Skip to main content

Compare Facility Demand and Coincident Peak#

Facility demand is the highest rate or speed at which your facility uses electricity each month. Facility demand charges cover the cost of the operation, maintenance and replacement of the electric distribution system used to serve our customers. The greater the demand each customer requires of the electric system, the greater the cost to operate, maintain and replace the electric distribution system.

Coincident peak is your facility's demand during the time when electricity demand systemwide is the highest.

The graph below illustrates the difference between facility demand and coincident peak. This example is based on 2014 rates for rate codes in the E300 series; rate codes in the E400 series are similar although actual costs will vary.

Facility Demand: The customer's highest demand for the month was 212 kilowatts (kW), which occurred noon - 1 p.m. on Jan. 23.

  • Customer's Facility Demand: 212 kW
  • Facility Demand Charge: 212 kW x $9.21 per kW = $1,953

Coincident Peak: Platte River's peak hour occurred 6 - 7 p.m. on Jan. 5. The customer's demand for that hour was 163 kW.

  • Customer's Coincident Peak: 163 kW
  • Coincident Peak Charge: 163 kW x $11.01 per kW = $1,795

If this example was for the months of June, July or August, the summer coincident peak demand charge would be 163 kW x $14.50/kW = $2,364.

For detailed information, see the Fort Collins City Code Chapter 26, starting with section 26-462 and Electric Service Rules and Regulations (PDF 284KB).

Learn more about reducing your coincident peak and facility demand charges with load management.

Fort Collins Utilities offers programs, incentives and tips to help businesses conserve.


Did You Know?

You can save up to 10% on heating bills by using a programmable or smart thermostat to minimize heating when away from home or asleep.

We clean and maintain the City's wastewater system year-round to prevent sewer backups. You can help by only flushing the three Ps.

When it rains and as snow melts, runoff carries pollutants such as oil, antifreeze and gas down storm drains, contaminating our rivers, streams and lakes. Don't drip and drive.