Understanding Load Factor
What is Load Factor?
- As defined by the EIA, Load Factor is the ratio of the Average Energy Demand ( LOAD) to the Maximum Demand ( Peak Load) during a specific time interval.
- Definition for the average human being, Load Factor is an expression of how much energy was used in a time period, versus how much energy would have been used, if the power had been left on during a period of peak demand. It is a useful indicator for describing the consumption characteristics of electricity over a period of time. Customers whose facilities are metered for demand can readily determine the load factor for any given month. Facilities billed at highest peak demand during the billing period should avoid periods of increased demand whenever possible. Simply put this is how efficient the business is at using power.
Load Factor Formula – Monthly kWh, divided by the Sum from this equation: (Demand multiplied by 24 (hours in a day) multiplied by Days in the Billing Cycle).
Monthly kWh
divided by the sum from below formula
(Demand x Days in Billing Cycle x 24 hrs/day)
divided by the sum from below formula
(Demand x Days in Billing Cycle x 24 hrs/day)
Example of how to calculate Load Factor
The load factor percentage is derived by dividing the total kilowatt-hours (kWh) consumed in a designated period by the product of the maximum demand in kilowatts (kW), days in the billing cycle and the number of hours in the period. In the example below, the monthly kWh consumption is 34,000 and the peak demand is 80 kW. There were 30 days in the billing period.
The load factor percentage is derived by dividing the total kilowatt-hours (kWh) consumed in a designated period by the product of the maximum demand in kilowatts (kW), days in the billing cycle and the number of hours in the period. In the example below, the monthly kWh consumption is 34,000 and the peak demand is 80 kW. There were 30 days in the billing period.
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34,000 kWh
80 kW x 30 days x 24 hrs/day 34,000 kWh 57,600 kWh 59% Medium |
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This load factor indicates the monthly energy consumption of 34,000 kWh used by the customer was 59% of the total energy available (57,600 kWh) for use at the 100 kW level.
Importance of Load Factor
The demand rate structure automatically rewards customers for improving their load factor. Since load factor is an expression of how much energy was actually used compared to the peak demand, customers can use the same amount of electricity from one month to the next and still cause their average cost per kilowatt-hour to drop as much as 40% simply by reducing the peak demand. For instance, a 25% load factor in the summer would yield an average cost per kWh of 13.2 cents, while an 80% load factor would yield an average cost per kWh of 7.9 cents. Remember, this is comparing two months in which the customer used the same amount of electricity (kWh) with different peak demands.
The demand rate structure automatically rewards customers for improving their load factor. Since load factor is an expression of how much energy was actually used compared to the peak demand, customers can use the same amount of electricity from one month to the next and still cause their average cost per kilowatt-hour to drop as much as 40% simply by reducing the peak demand. For instance, a 25% load factor in the summer would yield an average cost per kWh of 13.2 cents, while an 80% load factor would yield an average cost per kWh of 7.9 cents. Remember, this is comparing two months in which the customer used the same amount of electricity (kWh) with different peak demands.
How to improve Load Factor
Lowering the facility’s peak demand is the primary step to improving load factor and will reduce the amount paid monthly for electricity. To determine the potential for improving load factor, analyze billing records to identify the seasons during which the peak demand is the greatest. In general, the greatest demand for electricity in Austin occurs on hot days in the summer. While this implies that a large electric load is dedicated to space cooling, it is not necessarily true for every facility. It is always best to observe operations at the facility to determine what equipment may be causing the peak demand. Once the contributing equipment loads have been identified, determine what can be done to sequence or schedule events or processes in order to minimize the simultaneous operation of high wattage equipment.
Lowering the facility’s peak demand is the primary step to improving load factor and will reduce the amount paid monthly for electricity. To determine the potential for improving load factor, analyze billing records to identify the seasons during which the peak demand is the greatest. In general, the greatest demand for electricity in Austin occurs on hot days in the summer. While this implies that a large electric load is dedicated to space cooling, it is not necessarily true for every facility. It is always best to observe operations at the facility to determine what equipment may be causing the peak demand. Once the contributing equipment loads have been identified, determine what can be done to sequence or schedule events or processes in order to minimize the simultaneous operation of high wattage equipment.
