| Fuel factors
|
Contains controls used to define environmental
emissions coefficients used to measure the environmental impact the project
building has with respect to the compounds listed here.
- Toolbar — Contains
controls used to navigate, create or delete Fuel factor objects. Buildings
normally utilize multiple resources, e.g. consume both electricity and natural
gas. The new button can add four such sets of fuel factors, one for each of
these fuel resource types.
- Navigate buttons
– Located on the left side of the toolbar, the navigate buttons are used to
scroll through the Fuel factor objects you have defined for those fuel
resource.
- New – Used to
add a new Fuel factor object, for each fuel resource.
- Delete – Used to
delete current Fuel factor object.
- Fuel resource —
Sets the type of fuel used by the project building. The available fuel types
are:
- Electricity
- Natural gas
- Fuel oil
- Propane
Only one set of fuel factors is allowed for each Fuel
Resource type.
- Unit of measure —
Sets the units used to measure the amount of fuel emissions per unit of energy.
The choices are:
- Mass – Default
units are in pounds (lbs) for Imperial (IP) projects, and in kilograms (kg) for
metric (SI) projects.
- Volume –
Default units are in cubic feet (ft3) for Imperial (IP) projects,
and in cubic centimeters (cm3) for metric (SI) projects
- Energy/Unit factor
— Sets the higher heating value of the fuel type.
- Source energy
factor — Sets a factor that is multiplied by the fuel consumption to compute
the source energy contribution for the fuel. If a Source energy schedule is
also specified, the value Source energy factor specified here, the Source
energy schedule value, and the fuel consumption are multiplied together for
each timestep to determine the source energy contribution for the fuel.
- Source energy
schedule — Used to select an energy schedule containing the values that are
multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the source energy.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the Source energy
factor value and by the fuel consumption to determine the source energy
consumption for the fuel.
- CO2 emission factor
— Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel resource for
calculating the mass of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the
atmosphere. Carbon dioxide gas is naturally produced by animals during
respiration and through decay of biomass, and used by plants during
photosynthesis. Although it only constitutes 0.04 percent of the atmosphere, it
is one of the most important greenhouse gases. The combustion of fossil fuels
is increasing carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, which is
believed to be contributing to global warming.
- CO2 emission
schedule — Used to select a CO2 emission schedule containing the values that
are multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- CO emission factor —
Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel resource for calculating
the mass of carbon monoxide (CO) released into the atmosphere. Carbon monoxide
is a colorless, odorless and poisonous gas produced by incomplete fossil fuel
combustion. Carbon monoxide combines with the hemoglobin of human beings,
reducing its oxygen carrying capacity, with effects harmful to human beings.
- CO emission schedule
— Used to select a CO emission schedule containing the values that are
multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- CH4 emission factor
— Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for calculating the
mass of methane (CH4) released into the atmosphere. Methane is a
colorless, nonpoisonous, flammable gas created by anaerobic decomposition of
organic compounds and is one of the more potent greenhouse gases. A major
component of natural gas used in the home.
- CH4 emission
schedule — Used to select a CH4 emission schedule containing the values that
are multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- NOx emission factor
— Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for calculating the
mass of nitrogen oxides (NOx) released into the atmosphere. Nitrogen
oxides refers to nitric oxide gas (NO) and nitrogen dioxide gas
(NO2) and many other gaseous oxides containing nitrogen. The main
source of these gases in urban areas are motor vehicle exhaust and indoor gas
stoves and kerosene heaters. The brown haze sometimes seen over cities is
mainly nitrogen oxides. These gases are also partly responsible for the
generation of ozone, which is produced when nitrogen oxides react with other
chemicals in the presence of sunlight. Exposure to high levels of nitrogen
dioxide can interfere with the ability of blood to carry oxygen, leading to
dizziness and shortness of breath. Prolonged exposure can lead to respiratory
failure.
