The Czech energy market is currently shifting.Dynamic tariff ČEZrewards everyone who shifts large appliances – including wallboxes – to predetermined hours. In the noon window between 11:00 AM and 1:59 PM, the commercial price of electricity drops by half. At a time when a kilowatt-hour is usually sold for around four crowns, such a discount can reducefuelfor an electric car to a level cheaper than the traditional night rate.
The discount is timed for noon because this is when there is an excess of solar energy, which reduces the cost of electricity.
Photovoltaic power plants produce the most electricity in the middle of the day. During sunny hours, there is often an excess of energy and wholesale prices drop. Suppliers are therefore looking for ways to quickly consume this "cheap" electricity instead of limiting the output of power plants. ČEZ thus pursues the same goal as the British Octopus Energy, which with its tariffInteligentní Octopus Gosells night-time electricity for just seven pence per kWh.
How does an EV driver save money in practice?
Let's consider a compact electric vehicle with a consumption of 15 kWh/100 km and a monthly mileage of 1,000 km. The owner needs about 150 kWh. If eighty percent of the charging is scheduled for the noon tariff, the discount will apply to 120 kWh. At a price of 4.10 CZK per kWh, the bill will decrease by about 250 crowns per month, that is 3,000 crowns per year. Those who charge even more at home will save higher amounts. And the bonus? The discount applies to the entire household, so it also reduces the cost of laundry, drying, or the water heater.
What do you need for the tariff?
ČEZ charges consumption every fifteen minutes, so the consumption point must havesmart meterMandatory installation of these meters began in the summer of 2024 for consumers with annual consumption over 6 MWh, and distributors have until 2027 to expand their deployment almost everywhere. Most active electric vehicle drivers fall into higher tariff bands, and therefore often already have a smart meter or will receive one before the pilot phase of the tariff ends.
What happens after the pilot ends?
The test will last until September 2025. However, energy professionals are already talking about further expansion. Distribution system operators plan a flexibility market where households will be rewarded for reducing consumption during critical times or even returning electricity to the grid – for example, through Vehicle-to-Grid technology. Thanks to this, an electric vehicle can serve as a mobile battery and even earn money.
Why is the tide turning in favor of electromobility?
Public fast chargers remain expensive because their operators pay high capacity and distribution fees. Home charging accounts for up to 80% of all kilowatt-hours that Czech electric vehicles actually consume. However, if dynamic tariffs with strong incentives to charge at specific times become more widespread, a new chapter for electromobility will begin: cheaper electricity, better utilization of solar energy, and less pressure on the grid during peak times.
Key Facts at a Glance:
A 50% discount on the commercial price of electricity is available every day from 11:00 to 13:59 between April and September.
In winter (October–March), the tariff offers a 10% discount during the same time window.
Morning peak 5:00–7:59 carries a +25%, but the annual bill will never exceed the price of the standard rate list.
A smart meter is a requirement, and most households will automatically receive one by 2027.
Summary
Dynamic tariff from ČEZoffers the possibility to reduce the cost of home electric vehicle charging by up to half. The discount targets the hours when photovoltaics produce the most energy and the grid needs flexible consumption. Those who can shift their car charging and other appliances to the midday window can save hundreds of crowns monthly without risking higher bills. More advantageous electricity means cheaper kilometers and a stronger argument that electromobility can be not only green but also financially beneficial.
Author
Filip Zapletal
