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What is EV load management?

Updated 2026-11-03 · Plain-language guide to EV load management and energy management systems (NEC 625.42 and 750.30), how they avoid a service upgrade, and what to ask before buying.

Load management is the most common way to add a full-speed charger to a house that calculates near its limit. Instead of upgrading the service, a device keeps the total current under a ceiling.

Three common forms

  • Charger with built-in power management: a current sensor on the service conductors tells the charger to throttle.
  • Smart panel or smart breakers: the panel itself sheds or limits loads.
  • Circuit sharing devices: a switch that gives the circuit to the dryer or the car, not both.

What the code says (in our words)

NEC 625.42 lets a charger's rating be set by an adjustable setting or controlled by an energy management system, and the calculation then uses that setting. NEC 2026 adds 120.7 (power control systems) for calculating controlled loads. Products must be listed for the purpose.

Before you buy

  1. Ask your AHJ whether they accept the product, and whether they count EVSE at 100% locally.
  2. Confirm the sensor fits your service conductors.
  3. Decide your charging need: most commuters need 20 to 40 miles a night.

See the headroom a manager would have →

Common questions

What does EV load management do?

It watches the house current and lowers or pauses the charger so the total stays below a set limit. The charger can then be counted at its managed setting rather than its maximum.

Is load management allowed by code?

Yes. NEC 625.42 allows EVSE to be adjusted by an energy management system, and 750.30 covers the system itself. The AHJ must accept the specific product.

Estimate only; a licensed electrician and your local authority having jurisdiction decide; not an engineering stamp.

Taking it to your electrician or the permit desk? The worksheet is free to print. A formatted permit-style PDF with a saved house is $9 one-time; electricians get branded PDFs, unlimited jobs and client links with Pro at $19/month.

Sources

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