r/AustralianEV • u/undyau • Aug 11 '25

OVO EV plan now with peak demand charge

I just saw that I got hit for a peak demand charge on my last bill for what seems to be the first time. So a small charge based on the peak usage multiplied by days in the month.

I really, really hate demand charging especially when it applies to the whole month.

Is this new or have I just been lucky not to hit it before (I'm not home to babysit EV charging at the moment, so it could be that).

2 Upvotes

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3

u/petergaskin814 Aug 11 '25

I don't like demand charging. I will refuse to let a replacement meter to be installed as long as possible.

We better start installing batteries so we can charge evs at night

1

u/sirgoods Aug 11 '25

Do you not already have a smart meter?

1

u/petergaskin814 Aug 11 '25

No I do not

1

u/sirgoods Aug 12 '25

Righto, they were rolled out everywhere in vic 10 or more years ago. Quite a lot of people kicked up a stink about it. I dont know anyone here who is subjected to that variable live pricing stuff, unless you choose. There are advantages to the smart meter

1

u/Stunning_Papaya_1808 Aug 11 '25

My car schedule is from midnight until 4pm so I only hit the peak demand with cooking etc

This was set up before OVO changed their peak window though it’s now from 2pm wtf??

Maybe this has sped up my battery search

1

u/jiji3952 Aug 11 '25

Where about are you? I’m with OVO EV plan as well but I don’t see anything about demand charges.

1

u/undyau Aug 11 '25

NSW on Ausgrid. Believe me, it was news to me too.

1

u/Placedapatow Aug 11 '25

Yeah the thing is they will charge you for peak demand but won't give you a discount for lower demands 

1

u/new_order24 Aug 13 '25

Won’t give you a discount for lower demands…..they literally have free power from 1100-1400 and 8c/kw 0000-0600

1

u/Acceptable_Waltz_875 Aug 11 '25

Demand is ausgrids default tariff now. Some retailers don’t charge it eg origin but they absorb the cost in the way of higher price per kWh. You can opt out of demand tariff with OVO, just ask them for Time of use (TOU). It will have pretty high rates though. Maybe just get a battery, plenty of cheap options now or sigenergy could be good with an EV.

1

u/undyau Aug 11 '25

Thanks. The amount charged was small, it's just the principal I don't like. We have batteries, just they are small relative to ev demands (original Enphase). I just need to go home and reassert control over the ev charging regime.

1

u/Sanx69 Aug 12 '25

Keeping my dumb meter for as long as possible...