ERE certificates: what to consider before connecting

ERE certificates sound simple. You charge at home, that electricity counts as emission reduction, and someone else pays for it. It almost feels like you're leaving money on the table if you don't participate. Want to first understand what ERE actually is and how the calculation works? Read our article ERE certificates: how does it work?.

Yet this is exactly the moment to pause before clicking through.

Not because ERE registration is a bad idea by definition, but because the consequences only become visible after everything is already connected. And by then, reversing course is often harder than it seemed upfront.

What happens once you're connected

Many solutions start with the same step: your charger gets linked to a party that handles the ERE registration. From that moment on, your data flows not just to you or your existing backoffice, but also to a third party.

That's not a problem in itself. The question is what happens when you want to leave later.

Does your charger stay online? Does your backoffice keep working as before? Or do you only discover when switching that everything was actually running through one fixed route?

These aren't theoretical questions. They determine whether you keep your freedom, or get locked in without noticing.

Revenue is variable, commitments often aren't

The compensation for ERE certificates isn't a fixed amount. It depends on market prices, supply and demand, and regulations that are still evolving. That means returns can exceed expectations, but can just as easily disappoint.

Meanwhile, contracts are often fixed. Multiple years, limited switching options, sometimes only one payout moment per year. That feels logical as long as everything runs smoothly, but less pleasant when circumstances change.

Technology matters more than you think

On paper it's about certificates. In practice it's about technology. MID meters, EAN connections, OCPP links, backoffices. Things you normally don't think about, but suddenly determine what is and isn't possible.

Some solutions only work with specific chargers. Others require you to abandon your current backoffice. And sometimes you only find out later that switching means your charger goes offline temporarily.

Those are moments when you wish you'd known how it all worked beforehand.

Keeping your choice isn't a detail

The biggest difference between solutions isn't in the cents per kWh, but in the question of who's in control.

Can you choose who handles your ERE registration? Can you switch when terms change? Or is that choice locked to one party, one contract, one route?

Those who don't think about this beforehand often only notice when something changes. And by then, room to maneuver is smaller.

How Plugchoice does it differently

Plugchoice isn't a party that pulls everything toward itself, but rather a layer in between. Your charger stays connected to your existing backoffice. At the same time, through Plugchoice you can choose which booking provider handles your ERE registration.

Data flows through automatically, without changing your setup. You see the terms upfront, what gets paid out, and what to expect. And if you want to switch later, your charger keeps working.

First understand, then connect

ERE certificates can be a logical addition to home charging. But only if you know what you're getting into, and where you can eventually get out.

Those who start by understanding, keep control later. Those who start by connecting, sometimes discover that too late.

Read more

• ERE certificates: how does it work? — the basics of ERE explained
• Booking service provider and verifier: who does what? — the roles in ERE registration
• What does ERE yield, and where does that 10 cents come from? — the math behind the rule of thumb
• Comparing ERE providers without regret — questions to ask
• NEa: Emission reduction units (ERE)
• NEa: Saving emission reduction units