Survey of innovative rates: 1994 update. Final report

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:10107877

Wakefield, R A; LeKang, D J; Bowman, C D ^[1]

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1. CSA Energy Consultants, Inc., Arlington, VA (United States)

This document provides an update to the Electric Power Research Institute`s (EPRI) Survey of Innovative Rates, 1991. Current innovative rate data from the same 135 major utilities located throughout the United States were updated and analyzed. The innovative rates in use by the surveyed utilities in 1992 totaled 1,095. This is an increase of 79 rates, or 8%, between 1990 and 1992. Each innovative rate was identified, abstracted, and entered into a database. Survey results indicate that over 162 million MWh were sold to more than 8 million customers using the innovative rates offered. Customer counts and sale son innovative rates grew at rates of 47% and 32%, respectively over the two-year period spanning 1990 to 1992. The most widely used rates remain demand-side management rates--rates intended to change customer energy use. The survey identified 572 demand-side management rates serving over 6.2 million customers, with reported sales exceeding 116 million MWh. Also important in terms of the MWh sales are market-driven rates, which accounted for sales of almost 20 million MWh in 1992. The industry is responding to increased competition in the energy marketplace. Innovative rates enable utilities to be more responsive to their customers` needs and help them to become more competitive. Innovative rates which help meet these objectives include market-driven rates such as economic development rates; special-needs rates such as load retention rates; and demand-side management rates such as interruptible, surplus, and real-time rates. The number of these rate-types offered by utilities has increased 19% since 1990. Customer counts and sales on these rates grew 31% and 21%, respectively between 1990 and 1992. Other innovative rates examined in the survey include: prepaid service, residential assistance, technology specific rates, and those rates related expressly to non-utility generators--namely, buy-back and standby rates.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); CSA Energy Consultants, Inc., Arlington, VA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 10107877
• Report Number(s): EPRI-TR--104491; ON: UN95005671
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296000
ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
LOAD MANAGEMENT
MARGINAL-COST PRICING
PEAK-LOAD PRICING
RATE STRUCTURE
TIME-OF-USE PRICING