On Plan?
The Synergy EV Add-On Plan is a time-of-use electricity plan built specifically for residential customers who own a plug-in electric vehicle. Rather than paying a flat rate for every unit of electricity you use, the Synergy EV Add-On Plan splits your day into different pricing windows — so if you shift your EV charging to the cheaper windows, you can bring your running costs down significantly.
According to Synergy, the plan uses a time-of-use meter that records not just how much electricity you use, but when you use it, across four rate bands:
- Peak (3pm–9pm): the highest rate, when demand on the grid is greatest
- Off Peak (6am–9am and 9pm–11pm): a middle-ground rate
- Overnight (11pm–6am): a discounted rate, ideal for scheduled overnight charging
- Super Off Peak (9am–3pm): the cheapest rate on the plan, aimed at daytime charging (handy if you work from home or have solar)
Because rates and supply charges are reviewed periodically, check Synergy’s Electric Vehicle Add-On plan page directly for the current cents-per-unit figures before you commit.
The Pros
The obvious drawcard of the Synergy EV Add-On Plan is cost. If you can get into the habit of charging overnight or in that super off-peak midday window, the difference between peak and off-peak rates is substantial — for a lot of EV owners, this alone justifies the switch. It also pairs well with solar, since the super off-peak window overlaps with daylight hours, letting you top up the car while your panels are doing the heavy lifting. On top of that, the plan is compatible with Synergy’s green energy options if reducing your household’s carbon footprint matters to you, and you’re free to switch back to another Synergy plan later if your circumstances change.
The Cons
It’s not the right fit for everyone. The Synergy EV Add-On Plan requires a compatible time-of-use meter — if your property doesn’t already have Advanced Metering Infrastructure, Western Power may need to visit to reprogram or replace your meter, and that can come with additional fees. Renters can apply, but only with landlord approval, which adds a step. Hybrid vehicles with an internal combustion engine aren’t eligible — this plan is for plug-in EVs only. And realistically, the savings only materialise if you can actually shift your charging habits to off-peak windows; if you mostly need to charge during the 3pm–9pm peak period, you may end up paying more than you would on a standard plan.
Is It Worth It After Your EV Charger Install?
For most Perth EV owners with a smart, scheduled charging routine, the Synergy EV Add-On Plan is worth serious consideration once your charger is in the ground. A quality home charger — like the ones our team at EVCI installs — typically comes with app-based scheduling, so you can set charging to kick off automatically during the overnight or super off-peak windows without lifting a finger. That’s really the sweet spot: a properly installed charger plus a time-of-use plan working together.
If you’re weighing up your options, our advice is simple — get your EV charger installation sorted by a licensed, experienced local team first, then talk to Synergy about whether the EV Add-On Plan suits your household’s routine. Every home’s setup is different, and getting the installation right is what makes the electricity plan actually pay off.
Ready to get your home set up for smarter, cheaper EV charging? Get in touch with the EVCI team for a free quote on your Perth EV charger installation, or check out our EV charger installation services to see how we can help.
Connect With Us
Electric Vehicle Charging Installations
Email: info@evci.com.au
Phone: 0491 604 384
Website: evci.com.au
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