How do I charge an electric car at home on the Isle of Man?
The short answer
A hardwired charge point, fitted to the wiring regulations. Manx Utilities has an EV tariff with 7 cheaper hours a night.
Manx Utilities’ Electric Vehicle tariff charges 19.7p a unit from midnight to 7am and 29.5p at other times. It is for homes with off-street parking and their own charge point, which must meet the BS 7671 wiring regulations and be fitted by a Part P registered electrician.
This guide covers the island’s EV tariff, the electrical rules for a home charge point, and where solar panels fit in. Every rate and rule is from Manx Utilities or Planning and Building Control, with the date we read it.
The Manx Utilities EV tariff
| Rate | Price | When |
|---|---|---|
| Off-peak | 19.7p per unit | Midnight to 7am (1am to 8am in British Summer Time) |
| Peak | 29.5p per unit | 7am to midnight |
| Standing charge | 25.5p per day | Every day |
Manx Utilities says the tariff is for domestic customers who have off-street parking for their own home charge point, and the charge point must comply with the current BS 7671 wiring regulations. There is a minimum charge to switch tariff, and you apply through its Electricity Network Enquiry form. The off-peak times follow the clock inside your meter, and Manx Utilities says it is up to you to match your charging to it.
From Manx Utilities’ domestic tariffs page, read on 16 October 2026.
Fitting a home charge point
Manx Utilities says any electrical work in a home must be completed and certified by a Part P compliant electrician. Planning and Building Control lists a new final circuit, a new consumer unit and outdoor power as notifiable work. Ask your electrician which of these your charge point involves, and use a business registered with NICEIC Domestic Installer or NAPIT Part P CPS, which can certify the work, or get Building Control’s approval before it starts.
Manx Utilities also needs its Test Certificate and Connection Form, signed by a Part P registered electrician, before additional loads are connected. Manx Utilities cannot recommend contractors, and neither do we. Our guide to choosing an installer shows how to check a registration.
From Manx Utilities’ test certificate and connection form page and Planning and Building Control’s page on electrical installations in homes, both read on 16 October 2026.
Charging from solar panels
Solar panels only make electricity in daylight, and the EV tariff’s cheap hours are at night. So a car that charges overnight on the EV tariff is not using solar power. Where solar helps is if the car is at home and plugged in during the day, when it can use electricity your panels would otherwise send to the grid for 9.7p a unit.
A plug-in solar kit is limited to 800W, and Manx Utilities allows one per household, so it can only ever supply a small share of a car’s charging. A larger hardwired system makes more, and our solar panels guide shows how much through the year.
Common questions
Is there a cheaper electricity tariff for electric cars on the Isle of Man?
Yes. Manx Utilities’ Electric Vehicle tariff charges 19.7p a unit from midnight to 7am and 29.5p at other times, with a 25.5p daily standing charge, as read on 16 October 2026.
Who can have the EV tariff?
Domestic customers with off-street parking and their own home charge point that meets the BS 7671 wiring regulations. There is a minimum charge to switch.
Can I charge my car from a plug-in solar kit?
A plug-in kit feeds your home’s circuits, so it can help with anything running while the sun is up, including a car on charge. But at 800W at most, it can only cover a small share of charging.
Is there a grant for a home EV charger on the Isle of Man?
EV chargers are not on the Heat Wise Home scheme’s list of supported works. Check gov.im for current schemes.