Working with a mountain resort in Northern California that operates seasonally from May through October. PG&E has them on Schedule A-10 (Medium General Demand) year-round, but they're paying demand charges during closed months when usage drops to basically zero. Shouldn't they qualify for some kind of seasonal rate treatment? Current winter months still show $800-1200 monthly bills for minimal usage. - Wayne T.
PG&E seasonal rate confusion - resort property
Wayne, PG&E doesn't have true seasonal rates like some East Coast utilities. However, check if they qualify for Schedule A-10-S (Secondary) if they're not actually taking primary voltage. Also look at Schedule AG-R if any part of the property has agricultural activities - some mountain resorts qualify. The demand charges are brutal during closed periods. - Rodney J.
Rodney is right about PG&E's limited seasonal options. I've had resort clients consider shutting off service entirely during closed months and paying reconnection fees. Sometimes the math works out better than carrying demand charges for 5-6 months. What's their peak demand during operating season? - Joan W.
Joan, peak demand is around 450kW during summer months when fully operational. Winter demand drops to 15-25kW just for security systems and minimal heating. The $11.50/kW demand charge on 450kW billing demand even during low usage months is killing them. Disconnection might be worth exploring. - Wayne T.
Wayne, before considering disconnection check PG&E's billing demand reset provisions. Schedule A-10 resets billing demand if actual demand stays below 40% of previous peak for 11 consecutive months. With your client dropping to 15-25kW, they might qualify for demand reset to actual usage levels. Worth investigating before the drastic step of seasonal disconnection. - Randy D.
Randy's demand reset suggestion is brilliant. I've used similar provisions with Pacific Power for seasonal businesses. The key is documenting the operational patterns and requesting the reset in writing. Much better than paying reconnection fees and deposits every season. - Clyde N.
Randy, that's exactly what I needed! Found the billing demand reset language in PG&E Tariff Schedule A-10 Section 5. Filing the request after January billing cycle shows 12 consecutive months below the 40% threshold. This could save the client $4K monthly during off-season. Perfect solution. - Wayne T.