Fixed Energy costs reduction

For higher usage users we can examine your bills to see if any savings can be made to the KVA headroom. if there are potential savings on KVA we will request with your permission further information on your KVA spikes from ESB networks.

KVA savings can reduce your PSO levy and KVA capacity charges.

We can also look to eliminate charges such as low power factor surcharge and excess capacity.

Loads such as motors (compressors, lifts,refrigeration, conveyors), other inductive loads and some lighting in commercial and industrial premises use both active (kW) and reactive (kVAR), also known as 'Wattless' power. You are charged for the units used in kilowatt hours (kWHrs), so if you use a piece of equipment rated at 1kW for 1 hour you clock up 1 kWHr. This is fine for the energy suppliers if the equipment uses only active power such as a heating element. However, the suppliers have to allow for both kW and kVAR. This overall supply is measured in kVA. At present in Ireland, to simplify things, the suppliers allow you to use a certain percentage of reactive units without charge. If these units exceed 1/3 of the kWHrs you will see a 'low power factor surcharge' line on you bill.

The tried and tested solution is to introduce capacitance into the system, this is achieved with a power factor correction panel. As loads in premises are intermittent the panel measures the system and only adds capacitance when required. This will eliminate the surcharge.