Eddie from Spokane here with an Avista puzzle. Commercial client (retail strip mall, 85K sq ft) showing 40% usage increase over past winter compared to last year same period. They're on Schedule 25 commercial and went from 145 MWh to 203 MWh December through January. Weather has been colder but not 40% colder. Building management swears no tenant changes or equipment additions. Anyone else seeing unusual winter usage spikes in the Pacific Northwest this year?
Avista Commercial Usage Spikes - Climate or Equipment?
Eddie, I haven't seen that extreme an increase here in Boise with Idaho Power, but we did have some unusually cold snaps in December. More likely culprits: heat pump systems switching to backup resistance heating, or someone cranked up thermostats and forgot. Check the tenant lease agreements - sometimes new tenants don't understand energy costs are passed through.
Warren, good point on the heat pumps. This building does have rooftop units that are probably 15+ years old. If they're defaulting to strip heat more often than before, that could definitely explain the spike. I'll have them get an HVAC contractor out to check system operation and temperature setpoints.
Eddie, also consider that older heat pump systems lose efficiency as equipment ages. A 15-year-old unit might be operating at 60-70% of original efficiency, forcing more auxiliary heat usage during cold periods. The December/January cold snap combined with degraded equipment could easily create that 40% increase. Document the HVAC findings for the building owner - they might need system replacement planning.