Utility Management & Reporting

We discovered during the initial setup phase that the facility’s (20 years ago) contract demand rate was established based on the assumption that the facility would double in size in the very near future. This expansion never took place but, nevertheless, the facility was paying for the anticipated future capacity. We were able to lower the contract demand and saved the facility over $5,000 in the first 12 months of the contract.

We discovered during the initial program setup phase that a new Time-of-Day rate was available from the utility for a select group of large users. Using the past 12 months billing data, we ran an analysis of the facility’s electric bills using this new rate and determined that there was an opportunity for significant savings by switching to this Time-of-Day tariff. After switching the rate, we reprogrammed the sequences and schedules in the EMS to take full advantage of the new rate. The facility saved $250,000 in the first 12 months on the new TOD rate without compromising the facility’s environment or light levels .

After converting the facility to a Time-of-Day rate, we could not correlate real time meter readings (EMS was monitoring the Utility Meter) to billing data. We found that the utility had failed to properly program weekend rates into their time of day meters, thus over charging the customer for kWh in off peak times. After proving that the utility meters were incorrectly configured, we were able to get the customer a $16,500 refund.

We discovered during the initial program setup phase that the facility was being penalized based on a low power factor (85%). We worked with the facility and proposed new power factor correction equipment. This equipment was installed, and our customer realized a 60% return on their investment.

While entering data from the Regulated Utility and Deregulated REP, we found discrepancies in the amount of kWh being billed by the REP. By pointing this out to the REP, we were able to negotiate a settlement with our customer that saved them $81,000.

Having long term history of typical kWh, kW and Costs of our customer’s facilities at our fingertips has helped us negotiate lower electrical procurement rates for our customers. Knowing the baseline usage along with possible changes in the facility’s operations, has enabled us to negotiate better pricing and tighter band widths where available. We have saved our customers millions of dollars over the last decades through intelligent procurement of their electricity and gas.