- NOx emission
schedule — Used to select a NOx emission schedule containing the values that
are multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- N2O emission factor
— Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for calculating the
mass of nitrous oxide(N2O) released into the atmosphere. Relatively
inert oxide of nitrogen produced as a result of microbial action in the soil,
use of fertilizers containing nitrogen, burning of timber and coil, chemical
industry, and so forth. This nitrogen compound may contribute to greenhouse and
ozone-depleting effects.
- N2O emission
schedule — Used to select a N2O emission schedule containing the values that
are multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- SO2 emission factor
— Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for calculating the
mass of sulfur dioxide(SO2) released into the atmosphere. Sulfur
dioxide gas is formed when fuel containing sulfur, such as coal and oil, is
burned, and when gasoline is extracted from oil, or metals are extracted from
ore. Sulfur dioxide reacts with other chemicals in the air to form tiny sulfate
particles, associated with increased respiratory symptoms and disease,
difficulty in breathing, and premature death. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
oxides react with other substances in the air to form acids, which fall to
earth as rain, fog, snow, or dry particles. Acid rain damages forests and
crops, changes the makeup of soil, and makes lakes and streams acidic and
unsuitable for fish. Sulfur dioxide accelerates the decay of building materials
and paints.
- SO2 emission
schedule — Used to select a SO2 emission schedule containing the values that
are multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- PM emission factor —
Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for calculating the mass
of particulate matter (PM) released into the atmosphere. PM is the sum of all
particular matter emitted, including PM10 and PM2.5. Particulate matter, or PM,
are particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid
droplets, which can be suspended in the air for long periods of time. Some
particles are large or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke. Others are so
small that individually they can only be detected with an electron microscope.
Breathing particulate matter is linked to significant respiratory health
problems.
- PM emission schedule
— Used to select a PM emission schedule containing the values that are
multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- PM10 emission factor
— Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for calculating the
mass of particulate matter 10 (PM10) released into the atmosphere.
PM10, includes particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 microns.
These smaller particles are most likely responsible for the adverse health
effects on humans because particles so small can reach the thoracic or lower
regions of the respiratory tract.
- PM10 emission
schedule — Used to select a PM10 emission schedule containing the values that
are multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- PM2.5 emission
factor — Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for calculating
the mass of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) released into the
atmosphere. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) national air quality
standards for fine particles, also known as PM2.5 standards, are levels allowed
in the outdoor air for particulate matter 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller.
EPA issued the PM2.5 standards in 1997 to protect human health and the
environment. Studies have linked increased exposure to PM2.5 to increases in
premature death as well as a range of serious respiratory and cardiovascular
effects.
- PM2.5 emission
schedule — Used to select a PM2.5 emission schedule containing the values that
are multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- NH3 emission factor
— Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for calculating the
mass of ammonia (NH3) released into the atmosphere. Ammonia reacts
with nitrogen and sulfur compounds in the atmosphere, mainly nitric and
sulfuric acids, to form particulate matter.
- NH3 emission
schedule — Used to select a NH3 emission schedule containing the values that
are multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- NMVOC emission
factor — Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for calculating
the mass of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) released into the
atmosphere. Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), which include
propane, butane, and ethane, are emitted primarily from transportation,
industrial processes, and nonindustrial consumption of organic solvents.
Volatile organic compounds react with nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere to form
ozone.
- NMVOC emission
schedule — Used to select a NMVOC emission schedule containing the values that
are multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- Hg emission factor —
Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for calculating the mass
of mercury (Hg) released into the accumulate in the environment and is highly
toxic if breathed or swallowed. This heavy metal can primary sources of mercury
air emissions are coal-fired power plants.
- Hg emission schedule
— Used to select a Hg emission schedule containing the values that are
multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- Pb emission factor —
Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for calculating the mass
of lead (Pb) released into the atmosphere. Lead is a heavy metal that is
hazardous to health if breathed or swallowed. Its use in gasoline, paints, and
plumbing compounds has been sharply restricted or eliminated by federal laws
and regulations.
