Tariff Analysis

IES Virtual Environment

Copyright © 2017 Integrated Environmental Solutions Limited. All rights reserved.

No part of the manual is to be copied or reproduced in any form without the express agreement of
Integrated Environmental Solutions Limited.
VE 2017 Tariff Analysis 2
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 4

2. Tariff analysis overview ....................................................................................................................... 4

2.1. Menus ........................................................................................................................................... 5

2.1.1. File menu ............................................................................................................................... 5

2.1.2. Energy sources menu ............................................................................................................ 6

2.1.2.1. Utility suppliers ................................................................................................. 6

2.1.2.2. Site supply......................................................................................................... 7
2.1.2.3. Currencies ......................................................................................................... 8
2.1.3. Tariff data ............................................................................................................................... 9

2.1.3.1. Coal ................................................................................................................... 9

2.1.3.1.1. Tariffs ......................................................................................................... 9
2.1.3.1.2. Tiers and charges ..................................................................................... 10
2.1.3.1.3. Seasonal pricing factors ........................................................................... 10
2.1.3.1.4. Taxes and discounts ................................................................................. 11
2.1.3.2. Electricity ........................................................................................................ 12
2.1.3.2.1. Tariffs ....................................................................................................... 12
2.1.3.2.2. Demand charges ....................................................................................... 13
2.1.3.2.3. Capacity and standing charges ................................................................. 15
2.1.3.2.4. Taxes and discounts ................................................................................. 15
2.1.3.2.5. Annual planner ......................................................................................... 16
2.1.3.3. Gas .................................................................................................................. 19
2.1.3.3.1. Tariffs ....................................................................................................... 19
2.1.3.3.2. Tiers and charges ..................................................................................... 20
2.1.3.3.3. Seasonal pricing factors ........................................................................... 21
2.1.3.3.4. Taxes and discounts ................................................................................. 22
2.1.3.4. Oil ................................................................................................................... 23
2.1.3.4.1. Tariffs ....................................................................................................... 23
2.1.3.4.2. Tiers and charges ..................................................................................... 23
2.1.3.4.3. Seasonal pricing factors ........................................................................... 24
2.1.3.4.4. Taxes and discounts ................................................................................. 25
2.1.3.5. Taxes and discounts ........................................................................................ 25
2.2. Energy consumption data ........................................................................................................... 26

2.3. Cost data .................................................................................................................................... 27

2.3.1. Analysis type ........................................................................................................................ 27

2.3.1.1. Simple / Flat rate ............................................................................................. 27

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 2.3.1.1.1. US flat rates.............................................................................................. 28
2.3.1.2. Advance / Variable rate .................................................................................. 29
2.3.2. Currency .............................................................................................................................. 29

2.4. Cost analysis .............................................................................................................................. 29

2.4.1. Utilities ................................................................................................................................. 30

2.4.1.1. Renewables ..................................................................................................... 31

2.4.1.2. On-site electricity generation .......................................................................... 31
2.4.2. Supplier ................................................................................................................................ 31

2.4.3. Tariff ..................................................................................................................................... 31

2.4.4. Flat rate ................................................................................................................................ 32

2.4.5. Tariff units ............................................................................................................................ 32

2.4.6. Cost of proposed.................................................................................................................. 32

2.4.7. Cost of baseline ................................................................................................................... 32

3. BPRM reports .................................................................................................................................... 33

4. Fossil fuel type .................................................................................................................................. 34

5. ***end of document *** ...................................................................................................................... 35

1. Introduction
Tariff Analysis tool is used to convert the results in energy units from ApacheSim into
monetary units. The tool allows the user to create real tariffs, which can be saved and shared with
other projects, to perform a cost analysis study and easily visualize the improvements from selecting
different tariffs.

PRM is based on a comparison of total cost of the proposed and baseline buildings: PRM
documentation: ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G2.4 Energy Rates: Annual energy cost shall be determined
using either actual rates for purchased energy or state average energy prices. Tariff Analysis tool
would allow the user to create advance tariffs that replicate the actual rates or to create simple tariffs
to input the state average energy price.

