Donna L. from Oklahoma City working on a New Jersey account. Mixed-use property with retail on ground floor, offices on second floor, and small manufacturing in the basement. PSE&G has them on Schedule CGS but I think parts qualify for different rate classes. The manufacturing area alone uses 75kW consistently. Has anyone successfully gotten PSE&G to split mixed-use properties into separate rate classifications?
PSE&G Mixed-Use Property Rate Classification Challenge
Walt D. in Pittsburgh - PSE&G is tough on mixed-use properties. They generally prefer single rate classification per meter. You'd need separate metering for different rate classes, which gets expensive with installation costs and monthly service charges.
Randy here. Walt's correct about PSE&G's preference for single classification. However, if the manufacturing component can be clearly defined as separate from commercial operations, you might argue for industrial rate treatment of the entire account. Focus on the manufacturing being the primary use with retail/office as ancillary. What type of manufacturing is in the basement?
Thanks Walt and Randy! It's a small printed circuit board assembly operation. Definitely industrial process, but only about 40% of total facility usage. The retail space actually uses more power due to HVAC and lighting demands.
Janet H. in Richmond - with retail being the higher usage, you might be stuck with commercial classification. PSE&G typically goes with predominant use. The manufacturing percentage might not be sufficient to justify industrial rates.
Kevin O. from Kansas City. Had a similar case with Evergy here. Sometimes you can negotiate a special contract rate for mixed-use properties if the savings are substantial. Might be worth exploring with PSE&G's commercial account team.
Jack P. in Louisville - curious what the potential savings would be between rate classes? That usually drives whether it's worth the fight with the utility.
Jack, rough calculation shows about $2,800 monthly savings if we could get industrial classification. Definitely worth pursuing. Kevin, I might explore the special contract route - hadn't considered that option.
Kevin W. from Dayton - $33,600 annual savings justifies some effort! I'd push PSE&G on the industrial classification angle first. Manufacturing should carry more weight in rate determination than just usage percentages.
Floyd H. in Topeka - any update on this case? The outcome would be helpful for others dealing with mixed-use properties.
Still working with PSE&G. They agreed to review the industrial classification request but want detailed manufacturing process documentation. Gathering equipment specifications and production flow charts. Will update when I hear back from them.