- Pb emission schedule
— Used to select a Pb emission schedule containing the values that are
multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- Water emission
factor — Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for calculating
the volume of water (H2O) consumed or evaporated in the generation
of electricity. This is the water consumed in the production of the energy, for
instance, electricity off-site evaporated in cooling towers or scrubbers, or in
the production or processing of the fuel itself, for instance, refinery for
gasoline or diesel.
- Water emission
schedule — Used to select a Water emission schedule containing the values that
are multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine the total emission values.
Specifically, each value in the schedule are multiplied by the emission factor
field value and by the fuel consumption to determine the overall emission
factor for the fuel.
- Nuclear high level
emission factor — Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for
calculating the mass of high-level nuclear waste, removed as spent nuclear fuel
from a nuclear reactor once it no longer is efficient at powering the reactor.
Once a year, approximately one-third of nuclear fuel is replaced with new fuel.
This used fuel is called spent nuclear fuel and is highly radioactive;
containing plutonium and other radionuclides. Although there is little
information on quantities of high-level nuclear waste, a few utilities are
beginning to publish this information.
- Nuclear high level
emission schedule — Used to select a Nuclear high level emission schedule
containing the values that are multiplied by the fuel consumption to determine
the total emission values. Specifically, each value in the schedule are
multiplied by the emission factor field value and by the fuel consumption to
determine the overall emission factor for the fuel.
- Nuclear low level
emission factor — Sets the environmental impact coefficient for the Fuel for
calculating the volume of low-level nuclear waste, removed from a nuclear
reactor after radiation contamination. Low-level waste can come from nuclear
reactors or other users of radioactive material, like hospitals or research
institutes. Low-level waste is less hazardous than high-level waste.
|
| Cost tariff
|
Contains controls used to define the name of the
tariff, the type of tariff, and other details about the overall tariff. Each
other object that is part of the tariff model references the tariff name
including the Cost charge simple, Cost charge block, Cost ratchet, Cost
qualify, and Cost variable objects.
- Tariff — Displays
the name of the tariffs. The list is amended as new tariff objects are defined
using the New button, and as they are named in the Name field.
- New – Used to
add a new Tariff object.
- Delete – Used to
delete current Tariff object.
- Name — Used to
enter/edit the name for the tariff. Tariffs are sometimes called rates. The
name is used in identifying the output results and in associating all of the
charges and other objects that make up a tariff.
Note: The Cost tariff object is associated with this the rest
of cost objects below. Meaning, it works in tandem, e.g. with the Cost qualify
—the UtilityCost:Qualify object.
- Group name —
Displays the group name of the tariff such as distribution, transmission,
supplier, etc. If more than one tariff with the same group name is present and
qualifies, only the lowest cost tariff is used. Usually the group name field is
left blank which results in all tariffs using the same meter variable being
compared and the lowest cost one being selected.
- Output meter name —
Displays the name of any meter defined but is usually set to
ElectricityNet:Facility.
- Conversion factor
choice — Selects a choice that allows several different predefined conversion
factors to be used; otherwise, user defined conversion factors are used as
defined in the Energy conversion factor and Demand conversion factor
properties. The available choices are: The following table shows the conversion
factors when specifying one of the predefined choices:
- Userdefined
- KWh
- Therm
- MMBtu
- MJ
- KBtu
- MCF
- CCF
| Choice
|
Energy conversion factor
|
Demand conversion factor
|
| KWh
|
0.0000002778
|
0.001
|
| Therm
|
9.4781712E-09
|
0.00003412
|
| MMBtu
|
9.4781712E-10
|
0.000003412
|
| MJ
|
0.000001
|
0.0036
|
| KBtu
|
9.4781712E-07
|
0.003412
|
| MCF
|
9.4781712E-10
|
0.000003412
|
| CCF
|
9.4781712E-09
|
0.00003412
|
- Energy conversion
factor — Sets a multiplier used to convert energy into the units specified by
the utility in their tariff. If left blank, it defaults to 1 (no conversion).
