Hey everyone, Priya N. here from Chicago. Working on a Duke Energy account in North Carolina that's been classified as commercial Schedule GS for two years but should clearly be industrial Schedule LGS. Peak demand consistently hits 180kW but they're stuck on the wrong rate. Anyone dealt with Duke's resistance to reclassification recently? What documentation worked best for you?
Duke Energy Commercial vs Industrial - Threshold Issues
Tom B. in Asheville - I see this all the time with Duke. You need 12 months of interval data showing consistent demand over 100kW. Duke wants to see the load profile proves industrial use, not just peak numbers. File the rate schedule change request with their commercial team, not customer service.
Randy here. Tom's right about the documentation requirements. For Duke specifically, you'll also want to include a facility description showing industrial processes. They've gotten stricter about mixed-use classifications. The good news is Duke typically allows retroactive billing adjustments up to 24 months if you can prove the misclassification wasn't customer error. What type of facility is this, Priya?
Thanks Randy and Tom! It's a metal fabrication shop, definitely qualifies for industrial. I'll gather the interval data and process documentation. Tom, did you have success with retroactive recovery on your Duke cases?
Yes, got about $18,000 back on a similar case last year. Metal fab should be straightforward for industrial classification. Make sure you emphasize the manufacturing processes in your application.
Janet H. in Richmond - I had a Duke case where they initially denied the reclassification request. Had to escalate to their regulatory affairs department. Sometimes the first level reviewers don't understand the tariff nuances. Don't give up if they say no initially.
Gina M. from Scottsdale. This thread is really helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation but with APS here in Arizona. The principles seem similar - document everything and be persistent with the utility.
Update: Filed the request with Duke yesterday using everyone's advice. Included 15 months of interval data, detailed facility description, and manufacturing process documentation. Fingers crossed! Will report back on the outcome.