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Utility bills for commercial and industrial facilities often seem detailed and confusing. It is tempting to just pass them along to accounts payable and forget about them. If you look closely at your bill, however, you may learn a few things about the way energy is used and how you are charged for it. For example, the concepts of kilowatts and kilowatt-hours are often misunderstood. Kilowatts (kW) refers to the rate at which energy is used (demand), while kilowatt-hours (kWh) measures overall consumption (usage). Understanding these concepts will provide you with important insight on how you can reduce your energy costs.

To understand the difference between demand and usage, it is best to use an example. A motor rated at 10 kW operating for eight hours will consume 80 kWh. Five of these motors operating all day would use 400 kWh, which is the amount of energy the motors used during the eight-hour period. You are charged per kWh for usage. At an average rate of 10 cents per kWh, the cost to run the motors for a day would be $40. For this scenario, your facility is consuming power at the rate of 50 kW. This is the total rated power of the five motors. This rate of using power is also called demand. Commercial and industrial users generally pay a demand charge. Typically, demand is calculated in 15-minute intervals. Your highest demand interval in any given month is your peak demand, which is the basis for your monthly demand charge.

Utilities instituted demand charges because electricity, unlike many other commodities, must be used immediately. It cannot be stored for later use. Utilities must maintain excess capacity to meet cyclical periods of high or peak demand, which typically occur in the afternoon hours. Making this excess capacity available is very expensive, and utility customers must share in the cost burden.

Reducing demand charges

The most effective way to minimize peak demand is to understand your facility's load profile. Your load profile describes how you use energy over time, typically a 24-hour period. Once you have established your load profile, consider the following strategies for reducing peak demand:

• Implement energy-efficiency measures to reduce energy demand during peak periods. Adjust thermostats to reduce energy use for air-conditioning and install dimmers and occupancy sensors to minimize lighting demand.
• Adjust work schedules to reduce energy use during peak demand periods, typically between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.
• Install automatic sequencers on your system's power supply to prevent high-energy use equipment from starting simultaneously.
• Motors operate at a constant speed, despite load variations in the devices they operate. Install variable frequency drives to reduce demand by matching motor speed to load requirements.
• Install an energy management system (EMS) to coordinate energy use in your facility to minimize peak demand.
• Consider thermal energy storage systems, which store chilled water at night (when demand is low) to provide cooling during the day.

While every facility is unique, understanding the key factors affecting your energy use can help you choose the right solutions to reduce peak demand and lower your energy bill.