This field will be used only if the Conversion factor choice property is set to
Userdefined.
- Demand conversion
factor — Sets a multiplier used to convert demand into the units specified by
the utility in their tariff. If left blank, it defaults to 1 (no conversion).
This field will be used only if Conversion factor choice property is set to
Userdefined.
- Time of use period
schedule — Used to select a schedule that defines the time-of-use periods that
occur each day. The Time of use period schedule is used to determine which
variables are defined.
- Season schedule —
Used to select a schedule that defines the seasons. The change in the Season
schedule must occur at the same time as the change in the Monthly schedule.
That is, a season must end at the same time as a billing month.
- Month schedule —
Used to select a schedule that defines the billing periods of the year.
Normally this entry is allowed to default and a schedule will be internally
used that has the breaks between billing periods occurring at the same time as
the breaks between months, for instance, at midnight prior to the first day of
the month. If other billing periods are used such as two month cycles or a
single bill for an entire season, such as some natural gas companies do in the
summer, then the month schedule may be used to redefine it.
- Demand window length
— Defines the length of demand time used by your building’s utility provider.
The determination of demand can vary by utility. Some utilities use the peak
instantaneous demand measured but most use a fifteen minute average demand or a
one hour average demand. Some gas utilities measure demand as the use during
the peak day or peak week. The choices for Demand window length are:If no value
is entered, Quarter hour is assumed. The choice may be overridden based on the
value of the simulation timesteps so that they are consistent. For instance, if
the number of timesteps are 6 (10 minute timesteps), then Quarter hour is not
used and instead Half hour is used. Similarly, If the number of timesteps is 3
(20 minute timesteps), then Quarter hour and Half hour Demand window length
values are not used and instead Full hour is used. Day and Week are primarily
used by fuel utilities.
- Quarter hour
- Half hour
- Full hour
- Day
- Week
- Monthly charge —
Sets the fixed monthly service charge that many utilities have.
- Minimum monthly
charge — Sets the minimum monthly service charge that a utility may have. In
the simulation results, the sum of the subtotal and taxes usually equals the
total unless a minimum monthly charge has been specified here.
- Buy or sell — Sets
whether the tariff is used for buying, selling or both to the utility. This
should be allowed to default to Buy from utility unless a power generation
system is included in the building that may generate more power than the
building needs during the year. The choices are:
- Buy from utility
– The values from the metered variable are used and are shown as being
purchases from the utility.
- 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.
- Net metering –
Negative values are used to reduce any positive values during the specific
period on the tariff when negative values occur.
- Real time pricing
charge schedule — Used with real time pricing rates. The Real time pricing
charge schedule is a schedule that contains the cost of energy for that
particular time period of the year. Real time rates can be modeled using a
charge schedule with the actual real time prices entered in the schedule. The
charges should be consistent with the conversion factor specified in the
tariff.
- Customer baseline
load schedule — Used with real time pricing rates and often described as the
CBL or customer baseline load. The Customer baseline load schedule is a
schedule that contains the baseline energy use for the customer. Many real time
rates apply the charges as a credit or debit only to the difference between the
baseline use and the actual use. The baseline use is established between the
customer and the utility using a contract. If this field is used the baseline
use schedule will be used for establishing the total energy and total demand
instead of the metered value and the real time rate charge is added or
subtracted to the rate calculation using the real time charge schedule. If the
Customer baseline load schedule is not used, the real time charge schedule
applies to all energy from the meter and total energy and total demand is based
on metered value as usual.
Note: The following
sections; Cost qualify, Cost ratchet, Cost variable, Cost charge simple and
Cost charge block are subsets of Cost tariff, and are used to calculate the
overall Cost tariff.
|
| Cost qualify
|
Contains controls used to define the Cost qualify
objects that allow only certain Cost tariffs that are modeled to be used in
simulations. If the results of the simulation fall outside of the range of
qualifications, that Cost tariff is still calculated but the Qualified entry in
the simulation results will say No, and the Cost qualify that caused its
exclusion is reported.
