Understand Demand Billing
Demand is the amount of power needed to supply every electrical device running in your home or business at a specific point in time. It is the maximum rate at which your household has consumed electricity. For more information, please watch this video from Platte Clay (another Missouri Co-Op) that explains Demand and why it's important.
Demand (kW) is created when members stack their energy load. There is no penalty for the electrical demand that a member sets: every household using electric service has “demand” and as a co-op we've always been supplementing demand with our KWH charges. Now with affordable technology and our smart meters we are able to measure demand and bill that charge separately, giving members the opportunity to control it.
Beginning January 1, 2025, members will begin paying for a portion of the demand each member creates. You'll notice on your February bill for January usage that you'll have $2 per kW (demand) charge. If your kW (demand) is 11, you'll pay $22 for that month. Tri-County Electric pays for electricity based on the co-op’s collective peak demand and that charge is about 50% of our total purchase power cost. We must plan and be prepared to meet each member’s demand needs at any given time.
Understanding demand
How is peak demand charged?
Member demand is measured in kW. It is read in 15 minute intervals. The highest 15 minute interval in a 24 hour period is the daily peak demand. The highest daily peak reading is used for determining your demand charge for the month and it resets each month. For example, if your highest monthly peak reading is 11, the demand charge on your billing statement would be $22. If it is 20, it would be $40.
How does Tri-County Electric know my peak demand?
The co-op has billing software interconnected with members’ meters that can determine the highest demand within the current month. The co-op reviews demand every month and resets member demand. Members will be billed at $2 per kW based on the members' monthly demand.
How do I know how much my demand is?
Your demand can be read on your meter at home at any given time. We are also working on an app we hope to have done in January so members can track their usage and peak demands. This will allow our members to also study their energy habits which may affect their overall bill.
Why is collecting demand important?
Demand is about 50% of our existing rate structure that Tri-County pays to Northeast Power who transmits our power. It's imperative that we collect that portion of our power bill based on your demand for the power each month.
Rates starting 01/01/24
Single Phase 75kVA or Less
75kVA or Less
Single Phase - 75kVA or Less
$43.00/Mo Service Availability
$1.00/kW Demand
$.13185 per kWh
Three Phase 75kVA or Less
Three Phase - 75kVA or Less
Three Phase - 75kVA or Less
$72.00/Mo Service Availability
$1.00/kW Demand
$.13160 per kWh
Large Power
Large Power
Large Power
$150.00/Mo Service Availability
$14.00/kW Demand
$.08800 per kWh
Dusk to Dawn Light
Dusk to Dawn Light
100 W HPS: $10.25/month
150 W LED: $25.75/month
250 W HPS: $20.75/month
400 W HPS: $25.75/month
40 W LED Flood Light: $10.25/month
100 W LED Flood Light: $20.75/month
Mercury Vapor Light: $10.25/month