4.2.2 Utility Costs: Charges

90.1-2019

Utility charges can be energy charges or demand charges. Energy or demand charges can be either a fixed flat rate based on consumption, or vary based on time of use (TOU) or season of use. Some utilities also follow real-time pricing where tariffs can change frequently. Also with charges based on consumption, a utility may also charge a fixed monthly fee irrespective of energy use or energy demand. The descriptors in the section below describe each of these charges.

*Tariff Variability*
Applicability	All projects using custom utility rates
Definition	Tariffs can be defined as a flat rate, or vary by the TOU, season or a real-time pricing. The variance in tariff can be defined through one or more of the variables below. Monthly This would be a flat monthly rate charged by the utility per customer. This is irrespective of energy use or energy demand. Time of Use Period Schedule This schedule defines the time-of-use periods that occur each day. The different variables that can occur in a day are Peak Shoulder Off-peak Mid-peak Both energy and demand charges can be defined for each TOU period. Seasonal Schedules Utilities can also vary tariffs based on season. Tariffs can be defined for the following seasons Winter Spring Summer Autumn
Units	List: Monthly Charge, TOU Period Schedule, Seasonal Schedule
Input Restrictions	None
Baseline Building	Same as proposed

*Time of Use Period Schedule*
Applicability	All projects using custom utility rates
Definition	Unique name of a yearly schedule that specifies the TOU type for the entire year. The schedule specifies months and times in a year billed as peak, shoulder, off-peak, or mid-peak. This schedule is used for all TOU energy billing. TOU demand charges are calculated using the block-charges input.
Units	Schedule name with TOU variables defined
Input Restrictions	None
Baseline Building	Same as proposed

*Seasonal Schedule*
Applicability	All projects using custom utility rates
Definition	Unique name of a yearly schedule that specifies the season type for the entire year. The schedule specifies months in a year billed using winter, summer, autumn, or spring tariffs. This schedule is used for the billing of all seasonal energy and demand charges using the block charges input.
Units	Schedule name with seasonal variables defined
Input Restrictions	None
Baseline Building	Same as proposed

*Demand Window*
Applicability	All projects using custom utility rates
Definition	The determination of demand can vary by utility. Some utilities use the peak instantaneous demand measured, but most use a 15-minute average demand or a 1-hour average demand. Some gas utilities measure demand as the use during the peak day or peak week. The choices for demand window are: Quarter hour Half hour Full hour Day Week The value for demand window must coincide with the value for number of timesteps. This is explained in Section 3.2.6 of this manual.
Units	List: Quarter Hour, Half Hour, Full Hour, Day, Week
Input Restrictions	None. If no value is entered, Quarter Hour is assumed.
Baseline Building	Same as proposed

*Monthly Charge*
Applicability	All projects using custom utility rates
Definition	Many utilities refer to this as a customer charge. This input accepts a list of 12 numeric values that add a fixed monthly charge to each billing cycle. If a single value is entered, the value will be used for all 12 billing periods.
Units	$/month
Input Restrictions	None
Baseline Building	Same as proposed

*Energy Charge: Simple*
Applicability	All projects using custom utility rates
Definition	Energy charges are the charges associated with the energy use during a billing period. This input accepts a numeric value that allows specification of an energy charge that is constant with time and quantity, or a list of 12 values that allows the specification of an energy charge that is constant with quantity but may vary by billing period. Energy charges that vary with quantity are defined in the descriptor Block Charges.
Units	$/unit
Input Restrictions	None
Baseline Building	Same as proposed

*Demand Charge: Simple*
Applicability	All projects using custom utility rates
Definition	Demand charges are the charges associated with the energy demand for the billing period. This input accepts either a single value that specifies a demand charge that is constant with time and quantity, or a list of 12 values that allows the specification a demand charge that is constant with quantity but may vary by billing period. The units are $/peak-unit. As few as one value may be entered in the list, which will be used for all months within the billing period. Demand charges that vary with the quantity of demand, are defined in the descriptor Block Charges.
Units	$/peak-unit
Input Restrictions	None
Baseline Building	Same as proposed

*Energy Charge: Block*
Applicability	All projects using custom utility rates
Definition	Block charges define the energy charges that vary according to the amount of energy used. The time period over which a block energy charge is to be used needs to be defined. For TOU energy charges, the time period can be off-peak, peak, shoulder, mid-peak. If no TOU rates apply, then the time period should be annual. For seasonal energy charges, the time period can be summer, winter, autumn, or spring. If no seasonal rates apply, then the time period should be annual.
Units	List: For TOU energy charges, the options should be Annual, Off Peak, Peak, Mid-Peak, Shoulder. For seasonal energy changes, the options should be Annual, Summer, Winter, Autumn, Spring.
Input Restrictions	None
Baseline Building	Same as proposed

*Demand Charge: Block*
Applicability	All projects using custom utility rates
Definition	Block charges defines the demand charges that vary according to the energy demand. The time period over which a block demand charge is to be used needs to be defined. For TOU demand charges, the time period can be off-peak, peak, shoulder, or mid-peak. If no TOU rates apply, then the time period should be annual. For Seasonal demand charges, the time period can be summer, winter, autumn, or spring. If no seasonal rates apply, then the time period should be annual.
Units	List: For TOU demand charges, the options should be Annual, Off Peak, Peak, Mid-Peak, Shoulder. For seasonal demand changes, the options should be Annual, Summer, Winter, Autumn, Spring.
Input Restrictions	None
Baseline Building	Same as proposed

*Block Charges: Limits*
Applicability	All projects using custom utility rates
Definition	Block charges define the energy or demand charges that vary according to the amount used. The limits for the blocks need to be defined either in kW for demand charges or kWh for energy charges, along with the energy cost for each block.
Units	For demand charges: kW and $/kW for each of the block For energy charges: kWh and $/kW for each of the blocks Up to 15 blocks may be specified for each group.
Input Restrictions	None
Baseline Building	Same as proposed