This alert compares the measured Peak Demand with a maximum set for the billing period.
Electric utility rates for industrial and commercial facilities are composed of at least two components.
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One is the "energy rate" or the kilowatt-hour charge, which is related to the fuel that is expended in producing and delivering that energy.
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The second is the "demand rate", the kilowatt, or kVA demand charge. This usually related to the capital investment that must be made to build the generation, transmission, and distribution facilities necessary to provide the electrical energy to the consumer.
Demand charges (rates x consumption above x kWh) are reset monthly and are based on the highest rate at which electricity is consumed during periods that are peak-utility-service hours.
Demand charges are measured in kilowatts and, depending on the utility service provider, the highest consumption rate is measured in 15- or 30-minute intervals during peak hours. Demand charges form a significant portion of a company's monthly electric bill.
The Peak Demand Alert will monitor interval consumption. The Alert will inform the user of approaching or exceeded established or experienced peak demand consumption during the month.
Benefits - Enable peak load management strategies that lower a facility's demand during times when the peak demand is measured. Proactive peak load awareness.
Since this alert manages peak demand in the billing period, and the billing period has a start and an end date, the system will, when the end of the billing period is reached, update the equipment and set the new start date for the new billing period based on the billing frequency. Therefore, make sure you specify Start Billing Period and Bill Every for every equipment before you include them in the alert.