- Toolbar — Contains
controls used to navigate, create or delete Cost qualify objects. When multiple
tariffs from the same utility are modeled and only one of them should be used,
make sure that the qualifiers are consistent especially within the same Cost
tariff Group name. Multiple Cost qualify objects can appear for a specific rate
and they can be based on any variable.
- Navigate buttons
– Located on the left side of the toolbar, the navigate buttons are used to
scroll through the Cost qualify objects you have defined.
- New – Used to
add a new Cost qualify object.
- Delete – Used to
delete Cost qualify objects.
- Name — Used to enter
the name used for Cost qualify and displayed if the tariff does not qualify.
- Variable name — Used
to enter the name of the variable used. For energy and demand, the
automatically created variables, TotalEnergy and TotalDemand should be used,
respectively.
- Type — Used to
select the type of Cost qualify object to be either Minimum and Maximum.
- Threshold value —
Used to set the minimum or maximum value for the Cost qualify object. If the
variable has values that are less than the value entered when the Cost qualify
type is Minimum then the tariff may be disqualified. If the variable has values
that are greater than the value entered, when the Cost qualify type is Maximum
then the tariff may be disqualified. For demand, it is still the minimum of the
demands set each month even though the demands are, by definition, the peak
value for the month. Depending on the Threshold test property selection this
minimum applies to all months, some of the months, or just a single month.
- Threshold test —
Used to select the Threshold test to use. Threshold test uses the value entered
for the Number of months property in one of two different ways depending on the
Threshold test selected. The available tests are:
- Count – When
selected, the qualification is based on the count of the total number of months
per year.
- Consecutive –
When selected, the qualification is based on a consecutive number of months.
- Season — Used to
select a season if the Cost qualify only applies to a season. The options are:
- Annual
- Winter
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Number of months —
Used to enter a number from 1 to 12. If no value entered, 12 is assumed when
the Cost qualify type is Minimum and 1 when the Cost qualify type is Maximum.
The Number of months property is the number that the threshold test applies to
determine if the rate qualifies or not. If the season is less than 12 months
(if it is not annual) then the value is automatically reduced to the number of
months of the season.
|
| Cost ratchet
|
Contains controls used to define Cost ratchet
objects. The Cost ratchet object allows for the modeling of tariffs that
include some type of seasonal ratcheting. Ratchets are most common when used
with electric demand charges. A ratchet is when a utility requires that the
demand charge for a month with a low demand may be increased to be more
consistent with a month that set a higher demand charge.
- Toolbar — Contains
controls used to navigate, create or delete Cost ratchet objects. If multiple
Cost ratchets occur in the same Cost tariff, the multiple Cost ratchet objects
should be chained together with the Baseline source variable subsequent
ratchets referencing the Cost ratchet Name of the previous Cost ratchet. Since
the Cost ratchet object can add together two variables, multiply two variables,
or take the maximum value between two variables, it may be used for other
difficult to model tariffs.
- Navigate
buttons – Located on the left side of the toolbar, the navigate buttons are
used to scroll through the Cost ratchet objects you have defined.
- New – Used to
add a new Cost ratchet object.
- Delete – Used to
delete Cost ratchet objects.
- Name — Used to enter
the name of the Cost ratchet and the name of the result of this single ratchet.
- Baseline source
variable — Used to enter the name of the variable used as the baseline value.
When the ratcheted value exceeds the baseline value for a month the ratcheted
value is used but when the baseline value is greater then the ratcheted value
the baseline value is used. Usually the electric demand charge is used. The
Baseline source variable can be the results of another ratchet object. This
allows utility tariffs that have multiple ratchets to be modeled.
