Hotel client in Tampa with two large commercial swimming pools. Pool pumps are 25 HP and 15 HP running continuously during pool operating hours. Combined demand from pool equipment including pumps, heaters, and chemical treatment systems is approximately 55 kW. The pools operate May through October. During the off-season the pool demand drops to near zero but the FPL demand ratchet keeps billing elevated demand through the winter months.
Swimming pool pump demand ? seasonal recreation facilities
Nancy ? 55 kW of seasonal pool demand on an FPL account is going to get caught in the two-highest-months averaging ratchet. If those two highest months both include pool operation the winter floor stays elevated. One option: install VFD controllers on the pool pumps to reduce pump speed during periods of low bather load. A 25 HP pump at 75% speed draws roughly 42% of full speed power. Significant demand reduction during low-usage pool hours.
Brenda in Tallahassee ? municipal pools here have the same issue with Duke Energy FL. One thing that worked: separate metering for the pool equipment. Pool equipment on its own meter with seasonal service allows disconnection during off-season months with no demand carry-over. The main building meter loses the pool demand from its peak. Two meters but lower total demand charges.
Henry and Brenda ? both good options. The VFD approach reduces demand while the pools are operating. Separate metering eliminates the cross-contamination of pool demand into building demand. For this hotel the separate metering option is more attractive because the pool equipment is already on a separate electrical panel. The cost to add a second meter is about $1,500.
Same issue with resort pools in Savannah. Georgia Power allowed us to put the pool house on a separate account. The pool account has no ratchet during the November-March off-season because the account is temporarily disconnected. The main resort meter demand dropped by 65 kW when we removed pool load from it. Net savings: $7,800 annually after accounting for the second meters customer charge.
Update: FPL approved the second meter for pool equipment. Installed in August. September billing showed building demand dropped 52 kW. Pool meter demand showed 55 kW but only during pool season. In November when pools close the pool meter goes to zero with no ratchet carry-over. Projected annual savings: $5,400. Simple, clean solution for any seasonal load that can be isolated on a separate panel.