EV charging sites across the United States face a significant financial risk during the summer months, when utility demand charges—fees based on a site's highest 15-minute power consumption—increase by 40% to 65% compared to winter rates. A single unmanaged charging peak in July can establish a surcharge that persists on monthly bills through the fall, according to EVready Energy, the company behind the Energy Guardian platform.
Energy Guardian is a network-agnostic load management system that controls energy costs regardless of charger brand, requiring no equipment swaps. The platform actively monitors and manages charging loads to prevent spikes that trigger high demand charges. “Demand charges are seasonal, and summer is when they bite hardest,” said Chris Nihan, CEO and Co-Founder of EVready Energy. “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.”
The platform's effectiveness is documented in a customer report from EVready Energy. 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.
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. With Energy Guardian, businesses can avoid costly demand charges without replacing existing equipment, making it a practical solution for dealerships, fleets, multifamily properties, parking operators, and public sector clients nationwide. To learn more about managing demand charges, visit EVready Energy.