2. Tariff analysis overview

Image 1 shows the tariffs analysis main window. From this window users can select the tariffs,
import the APS file from VistaPro and get the analysis results, including the final cost for each utility
for the tariff being used.

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 Image 1. Tariffs analysis main window

2.1. Menus
Three menus are available: ‘File’, ‘Energy sources’ and ‘Tariff data’.

2.1.1. File menu

File related options can be found here, being:

- Export tariffs: currencies, suppliers, taxes and discounts,

USA flat rates and utilities tariffs will be exported in a single file, by
default, to folder C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\IES\Tariffs

- Import tariffs: a valid exported tariffs file can be imported

replacing all the existing data. Old engine files can be imported too.

- Set tariffs as default: current data, such as tariffs, suppliers… can be set as default for new
projects.

- Generate report: if Microsoft Word is installed in the system, a report can be generated
through the menu and saved in the project Vista folder. It contains a summary, for every utility, of the
energy demand and cost, both for the proposed and baseline profiles.
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 - Close: closes the tariffs analysis window.

2.1.2. Energy sources menu

2.1.2.1. Utility suppliers

This window allows the user to manage the suppliers for any utility and at least one supplier is
needed in order to create tariffs.

‘Name’, ‘Code’ (specific number of each supplier), ‘Address’ and ‘ZIP/Post code’ are editable
cells and their information will appear in the report. A supplier containing ‘United States’ or ‘U.S.A’ in
the address is considered to be located in the United States of America.

Image 2. Utility suppliers’ window

‘Utility’ can only be selected when creating the supplier and then it will be disabled. It is shown
in a drop-down list with four options:

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 It will act as a filter when creating the tariffs. Suppliers are specific for only one utility type,
therefore, for example, only the suppliers specified as ‘electricity’ can be selected when creating a
new electricity tariff.

2.1.2.2. Site supply

When clicked, the site energy supply window will pop up.

Image 3. Site energy supply window

All these fields are only for display purposes with the exception of ‘Default power factor’ and
‘Site maximum power demand’, used for computing.

‘Default power factor’ is the real power ratio to the apparent power. The values range is
between 0 and 1 and the default value is 0.85. The real power is the circuit capacity for performing
work at a certain time (kW). The apparent power is the product of the current one and the circuit
voltage and is measured in kilo volt-amperes (kVA).

kW = kVA * PF

‘Site maximum power demand’ is used when the profile is not accurate enough to include the
real peaks of demand for the site. This value will be used as a constant value of peak demand for the
electricity tariffs that are based on the peak of maximum demand such as ‘Maximum Demand’ and
‘Availability Charge’. Every period of time shall use the same maximum demand.

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 ‘Use peak from profile’ allows analysis to be performed using directly the values from the aps
file.

2.1.2.3. Currencies
About 170 currencies around the world are included by default. However, it’s possible to
create new ones.

Image 4. Currencies window

The ‘Set as default’ button will establish current currencies to be default for new projects.

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2.1.3. Tariff data
Utilities tariffs and taxes/discounts can be managed
from this menu.

2.1.3.1. Coal
Coal tariffs management can be achieved through four pages.

2.1.3.1.1. Tariffs

Image 5. Tariffs page

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 Suppliers and their tariffs are shown in the coal tariffs page. New tariffs can be created for the
selected supplier and modified when necessary. For those suppliers located in the United States,
short tons will be suggested for the units. However, any can be selected at a later time.

2.1.3.1.2. Tiers and charges

This page will display the tiers and demand charges the selected tariff has. Any number of
blocks can be created with its rate and demand charge. The range covered by each is shown in
column Range.

Image 6. Tiers and charges page

2.1.3.1.3. Seasonal pricing factors

Every month’s energy demand cost will be multiplied by its seasonal pricing factor.

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 Image 7. Seasonal pricing factors page

2.1.3.1.4. Taxes and discounts

Applicable taxes and discounts to coal tariffs will be listed on the left. Those applied to the
selected tariff will on the right.

Image 8. Taxes and discounts page

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2.1.3.2. Electricity
Electricity tariffs management can be achieved through four pages and the annual planner.

