Westar replacing business meters
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 01:26 p.m., January 7, 2008
Updated 01:26 p.m., January 7, 2008
Q Westar is installing new meters at all of the businesses in Emporia. I hear it is so they can charge higher rates. Is that true?
A The meter changes are not being made specifically to charge higher rates, although customers may want to pay attention to their electrical usage to avoid increases. The “demand charge” will be a key factor.
The meter changes arose from a rate case presented by Westar in 2005, according to Gina Penzig, Westar spokeswoman. The plan was intended to make charges more consistent between former KG&E and KP&L customers now served by Westar.
As a result, the utility company is changing out business meters not only in Emporia, but across the northern portion of its service area. Also as part of the plan, the utility made adjustments to ensure that the charge remains flat, she said.
The “demand charge” change was part of the plan presented in 2005, and the timing involved with it could translate into a higher bill.
“Previously in Emporia, we looked at a 30-minute period to come up with a demand charge,” Penzig said. “Now we look at a 15-minute period. ...
“The demand charge isn’t new to these customers. They’ve had the demand charge. It’s just the window of time that we’re using to measure.”
Business consumers have the option of studying their usage and spreading it out to produce a lower peak demand.
Penzig said, for example, that business operators may want to monitor how they reach their peak demand. When they open in the morning, they may flip on all of the lights in the building, turn on the air conditioner and all machines and equipment that will be used that day. The greatest 15 minutes of demand could occur minutes after the doors open to the public.
Penzig suggested business operators consider setting heating and air on timers to come on 30 minutes before employees arrive and “changing maybe your opening routine, if that’s the time that you set the highest demand charge.”
And, she added, check to see if it is necessary to have all pieces of equipment running at one time.
“We do have a lot of information about demand and energy efficiency that’s geared toward businesses on our Web site,” Penzig said. “ ... (I)t’s very comprehensive.”
Business energy-use tips can be seen at http://westarenergy.apogee.net/comsuite/
A similar site for residential energy savings is at http://westarenergy.apogee.net/homesuite/