Meredith from Raleigh. One thing that consistently surprises new auditors is how dramatically the available rate schedules change once you cross a demand threshold. In my utility territory crossing 100 kW opens up three rate schedules that are simply not available below that level. I had a client sitting at 97 kW on a general service rate who had actually peaked at 115 kW twice in the past year. We got them properly reclassified and the savings were significant. Anyone else find that threshold crossings are where the biggest rate class errors hide?
Large vs small demand — how the threshold changes everything
Margie from Boise. Yes and crossing back below a threshold can be just as significant. I had a client who had reduced operations but was still on a large industrial rate designed for 500 kW customers. Their actual peak had dropped to 180 kW and there was a much cheaper medium commercial rate available.
Phil from Tampa. The tricky part is when a client is right at the threshold and fluctuates above and below. The utility sometimes picks the less favorable classification and sticks with it. Worth pushing back.
Phil that is exactly what happened in my case. The utility said they classify based on the 12-month peak, which in theory means two high months determined the rate for the whole year. We argued successfully that those peaks were anomalies related to a one-time production run and not representative of the ongoing load.
Kevin from Louisville. That anomaly argument is worth documenting carefully. I keep notes on any unusual operating conditions during the billing period specifically so I can make that argument if needed.
Marcus from Charlotte. The threshold issue is also why I always pull 24 months of data not just 12. Seeing the full picture over two years shows whether threshold crossings are structural or occasional.