$500 roughly offsets a basic circuit installation, and the program has no end date because it is part of the tariff approved by Michigan's regulator. The strings attached are significant, and it only applies in Consumers Energy's service area.
You must join a time-of-use rate, allow demand response, enroll in the smart charging program and charge overnight between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The charger must be UL/ETL listed and Energy Star certified (or made by the carmaker) and on the utility's approved list, which we have not read. The utility's own pages disagree on details such as "instant" versus "cash back".
Consumers Energy customers who charge at home overnight anyway and are fine with a time-of-use rate.
According to the program terms, Consumers Energy pays up to $500 toward installing a circuit of up to 50 amps or a hardwired connection for an eligible Level 2 charger, and up to $1,000 for income-qualified customers. The rebate can't exceed the total project cost, including the charger and installation.
You need to be a residential electric customer in good standing and show that you own, lease or have reserved or ordered an EV. Installation and enrollment in the smart charging program must be complete within six months of rebate approval, and there is one rebate per service. A separate rebate of the same size covers dual-cord or power-sharing chargers for households with two EVs.
The terms call it "a permanent rebate program offering" under the tariff approved in Michigan Public Service Commission case U-21224, but they also say terms and the tariff "may change without notice". The overview page calls it an "Instant $500 Rebate" and asks for a Wi-Fi charger; the rebate page says "Cash Back", and the terms require Energy Star rather than Wi-Fi.
Check the approved list before you buy a charger on sale: the Grizzl-E Classic Connect lists UL/cUL but not Energy Star, while Enphase lists Energy Star for its IQ EV Charger 2. How much a plug-in versus hardwired install changes the job is explained in “Hardwired or plug-in EV charger? Choose the installation before the box”.
The catch: Only LADWP residential power customers qualify. The charger must be network capable (Wi-Fi or internet) and installed before you apply; claiming installation needs a licensed electrician and a finaled LADBS permit. Payment can take up to 120 days, funds are limited and LADWP may waitlist applications.
$1,000 rebate
See the offer at LADWP (opens in a new tab)
The catch: No end date is stated, so the price can change any day. Opened or installed units can't be returned, and unused returns cost a 25% restocking fee. You need a 240-volt NEMA 14-50 outlet; if you don't have one, an electrician adds that cost. The price includes a 3-year warranty; 5 years cost $100 more.
$299.99
Store price before the sale$349.99 −14%
The catch: A licensed electrician has to install it, and Enphase itself puts a standard installation at around $1,000. Shipping, returns and sales tax are not stated on the product page. The 5-year warranty depends on registering the charger within 30 days of installation.