2.1.3.2.1. Tariffs
Suppliers and their tariffs are shown in the electricity tariffs page. New tariffs can be created
for the selected supplier and modified when necessary.

The charge type defines how the cost is computed, with three possible options:

- Basic: only standing charges, defined in the charges page, and unit charges (‘Annual
planner’ button) are taken into account for computing.

- Seasonal time of day: by selecting this option, the charges page will be enabled. Capacity
charge is used to compute and added to the basic computing.

- Maximum demand: under this option, regimes and charges pages will be enabled. Demand
charges defined in the charges page are added to the seasonal time of day computing.

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 Image 9. Tariffs page

2.1.3.2.2. Demand charges

Regimes and periods can be managed through this page, available only for tariffs whose type
is maximum demand.

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 Image 10. Regimes page

A regime accepts a name and the months it will be applied to as long as the whole year is
covered. Otherwise, a message will pop up.

A period can hold any number of tiers, each with the rate to apply for every regime.

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2.1.3.2.3. Capacity and standing charges
Both standing and capacity charges, with any number of tiers, can be created in this page,
available only for tariffs whose type is seasonal time of day or maximum demand.

Standing charges calculation

For monthly basis, the standing charges are the standing charge. For daily basis, the standing
charges are the standing charge multiplied by the number of days of the month to compute.

Capacity charges calculation

If kVA selected, the Power Factor is used to convert to kW (kW = kVA * PF). For every month,
the maximum demand value will be used to compute unless the ‘Use peak from profile’ checkbox in
the site window is not ticked in which case the ‘Site maximum power demand’ value will be used. In
either case, those units are computed with the blocks.

Image 11. Charges page

2.1.3.2.4. Taxes and discounts

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 Applicable taxes and discounts to electricity tariffs will be listed on the left. Those applied to
the selected tariff will on the right.

Image 12. Taxes and discounts

2.1.3.2.5. Annual planner

The annual planner can be accessed through the button with the same name in the electricity
main window and allows to configure the way the energy demand cost will be computed.

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 Image 13. Annual planner window

Available daily rates will be shown in the bottom half window and can be created and deleted
just by clicking the appropriate button. At any time, a daily rate name can be changed by double
clicking on it and its colour with the ellipsis button.

Image 14. Daily rates

The rates the selected daily rate has are displayed in a drop down list on the bottom right area
as shown in image 15. They can be modified or deleted except the standard one.

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 Image 15. Rates

Timing rates assignment is shown in the daily rate row, covering the whole day, from 00:00 to
24:00 hours.

In order to create a band, select the desired rate and click on the ‘Create band’ button. Hover
over the daily rate row and click again for the starting point. Another click will complete the band
creation. Any band, except the standard one, can be stretched or moved very easily with the mouse.
Both time limits can be modified also by typing the hour or minutes in the fields below the rows. When
computing, the lower limit is included in the time interval but the upper one is not.

Image 16. Band being stretched

The selected band can be deleted just by clicking the ‘Delete band’ button or by pressing the
delete key.

The year stored in the APS file is shown in the calendar with the daily rates assignment for
each day.

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 Image 17. Calendar

One click on a single day with the left mouse button will assign the selected
daily rate to that day. Columns and whole months can be assigned by clicking on the
corresponding header letter or month label. Clicking and dragging with the mouse will
assign several dates. Performing those actions with the right mouse button will leave
the targeted days with no daily rate assigned.
There are two arrows for easy navigation through the
calendars. Any electricity tariff should have the daily rates
assigned in all of them.
‘File’ menu can be used for saving the modifications
carried out.

2.1.3.3. Gas
Gas tariffs management can be achieved through four pages.

2.1.3.3.1. Tariffs

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 Image 18. Tariffs page

Suppliers and their tariffs are shown in the gas tariffs page. New tariffs can be created for the
selected supplier and modified when necessary. For those suppliers located in the United States,
therms will be suggested for the units. However, any can be selected at a later time.

2.1.3.3.2. Tiers and charges

This page will display the tiers and demand charges the selected tariff has. Any number of
blocks can be created with its rate and demand charge. The range covered by each is shown in
column Range.

