DYNA JOURNAL ENGINEERING

Key words:

término de potencia, potencia a contratar, heurística, optimización, electrico, precio, tarifas, electric, price, rates

Article type:

ARTICULO DE INVESTIGACION / RESEARCH ARTICLE

Section:

RESEARCH ARTICLES

In Spain, as in most European countries, the bills paid by electricity consumers are calculated on the basis of three main components: the energy term (active/reactive), the power term and taxation on electricity and other items (e.g. equipment rental & measurement actions). The power term can be broken down in turn into two components: one based on the actual energy supplied and the other on the supply capacity of each installation. The price of this last component is calculated on the basis of the maximum power capacity contracted by users in line with the capacity of each installation (referred to here as "contracted power") and of expected consumption. As actual power demand from customers departs from this reference level, billing for this item can increase or decrease.
This article presents a heuristic process for optimising contracted power under Spanish high-voltage rates based on actual power supplied over the course of a full year. The result is an IT programme that is extremely helpful in making decisions concerning the power level to be contracted in the coming year, since in principle the requirements should be similar to those of the ongoing year. The process designed is validated with data on power consumption at premises owned by Eroski S. Coop. and by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). This IT tool is especially useful for organisations where there are multi-point supplies, as it enables adjustments to be made across all premises that result in major cost savings.