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kiln kw demand question

updated sat 20 mar 04

 

Mert & Holly Kilpatrick on fri 19 mar 04


Our Bailey Coneart kilns are 43 amp X240 volt = 10,320 watt kilns.

We recently got a new meter on our workshop and our electricity is now
billed with a per kwh charge and a "demand" charge (which is the amount of
kw/15 minutes used in the highest 15 min. in the month).

Our average electric rate is killing us, due to the way they bill with this
type of meter. Our average per kwh cost is now ranging from 25 cents to 40
cents! I found out that we can get changed to a different type of meter, as
long as our demand will stay below 10 kw.

So far, we have not seen our demand go over 8.9, but we haven't had this
meter long. Can someone knowledgeable about this tell me how this works --
how can we (or can we) ensure that our demand will stay below 10kw, even
though our kiln is rated 10.32 kw? If we go over 10kw 2 months in a row, we
wouldn't be able to keep the new meter and would have to go back to the one
we have now.

Any education/information on this would be appreciated!

Holly
East Bangor, PA, US