In this example we are going to use the greenest power possible and call it “Al Gore's Gas and Electric.” There is a cost for both Electricity and Gas in this example. Gas is simple while Electricity has several factors that we will discuss when we input them into TRACE 700. Many rate structures have certain things that we simply cannot enter in TRACE 700, such as Carbon Credits. In this case we can't model the Carbon Credits in TRACE 700 so they would have to be calculated by hand.
In order to input a rate structure we need to launch the TRACE 700 Library Template Editor. This can be done by clicking the red button at the top of the TRACE 700 screen. If you can see the button, you’ll notice that it is an illustration of some handwriting in a book and is linked to the TRACE 700 Library. Another way to open the Library is to select the Library's menu and go to Rate Structures.
Once in the Rate Structure Library, you will notice that the existing Rate Structures are available under the description. A good idea for new users is to find a similar structure – such as Northern Power Company – copy that Structure, give it a new name, and then make your changes. The purpose of this example is to show you how to do it from scratch.
Start with a new Structure which we will name, “Al Gore Gas and Electric.” While we have given this a Description, there are currently no Rates Defined so we need to click the New Definition button. Every time you click the New Definition button, the first Utility it displays is the Electric demand.
Electric Consumption
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In this example, we want to start with the Electric consumption. As you can see, there is a field for Minimum charge, a Start period, an End period, a Rate type, a Minimum demand percent (which does not apply to consumption), a Fuel adjustment cost and a Customer Charge. These fields are all necessary, because rate structures can become quite complicated. In some cases the rate has a different value for On peak charges and Off peak charges. In some cases, it can even include rates for Mid-peak and Super off peak. A common example of On Peak and Off peak are winter and summer rates, or night and day rates. In our case the rate is going to be the same year-round for all hours of the day.
If we look at the Electric Consumption Charges in our example, we see there is a Monthly Charge of $120 and a Minimum charge of $200. So we can enter the Minimum charge of $200 and the Customer Charge of $120. It is important to note the difference between the Minimum charge and the Customer Charge. The best analogy I can come up with is that the Minimum charge is equivalent to a, say, three drink minimum at a bar, while the Customer Charge is more like a cover charge to get in. You don't get anything for the Customer Charge, while if you spend at an amount equal or greater to the minimum charge, you will not pay the fee. For instance, you don't pay the drink minimum if you get four drinks when the drink minimum is three. If we use $250 worth of electricity, we won't pay the minimum charge in this case.