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 Image 19. Tiers and charges page

2.1.3.3.3. Seasonal pricing factors

Every month’s energy demand cost will be multiplied by its seasonal pricing factor.

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 Image 20. Seasonal pricing factors page

2.1.3.3.4. Taxes and discounts

Applicable taxes and discounts to gas tariffs will be listed on the left. Those applied to the
selected tariff will on the right.

Image 21. Taxes and discounts page

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2.1.3.4. Oil
Oil tariffs management can be achieved through four pages.

2.1.3.4.1. Tariffs
Suppliers and their tariffs are shown in the oil tariffs page. New tariffs can be created for the
selected supplier and modified when necessary. For those suppliers located in the United States, US
gallons will be suggested for the units. However, any can be selected at a later time.

Image 22. Tariffs page

2.1.3.4.2. Tiers and charges

This page will display the tiers and demand charges the selected tariff has. Any number of
blocks can be created with its rate and demand charge. The range covered by each is shown in
column Range.

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 Image 23. Tiers and charges page

2.1.3.4.3. Seasonal pricing factors

Every month’s energy demand cost will be multiplied by its seasonal pricing factor.

Image 24. Seasonal pricing factors page

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2.1.3.4.4. Taxes and discounts
Applicable taxes and discounts to oil tariffs will be listed on the left. Those applied to the
selected tariff will on the right.

Image 25. Taxes and discounts page

2.1.3.5. Taxes and discounts

Taxes and discounts are used in the last computing stage and can be managed through this
window.

In order to create a tax or discount, click on the ‘Create’ button, select the type, a name, the
rate and the utilities it will be applied to. There are three scopes available:

- Tariffs: the tax or discount will be applied only to the selected tariffs, displayed highlighted.
Users can press Shift or Ctrl keys for multi selection.

- Suppliers: the tax or discount will be applied only to the selected suppliers.

- Utilities: the tax or discount will be applied only to the ticked utilities.

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 Image 26. Taxes and discounts window

2.2. Energy consumption data

This area defines where the energy will be read from, with three options:

- ‘Energy dataset option’ has the building regulation to use being one of these:

- ASHRAE 90.1: with a proposed aps file beginning by p_, up to four files will
automatically be used in the baseline for analysis, being b[000]_..., b[090]_...,
b[180]_... and b[270]_...

- Generic: up to one file can manually be added to the baseline through the
‘Browse…’ button.

- UK Part L2: with an actual aps file beginning by a_, notional (n_...) and reference
(r_...) files will be looked for.

- ‘Proposed results dataset’ allows the user to browse and pick the aps file to analyse. The
‘Browse…’ button opens by default the vista folder of the project in use.

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 - ‘Comparison results dataset’ allows the user to compare two aps files with the same
tariffs. The ‘Browse…’ button opens the same vista folder of the project in use.

If the tariff analysis is open from VE compliance, the default APS file would be the one
analysed in the simulation.

Image 27. Energy consumption data

2.3. Cost data

Image 28. Cost data

2.3.1. Analysis type

There are two main possibilities of tariff analysis types: simple and advanced.

2.3.1.1. Simple / Flat rate

This option limits the user to input tariff’s information only for flat rates setting the units to the
following, depending on the currency:

- Electricity: kWh
- Gas:
o For US currencies: therms (thm)
o For rest of the world: kWh

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 - Oil:
o For US currencies: gallons (gal)
o For rest of the world: litres (l)
- Coal:
o For US currencies: Short tons (ST)
o For rest of the world: Metric tons (MT)
- Miscellaneous: kWh
- Renewables: kWh

If selected with the United States dollar currency, ‘US flat rates’ button will be enabled.

2.3.1.1.1. US flat rates.

This window has the rates for all of the utilities by state (light blue rows) and census division
(light grey). Rates belonging to a state can be updated and the new average rate will be shown in the
census division that state belongs to.

Image 29. US flat rates

Clicking the ‘OK’ button will accept the changes and copy the average rates of the selected
rows, if any, to the main window. Clicking ‘Cancel’ will discard any modification.

The ‘Set as default’ button will make current rates to be default for future projects.