- Adjustment source
variable — Used to enter the variable that the ratchet is calculated from. The
Adjustment source variable is often but not always the same as the Baseline
source variable. The ratcheting calculations using Offset value and Multiplier
value are using the values from the Adjustment source variable.
- Season from — Used
to select the name of the season that is being examined. The maximum value for
all of the months in the named season is what is used with the multiplier and
offset. This is most commonly Summer or Annual. When Monthly is used, the
adjustment source variable is used directly for all months. The choices are:
- Annual
- Winter
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Season to — Used to
select the name of the season when the ratchet would be calculated. This is
most commonly Winter. The ratchet only is applied to the months in the named
season. The resulting variable for months not in the Season to selection will
contain the values as appear in the Baseline source variable. The choices are:
- Annual
- Winter
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Multiplier value —
Used to set a Multiplier value for the Cost ratchet. Often the ratchet has a
clause specifying The current month demand or 90% of the summer month demand.
In this case a value of 0.9 would be entered here as the Multiplier value. This
value may be left blank if no Multiplier value is needed and a value of one
will be used.
- Offset value — Used
to set an Offset value for the Cost ratchet. A less common strategy is to say
that the ratchet must be all demand greater than a value, in this case an
Offset value that is added to the demand can be entered. If entered, it is
common for the Offset value to be negative representing that the demand be
reduced. If no value is entered it is assumed to be zero and does not affect
the Cost ratchet.
|
| Cost variable
|
Contains controls used for the direct entry of
monthly values into a variable.
- Toolbar — Contains
controls used to navigate, create or delete Cost variable objects.
- Navigate buttons
– Located on the left side of the toolbar, the navigate buttons are used to
scroll through the Cost variable objects you have defined.
- New – Used to
add a new Cost variable object. When clicked enables the Name and Months
fields. The default name "Cost variable #" appears in the Name field.
- Delete – Used to
delete Cost variable objects.
- Name — Used to enter
a name for the Cost variable object.
Note: Once the
"Cost variable" is defined here, that will then be then included into
Source Variable list in Cost Charge Block
for selection.
- January – December —
Used to create entries of the monthly values of the Cost variable. Normally 12
months are used for most utility rates and so 12 values should be entered. If
values are not entered for a month, the value of the previous month is used.
This allows a variable that is constant for an entire year to be entered using
only the first month value.
|
| Cost charge simple
|
Contains controls used to define Cost charge simple
objects. The Cost charge simple object is one of the most often used objects
for tariff calculation. It is used to compute energy and demand charges that
are very simple. It can also be used for taxes, surcharges and any other
charges that occur on a utility bill.
- Toolbar — Contains
controls used to navigate, create or delete Cost charge simple objects. As many
Cost charge simple objects as needed may be defined for a single tariff and
they will be added together.
- Navigate buttons
– Located on the left side of the toolbar, the navigate buttons are used to
scroll through the Cost charge simple objects you have defined.
- New – Used to
add a new Cost charge simple object.
- Delete – Used to
delete Cost charge simple objects.
- Name — Used to enter
a name for the Cost charge simple object. This is the name associated with the
Cost charge simple object and will appear in the report. In addition, the
results of the Cost charge simple calculation are stored in a variable with the
same name. That way, the results may be used for further calculation.
- Source variable —
Used to enter the name of the source used by the Cost charge simple object.
This is usually the name of the variable holding the totalEnergy or totalDemand
but may also be the name of any Category variable including the Subtotal or
Basis variables if other charges are based on those.
