I have a utility rate that has blocks based on the kWh/kW for each month
rather than strictly kWh usage (see below). I did not see a way in eQuest
to input this type of rate in the detailed edit mode. Has anyone ever dealt
with a rate like this in eQuest or have any suggestions? I have a
spreadsheet set up to calculate the costs but I hate having to figure out
the monthly peak kW and input to the spreadsheet for every model iteration.
Electric Block Rate based on monthly demand
Jan 31, 2012
You have my sympathy - that seems like a needlessly confusing rate structure!
I think the block charges will allow you to do this, though. There is a BLOCK#-TYPE keyword value of "KWH/KW-LIMITSUM" that is defined as "Used when the sum of the kWh in a series of ENERGY blocks is limited by a kWh/kW value. The maximum value is specified in the BLOCK-DATA." This is from the DOE-2 help, Volume 2: Dictionary. I have never used it so my value may cease there, but that would be my first attempt at getting this rate structure into eQuest.
Jeremy R. Poling, PE, LEED AP+BDC
Sounds like a Sothern Company or TVA rate plan. You can do this in eQUEST - I think you need to do this in the detailed interface using the kWh/kW limitsum option. If I am not mistaken - in the kWk/kW limitsum option you set the limit for each block as the ratio of kWh/kW (i.e your limit for the first block is 125, 275 for the next, and 999999 for the third). You need to set your block up as incremental (not cumulative). In each block you will set up your rate tiers with the same limit (125 for all the first block tiers, 275 for all the second block tiers, and 999999 for all the third block tiers.)
Let me know if this works for you
Vikram Sami, LEED AP BD+C
Attached is a sample rate based on PECO in Philadelphia.
It's slightly different in there are no sub-tranches within each kW/kWh block.
Thus, the first 150 hours of billed demand are all billed at one constant $/kWh, the second are at a different constant $/kWh, etc.
I also used to use spreadsheets. If you decide you have to, I'm pretty sure there is an automated procedure for extracting monthly demand and usage it out of the *.csv files generated automatically after a model run. Let me know if you want me to dig that up.
Aaron
Aaron Dahlstrom , PE, LEED(r) AP