Charge type: Energy

The energy charge is a charge that applies to a Time of Use (TOU), such as Summer On Peak, with a billing determinant of by-sum how-to-apply type.

Energy charges apply to load data. Add a billing determinant to this charge to show which Time of use (TOU) schedules season or blocks the charge covers. Energy charges can have different charge amounts for each season or block. They can also have multiple charge blocks and load factor blocks.

A billing determinant is a calculation used to create rate charges. The billing determinant calculation applies a mathematical operator to interval data within a time-of-use period. For example, you can create a "summer peak" billing determinant that multiplies the per-kWh charge by the total kWh of the summer peak TOU. The billing determinant calculation can also include adjustments, such as a power factor (PF) adjustment.

Configuring an Energy Charge

1. Go to Rate Modeler > Create or Edit > Rate.

2. Select the Charges tab.

3. Right-click in the tree pane and select Add Charge.

4. Select Energy from the dropdown menu.

5. Enter a Name and Description for the new charge and click OK.

6. Select one or more Classes to assign this charge to. Typically, AMI billing requires only one class. However, you may require two classes, one for "delivered only" meters and the other for "net" meters, to support customers with solar panels. For more complex bills, you may need to apply the same charge to several classes, such as primary voltage and secondary voltage.

7. Enter the Charge Amount Effective Date.

8. Click OK.

9. Select a Billing Determinant.

10. Click OK.

11. Select the Charge Period Season Block(s) for this charge. To exclude a season, clear its checkbox.

12. Click OK.

13. Enter a General Ledger Code or GL Code for the determinant block. This GL Code is often critical to the AMI Billing Export process. Most billing systems require a determinant-level identifier to process the billing determinants.

14. In the tree, click the name of the charge you just created (at the top level of the hierarchy).

15. Select a Prorate Type. If a billing period crosses an effective date, the proration type determines how the charge is applied.

    • Use End Date Price. A single billing determinant results. The charge that was current on the billing period’s end date is applied.

    • Use Start Date Price. A single billing determinant results. The charge that was current on the billing period’s start date is applied.

    • Effective Date. A single billing determinant results. This is the sum of two charge results, one for the billing period ranges before the effective dates, and one for after.

    • Use Separate Determinants. Two billing determinants result, one for each effective date range.

16. Select the Report Type for this charge.

    • Reportable. Charge results appear in reports.

    • Not Reportable. Charge results do not appear in reports.

17. Select the Apply Charge frequency (e.g., By Billing Cycle).

18. Select a method for Billing Determinant Group Proration (e.g., Combine into Last Determinant).

19. If this charge is to include load factor blocks, select Load Factor. Otherwise, leave Charge Type at No Load Factor.

20. Select a Billing Determinant in the tree to adjust its Energy and Load Factor Blocks. (If necessary, double-click entries in the tree under the new energy charge to expand and view sub-items.)

    Click the following links for instructions and examples for each block type:

    Flat Charge for All kW

    To design a flat kWh charge, enter 1 in the Blk Size column. Enter the $/kWh energy charge in the Value column.

    

    Multiple Energy Blocks

    Enter the energy blocks in the Blk Size column and enter the associated $/kWh energy charges in the Value column. In the example shown below, if the customer consumed 23,000 kWh for the current rate period, the customer's energy bill would be (10,000 kWh * $0.063/kWh + 5,000 kWh * $0.043/kWh + 8,000 kWh * $0.023/kWh = $1,029).

    

    Load Factor Blocks

    If you haven't already, select Load Factor under Charge Type on the main Energy Charge screen. Then return to the billing determinant.

    Click the down arrow () for the Load Factor Bill Determinant field and Using the search utility for the determinant to use.

    Enter the load factor hour blocks in the LF Size column.

    Enter zero in the Blk Size column.

    Enter the associated $/kWh energy charges in the Value column.

    Rate Modeler calculates the energy charge as follows:

    Multiply the customer's peak demand from the selected billing determinant by the hours specified in the LF Size column to create energy blocks (kW * hours = kWh).

    Perform the same calculations as shown above in the Multiple Energy Blocks section.

    For example, if a customer's peak demand (kW) for the rate period was 10 kW, the customer's energy charge would be identical to the Multiple Energy Blocks example if the rate period charges were defined as shown below.

    

    The customer's energy charge would be calculated as follows: (10 kW * 1,000 hours * $0.063/kWh + 10 kW * 500 hours * $0.043/kWh + 10 kW * 1 hour * $0.023/kWh + 7,990 kWh * $0.023/kWh) = $1,029.00

    Combination Energy and Load Factor Blocks

    A rate schedule using a combination of the load factor block and energy blocks is best described through an example.

    Sample block values:

    

    If the customer's peak load is 10 kW and the energy used is 23,000 kWh for the rate charge period, Rate Modeler calculates the charge as follows:

    1500 hrs x 10 kW = 15,000 kWh = 1st energy block size.

    Of this 15,000 kWh: 10,000 kWh would be charged at $0.063/kWh and 5,000 kWh would be charged at $0.043/kWh.

    The remaining 8,000 kWh (23,000-15,000) would be charged at $0.023/kWh.

    The result is a customer energy charge of (10,000 kWh * $0.063/kWh + 5,000 kWh * $0.043/kWh + 8,000 kWh * $0.023/kWh) = $1,029.

21. Click Save from the toolbar.

22. (Optional) Right-click items in the tree to add more attributes at that level, or to modify or delete existing attributes.