- Season — Used to
select the name of a season for which the Cost charge simple object is
calculated. If set to Annual, the calculations are performed for the Cost
charge simple object for the entire year (all 12 months), otherwise it is
calculated only for those months in the Season defined. The season is defined
by the Season schedule in the Cost tariff object. The choices for seasons are:
- Annual
- Winter
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Category variable —
Used to select a Category variable for the Cost charge simple object. All
charges get added somewhere in the cost hierarchy. The selected Category
variable defines where the charge should be added. The charge automatically
gets added to the variable that is the category. The choices are limited to:
- Energy charges
- Demand charges
- Service charges
- Basis
- Adjustment
- Surcharge
- Subtotal
- Taxes
- Total
- Not included
- Cost/unit — Used to
specify a cost per unit value or variable name. That is the value entered is
either a single number or the name of a variable. If a number is entered, the
number is multiplied with all of the energy or demand or other source that is
specified in the Fuel factors data panel’s Fuel resource property. If a
variable is used, then the monthly values of the variable are multiplied
against the variable specified in the source field. This makes it easy to
include a simple charge without specifying block sizes. It is added to any of
the block calculations but is most often used by itself. If no value or
variable is entered, a zero is assumed. This is a good way to include a tax or
cost adjustment. For Sell to utility tariffs, the values in this field are
usually expressed as negative numbers.
|
| Cost charge block
|
Contains controls used to define Cost charge block
objects which are used to compute energy and demand charges that are structured
in blocks of charges. Cost charge block objects are also used extensively for
Cost tariff calculations. They can also be used for taxes, surcharges and any
other charges that occur on a utility bill but those are more commonly simple
flat charges. The Cost charge simple object is more appropriate for those
functions.
- Toolbar — Contains
controls used to navigate, create or delete Cost charge block objects. As many
Cost charge block objects as needed can be defined for a single Cost tariff and
they will be added together. Cost charge blocks are a structure used by almost
all utilities for calculating energy and demand charges and they allow the
utility to charge more or less per unit of energy or demand if more units are
used.
- Navigate buttons
– Located on the left side of the toolbar, the navigate buttons are used to
scroll through the Cost charge block objects you have defined.
- New – Used to
add a new Cost charge block object.
- Delete – Used to
delete Cost charge block objects.
- Name — Used to enter
a name for the Cost charge block. It will appear in the report. In addition,
the results of the Cost charge block are stored in a variable with the same
name. That way, the results may be used for further calculation.
- Source variable —
Used to enter the name of the source used by the Cost charge block. This is
usually the name of the variable holding the energy or demand but may also be
the name of any variable including the Subtotal or Basis if other charges are
based on those.
The list also contains the "Cost variable" defined above.
- Season — Used to
select the name of a season for which the Cost charge block is calculated. If
set to Annual, the calculations are performed for the Cost charge block for the
entire year (all months) otherwise it is calculated only for those months in
the season defined. The choices for seasons are:
- Annual
- Winter
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Category variable —
Used to select a Category variable for the Cost charge block object. All
charges get added somewhere in the cost hierarchy. The selected Category
variable defines where the charge should be added. The charge automatically
gets added to the variable that is the category. The choices are limited to:
- Energy charges
- Demand charges
- Service charges
- Basis
- Adjustment
- Surcharge
- Subtotal
- Taxes
- Total
- Not included
- Remaining into
variable — Used to define a Remaining into variable for the Cost charge block
object. If the Cost charge blocks defined do not use all of the energy or
demand from the source, some energy and demand remains, then the remaining
amount is assigned to the Remaining into variable.
- Block size
multiplier — Used to specify a Block size multiplier for the Cost charge block
object. The sizes of the Cost charge blocks are usually used directly but if a
value or a variable is entered, the block sizes entered in the rest of the Cost
charge block are first multiplied by the Block size multiplier value prior to
being used. If no value is entered, a default value of one is assumed so that
the block sizes remain exactly as entered.
- Block size — Used to
specify block sizes 1, 2, etc. for the Cost charge block object. For rates that
use multiple blocks, this is the value for the first block size. Additional
block sizes are entered by using the pop-up menu.
- Block cost/unit —
Used to specify the cost of the Cost charge block object’s block sizes 1, 2,
etc. As many blocks can be entered as are needed. Additional block cost/unit
are entered by using the pop-up menu.
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