Working on a tricky allocation issue here in Youngstown. 45-unit apartment building with ground floor commercial space (restaurant and dry cleaner). Single master meter on Ohio Edison Schedule GP. Total demand averaging 220 kW but the restaurant probably accounts for 60-70 kW during dinner rush. How do you fairly allocate demand charges between residential and commercial tenants?
Ohio Edison demand allocation for mixed-use building - help needed
Jim, that's a nightmare scenario. Cleveland Edison has similar mixed-use buildings and we usually recommend separate meters if possible. For allocation, you'd need interval data to see when the peak occurs. If it's during restaurant hours, they should pay most of the demand charge. Otherwise you're subsidizing their business with residential tenant money.
Frank, the building owner doesn't want to pay for meter separation. The restaurant lease is coming up for renewal and they're pushing back on utility costs. Current allocation is 70% residential, 30% commercial based on square footage, but that doesn't account for the demand differential. The restaurant is probably 40% of total kWh but way more than 30% of demand.
You need to get Ohio Edison to provide 15-minute interval data if they have it. That'll show exactly when demand peaks occur. If the restaurant is driving the peak, their allocation should reflect that. We had a similar situation in Atlanta where the commercial tenant was paying 25% but causing 65% of demand charges. Had to restructure the whole lease.