Utility guide · NY
Con Edison: EV charger rebates & programs
SmartCharge New York: ~$400/year average for off-peak charging. Service area: New York City & Westchester County.
Quick answer for Con Edison
- SmartCharge New York: ~$400/year average for off-peak charging
- Funding status: active; deadline / window: Ongoing (program has run since 2017).
- Service area: New York City & Westchester County.
- EV rate / managed charging: SmartCharge rewards (on the standard rate), Voluntary TOU rates.
Official source: Con Edison / SmartCharge New York official pages
The offer
What Con Edison actually pays
Con Edison's flagship residential offer rewards how you charge rather than cutting a one-time hardware check. SmartCharge New York pays 10 cents per kWh for all charging between midnight and 8 a.m. year-round, a $25 bonus after your first three months, and $35 per month (plus a $35 season bonus) for avoiding weekday 2–6 p.m. charging June through September. Con Edison says participants average about $400 per year — which quietly outperforms most one-time charger rebates within two years. Payouts arrive via PayPal or Venmo.
Program funded · Deadline / funding window: Ongoing (program has run since 2017)
Fine print
Requirements that actually disqualify people
- Enroll a compatible connected vehicle or smart charging station through the SmartCharge portal (scny.ev.energy)
- Charge within Con Edison's NYC/Westchester service area — you don't have to be the utility account holder
- Not available to drivers on the residential/small-business TOU rates (Service Classes 1–2) or the Steady Use Rate
- Level 2 home chargers must be installed with proper DOB electrical filings
Ongoing savings
EV rates & charging rewards
Plans: SmartCharge rewards (on the standard rate) · Voluntary TOU rates.
Counterintuitively, SmartCharge pays only on the standard rate — enrolling in a residential TOU rate disqualifies you from the per-kWh rewards. Most EV drivers do better on the standard rate plus SmartCharge; run both scenarios before switching rates.
Do it right
How to apply, step by step
Step 1
Check that your EV or smart charger is on the compatibility list
Step 2
Create an account at the SmartCharge New York portal and connect the vehicle or charger
Step 3
Link PayPal or Venmo for monthly payouts
Step 4
Schedule charging into the midnight–8 a.m. window and avoid weekday 2–6 p.m. charging in summer
Step 5
Track earnings on the program dashboard; referral bonuses ($25 each) stack on top
Rules, rebates, and incentives change. Verify with the official program before applying.
Quotes from electricians who know Con Edison paperwork
Ask bidders whether they've handled this utility's rebate documentation before — it saves weeks.
Finding an installer yourself: ask for the contractor's state license number, proof of insurance, and at least two recent Level 2 installs. Get the permit number in writing.
Use the free permit checklistFAQ
Con Edison — frequently asked questions
Does Con Edison pay for home EV chargers?
Not with a hardware check — Con Ed pays you for charging behavior instead. SmartCharge New York earns 10¢/kWh overnight plus summer-peak bonuses, averaging about $400 a year per participant. Over a charger's life, that beats most one-time rebates; there's just nothing up front toward the installation.
Is SmartCharge worth enrolling in?
If you charge at home overnight in Con Ed territory, almost certainly — enrollment is free, payouts arrive via PayPal or Venmo, and the main requirement is shifting charging to the midnight–8 a.m. window. The one catch: you must be on the standard rate, not a residential TOU rate.
I live in Westchester — do I qualify?
Yes, if you charge within Con Edison's service area (a handful of Westchester and Queens ZIP codes fall outside it — the program FAQ lists them). Drivers in Orange & Rockland territory earn through the same platform at 7¢/kWh.
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