Hey everyone, Kevin O. here from Tampa. I've got a client who's been on FPL's Schedule GS-1 for years but their usage is creeping up. The tariff shows GS-2 kicks in at 20kW demand but I'm seeing some confusing language about "applicable service." Anyone dealt with FPL forcing the switch recently?
Florida Power & Light Schedule GS-1 vs GS-2 - What triggers the switch?
Rob T. in Jacksonville - I see this all the time with FPL. They'll move you to GS-2 if you hit 20kW for two consecutive months, not just once. Check section 4.2 of the GS-1 tariff, it's pretty clear about the transition rules.
Beth H. here, also Jacksonville. Rob's right about the two month rule, but watch out for the ratchet provision too. Once you're on GS-2, they won't let you back to GS-1 until you stay under 15kW for six straight months.
Randy Dawson chiming in from Memphis. Great question Kevin. The FPL tariffs are actually pretty well structured compared to some utilities I've worked with. The 20kW threshold is firm, but Beth makes an excellent point about the return provision - that 15kW requirement for six months catches a lot of folks off guard. I'd recommend pulling the actual meter data for the last 12 months and calculating both rate schedules. Sometimes the demand charges on GS-2 are offset by lower energy rates, especially if you're running consistent loads. Also check if there are any applicable riders - FPL has been adding clean energy adjustments that hit the rate schedules differently.
Eddie F. from Orlando jumping in. Just went through this exact scenario last month. Customer hit 21.3kW in July, 19.8kW in August, then 22.1kW in September. FPL automatically switched them to GS-2 effective October 1st. The monthly bill went up about $180 even though usage was similar.
Thanks everyone! Eddie, that's exactly what I was afraid of. Randy, great point about running both calculations - I'll pull 12 months of interval data and model it out. The clean energy rider mention is interesting, I haven't dug into how that affects the different schedules yet.
Kevin, if you need the clean energy rider details, it's listed as "Clause D" in the current FPL tariff book. Last I checked it was adding about $0.0023/kWh but it changes quarterly based on renewable portfolio costs.
Rob's got the right rider reference. One more thing to watch Kevin - if your client has any seasonal variation, model out both summer and winter scenarios. FPL's demand charges have different tiers that can make the crossover point less predictable than just the 20kW rule suggests.
Update: Ran the numbers and you guys were spot on. Customer would actually save about $45/month on GS-2 due to the tiered energy rates, even with higher demand charges. Sometimes the obvious answer isn't the right one. Thanks for the help!