4.2.1 Utility Costs: Tariffs

Tariff Name

Applicability

All projects using custom utility rates

Definition

A unique identifier for the tariff being calculated. The name is used in identifying the output results and in associating all of the charges and other objects that make up a tariff.

Units

Text

Input Restrictions

None

Baseline Building

Same as proposed

Tariff Meter

Applicability

All projects using custom utility rates

Definition

Specifies the type of meter the tariff will accept to calculate energy used or demand:

• Electricity: Specifies that the meter (s) will be electric.
• Gas: Specifies that the meter(s) will be natural gas.
• Gasoline: Specifies that the meter(s) will be gasoline.
• Diesel: Specifies that the meter(s) will be diesel.
• Coal: Specifies that the meter(s) will be coal.
• FUEL-OIL#1: Specifies that the meter(s) will be fuel oil #1.
• FUEL-OIL#2: Specifies that the meter(s) will be fuel oil #2.
• Propane: Specifies that the meter(s) will be propane.
• Steam: Specifies that the meter(s) will be steam.
• District Heating: Specifies that the meter(s) will be purchased hot water.
• District Cooling: Specifies that the meter(s) will be purchased chilled water.
• Electricity Purchased: Specifies that the meter(s) will be purchased electricity. This meter is quantity of electricity purchased from the utility and is always positive.
• Electricity Surplus Sold: Specifies that the meter(s) will be the surplus electricity sold to the grid. This meter is the excess electricity produced and sent out to the electrical grid. This value is always positive and indicates the surplus electricity from generation that exceeds whole building demand and fed into the grid.
• Electricity Net Purchased: This meter is the net electricity purchased from the utility. This value can be either positive or negative. Positive values are defined as electricity purchased from the utility. Negative values are defined as surplus electricity fed back into the grid.

Units

List of all the output meters mentioned above

Input Restrictions

None

Baseline Building

Same as proposed

Net Metering Option

Applicability

All projects using custom utility rates

Definition

This input sets whether the specified tariff is used for buying, selling or both to the utility. The choices are:

• Buy From Utility: The values from the metered variable are used and are shown as being purchases from the utility. The corresponding meter for this option should be specified as “Electricity Purchased.”
• Sell To Utility: The values from the metered variable are used for a “sell back” rate to the utility. The charges in the rate should be expressed as negative values. The corresponding meter for this option should be specified as “Electricity Surplus Sold.”
• Net Metering: Negative values are used to reduce any positive values during the specific period on the tariff when negative values occur. The corresponding meter for this option should be specified as “Electricity Net Purchased.”

Units

List: Buy From Utility, Sell To Utility, Net Metering

Input Restrictions

None. The default selection for this input is Buy From Utility.

Baseline Building

Same as proposed

Conversion Factors

Applicability

All projects using custom utility rates

Definition

A choice that allows several different predefined conversion factors to be used. These multipliers are used to convert energy and/or demand into the units specified by the utility in their tariff.

• kWh
• Therm
• MMBtu
• Megajoule (MJ)
• KBtu
• Mil cubic feet (MCF)
• Centum cubic feet (CCF)

The following table shows the conversion factors for each of the units. The simulation results for energy use are in joules (J) and energy demand are in watts (W). The conversion factors specified below are used to convert energy and demand to the corresponding unit.

Units

List of the unit choice or user defined

Input Restrictions

One of the units defined in the list. If “User Defined” is selected, the corresponding energy and demand conversion factor needs to be provided.

Baseline Building

Same as proposed