Working with a seasonal ice cream shop that's only open April-October. Their Ameren Missouri bill shows a minimum charge year-round but demand charges even during closed months. Is this normal or should I dig deeper?
Seasonal business billing questions
Demand charges during closed months are a red flag. Could be equipment left running (freezers, security systems) or meter/billing error. What's the actual demand reading showing for December-March?
January showed 8kW demand, which seems high for just security and maybe some heating. Owner says everything gets unplugged except the alarm system. Might be worth a site visit to see what's actually running.
Could also be a ratchet clause keeping summer demand active through winter months. Some utilities do a 12-month ratchet on seasonal accounts. Check the rate tariff carefully.
Great point about the ratchet clause, Beatrice. I'll pull the full tariff and see if there's a seasonal provision that could help. Thanks for the direction!