By SSR EVTECH ·
You need a load upgrade when your home's sanctioned load cannot cover your normal peak use plus the charger. A 7.4 kW charger alone needs more than many homes are sanctioned for. The two ways out are a load upgrade on your home connection, or a separate EV meter with its own load.
Step 1: find your sanctioned load
Your MSEDCL bill shows a sanctioned (or contract) load in kW. This is the most power your connection is approved to draw at one time. It is different from the units you use in a month.
Step 2: add the charger to your peak use
Think of the time of day when the most things run together: air conditioners, geyser, cooking, pumps. Add the charger's rating to that. If the total is more than your sanctioned load, the charger does not fit as things stand.
| Charger | Draws about | Supply needed |
|---|---|---|
| 3.3 kW | 3.3 kW | Single phase |
| 7.4 kW | 7.4 kW | Single phase |
| 11 kW | 11 kW | Three phase |
| 22 kW | 22 kW | Three phase |
A 3.3 kW charger often fits within an existing load. A 7.4 kW charger usually does not, unless the home already has a generous sanctioned load. An 11 or 22 kW charger also needs a three-phase supply.
Step 3: choose your route
Route A: upgrade the load on your home connection
You apply to MSEDCL to raise the sanctioned load on your existing meter, and the charger runs on that meter. Charging units are billed at your home slab rates.
Route B: a separate EV meter with its own load
You apply for a new EV connection sized for the charger. Your home load stays as it is, and charging is billed at the flat EV tariff. For homes on higher slabs this is often the cheaper route to run. Compare both in the EV meter savings calculator.
What not to do
- Do not run a 7.4 kW charger on a connection that cannot carry it. The main breaker may trip, and the wiring can overheat.
- Do not request a load that does not match the charger rating. A mismatch is one of the most common reasons MSEDCL applications stall.
- Do not size the cable before the load is decided. The cable depends on the charger and the supply.
Frequently asked questions
Some chargers and cars let you limit the charging current. It works as a stopgap, but charging is slower and you lose the point of the bigger charger.
A higher sanctioned load can raise the fixed charge on your home bill. The units you use are billed at the same slab rates as before.
Yes. Send your latest MSEDCL bill and your car model on WhatsApp. We tell you whether the charger fits, and which route is cheaper.