Gary from Orlando. New client is a 24-hour veterinary emergency hospital. Significant electricity use — surgical suite, ICU for animals, imaging equipment, climate control for recovery areas, and a pharmacy refrigeration bank. The utility has them on a general commercial rate. Given the similarities to a human hospital I am wondering if any healthcare rate class applies or if they are definitively commercial. Anyone worked with veterinary hospitals?
Rate class for a veterinary hospital — where does it fall?
Karl from Lincoln. Veterinary hospitals occupy an interesting space. They have hospital-like loads but are not covered by most tariff definitions of healthcare or medical institution which typically require human patient services.
Gary here. So the healthcare rate is likely out. What other angles are there?
Karl again. Look at the specific load components. The surgical suite has specialized power conditioning equipment. The imaging — X-ray and MRI if they have it — creates demand peaks. The 24-hour operation means you should model TOU carefully. The pharmacy refrigeration might qualify under a cold storage or refrigeration rate rider.
Dana from Sioux City. Also check whether the practice qualifies as a scientific research facility under any state programs if they conduct any clinical research or trials. Some academic veterinary hospitals have that angle.
This is a private practice not affiliated with a university so the research angle probably does not apply. But the specialized equipment and 24-hour operation give me enough to work with.
Karl one more time. The 24-hour operation is the key differentiator. General commercial rates are designed for 8 to 10 hour business day operations. A facility that draws constant load around the clock is worth arguing for a different rate structure even absent a specific healthcare classification.