Strange situation with Eversource in Connecticut. Client has 1.2MW ground-mount solar farm that's grid-tied. Eversource is charging them demand charges on their solar PRODUCTION, not just consumption. Rate schedule is LG (Large General). Monthly demand charge is $18.50/kW so this adds up fast. Is this normal? Seems wrong to me.
Eversource charging demand on solar production - is this legal?
James - that doesn't sound right. Demand charges should be on consumption, not generation. What's the meter configuration? Separate production meter or net meter?
Two separate meters - one for production (generation) and one for facility consumption. Eversource claims the LG rate schedule applies to both meters since they're under the same account. The generation meter shows negative kWh but positive kW demand.
I think Eversource is interpreting "demand" as peak power flow regardless of direction. Check the tariff definition of demand. Some utilities define it as maximum 15-minute average power, which could technically include generation.
Diane might be onto something. But charging demand on production seems punitive toward solar. Connecticut PURA (Public Utilities Regulatory Authority) has generally been pro-solar. Might be worth filing a complaint.
Filed complaint with PURA yesterday. Also found that Eversource is doing this to several other solar customers. Might become a bigger issue. Will update when I hear back.
Demand charges on generation are uncommon but not unheard of. The key is whether the tariff definition of "demand" specifies consumption only or includes bidirectional power flow. Document the tariff language carefully and consider that many utility billing systems weren't designed for distributed generation scenarios.