Let's deep dive into custom tariff rates by focusing on Time-of-Use (ToU) rates. ToU rates can help your customer save money by adjusting their usage patterns.
What is Time of Use(ToU) rates?
Time-of-Use rates vary based on the time of day, day of the week, and season. This means electricity costs more during peak hours when demand is high and less during off-peak hours. Arka360 supports two main options:
Pre-defined ToU Rates
Creating New ToU Rates
With pre-defined ToU rates, you can select from a list of existing tariffs provided by utility. These rates are already set up and ready to use, making it easy to get started.
Step 1. To add ToU rates, first select the tab of 'Time of Use Rates'.
Step 2. Now, select the Pre Solar Utility provider that is the utility provider of your customer before solar system was installed at their property. Based on selected Utility provided, you will get a list of Pre solar utility rate. Search and select the pre solar utility rate that your customer was charged with before solar installation.
Step 3. Now, select the Post Solar Utility provider that is the utility provider of your customer after solar system has been installed at their property. Based on selected Utility provided, you will get a list of post solar utility rate. Search and select the post solar utility rate that your customer will be charged with after solar installation.
Step 4. Add the annual escalation rate.
If the ToU rates that your customer uses is not available in the list then you can create your own ToU rates. This allows you to customize the rates according to your customer specific needs. You can define peak and off-peak hours, set different rates for different times, and adjust for seasonal changes.
Step 1. To create your own ToU rates, click on 'Manage Custom Tariff'.
Step 2. This will open a new page of Custom Tariff, here you can search the existing tariffs under all Tariffs. The tariffs created by you will be saved under My Tariff section. To create new ToU Tariff rate, click on 'Create new Tariff'.
Step 3. Clicking on 'Create New Tariff' will open up a pop up. In this pop up, first select the Utility provider for which you want to create new ToU rate. Now, give a name to the Utility rate that you are crating.
Step 4. By clicking on 'Add New period' you can add multiple periods in your ToU utility rates. When you click on add new period, you need to define tier and rate/unit. By clicking on 'Add Tier' you can add multiple tier under individual periods. Clicking on add tier, will increase the tier number and user needs to define limit and rate/unit.
Step 5. Once, you have added tiers and periods, then update the time of period on the right side in the weekend and weekday table. By default the entire table is marked with period as 1. Let's take an example if from 5PM to 9PM on weekday the period is 2. Then, will update the same on table by, selecting the time period 5PM to 9PM on table. Selection can be done by left clicking on your mouse and dragging the mouse curser from 5PM to 9PM. Then, press 2 from keyboard. These selected time period will be updated to period 2.
Step 6. Click on 'Create Tariff' button. This will create your new ToU Tariff. Now, to add this in your design. Go back to your design. Under consumption, choose the pre or post solar utility tariff provider. Choose that tariff provider, under which you have added your new utility ToU rate. Then the new ToU tariff rate that you have created will automatically appear in the list of utility rate under utility rate field. Select the new Utility rate and add this in your design.
ToU rates can significantly impact the energy costs. By understanding and utilizing these rates, you can optimize the energy usage and reduce your customers bill. Arka360 makes it easy to choose or create the right ToU rate for you according to your customer's requirement.