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 Image 30. US flat rates default question

2.3.1.2. Advance / Variable rate

This will provide full access to the Tariff Analysis. The user can create tariffs and combine
them to create a realistic scenario of the total cost of running the building. This option also allows the
user to incorporate flat rates in combination with the tariffs created. Renewables can only be sold
using a flat rate.

2.3.2. Currency
Currency used for costs results working as a filter for the tariffs that were created with that
currency. Only the tariffs using the selected one will be displayed in the ‘Cost analysis’ tariff column.

2.4. Cost analysis

Image 31. Cost analysis

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2.4.1. Utilities
Currently, six types of utilities can be analysed:

- Electricity
- Gas
- Oil
- Coal
- Miscellaneous1
- Renewable2

Each option allows performing the analysis to only one tariff per utility at a time.

The correlation between the generator fuel for the space conditioning (heating or cooling
systems), lights, cooking utilities, machinery, miscellaneous and other loads in <VE> with the tariff
analysis utilities:

Fuel in <VE> Tariff analysis

Natural gas Gas

LPG Gas

Biogas Gas

Oil Oil

Coal Coal

Anthracite Coal

Smokeless fuel (inc. coke) Coal

Dual fuel (mineral + wood) Coal (solid fuel)

Biomass (not renewable) Coal (solid fuel) Need modification

1
Miscellaneous would display all the suppliers created in the four other utilities and, therefore, all the tariffs of
these suppliers created with the selected currency.
2
Only flat rates are allowed for reselling electricity to the grid.
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 Biomass (renewable) Need modification

Electricity Electricity

Waste heat Need modification

Misc. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, Miscellaneous
K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U,
V, W, X, Y & Z

Renewables Already embedded in simulation

2.4.1.1. Renewables
The excess of electricity generation that is not consumed on-site, calculated for each hour
where the electricity generated is higher than the electricity consumed, can be sold to the grid at a
price stated by the renewable flat rate. It takes into account all the renewable energy technologies
that generate electricity: Photovoltaic panels, wind generators, solar water heating and combined heat
and power.

2.4.1.2. On-site electricity generation

The renewable options included in VE for electricity generation are: Photovoltaic panels, wind
generators, solar water heating and combined heat and power, in VistaPro, summarized in ‘Total grid
displaced electricity’.

These options allow the user to get real savings on electricity generation on an hourly basis.
This also allows the system to determine the hours when the electricity generated is greater than the
electricity consumed by the building, therefore that excess can be sold to the grid at a flat rate.

2.4.2. Supplier
For each utility, the suppliers assigned to it will be shown in a
drop down list. The selected supplier will be used to compute.

2.4.3. Tariff
This column shows drop down lists containing the tariffs created and assigned to the selected
supplier having the chosen currency. A flat rate option is always available for any utility and supplier.

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2.4.4. Flat rate
When ‘Simple/Flat rate’ is ticked, flat rates fields are enabled. Any rate shown
here will be used to compute. For renewable energies is always available.

2.4.5. Tariff units

The units costs are expressed in will be labelled here.

2.4.6. Cost of proposed

‘Cost of proposed’ shows the total cost and individual cost for each utility of
running the proposed building based on the tariffs selected.

2.4.7. Cost of baseline

If a profile has been included as a comparison profile, it will show the total and individual costs
for each utility based on the tariffs selected. In this case, the ‘% improvement’ will display the
percentage of improvement between the benchmark and the proposed designs.

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3. BPRM reports
Any ASHRAE 90.1 navigator will provide the user with a ‘Results’ section allowing the
generation of BPRM reports.

Image 32. BPRM reports.

By clicking any of them, a window will pop up with the proposed files available, after which the
report will be generated with the baseline files found.

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 Image 33. BPRM report 1.8.2 (b)

4. Fossil fuel type

Any ASHRAE 90.1 navigator will
provide the user with a ‘Fossil Fuel Type’
allowing to specify the fuel used for several
services and will be taken into account when
computing the energy demand.

Image 34. Fossil fuel types option.

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 Image 35. Fossil fuel types window.

5. ***end of document ***

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