[ARCHIVE] Demand fields clarification in Account Details and Billing APIs

Archived 2023.09.25. Content moved to CDS Guide, Guidance for Energy Billing Demand Transaction and Guidance on Energy Plan Contract and related schemas 

Question

The EnergyPlanTariffPeriod schema in the Consumer Data Standards (CDS) describes minDemand and maxDemand fields as “Minimum or maximum demand for this demand tariff in kW”. The schema describes the format for these fields in terms of AmountString, as opposed to number. Can the DSB clarify if it is acceptable to provide the demand tariff in kW as AmountString ?

Answer

The demand tariff can  be provided as kW in AmountString as per the description. This is schema compliant, as AmountString is a type of number. 

AmountString is defined in CDS, Common Field Types as a currency amount. We can raise a Change Request (CR) to consult and have this changed to the more general Number type, which is appropriate for kW.

Question

The EnergyBillingDemandTransaction schema in the CDS describes rate as “The rate for the demand charge in kVA”. Does this field map to demand usage? Demand usage can be billed either in kW or kVA. What is the appropriate unit?

Answer

The schema represents demand charge rate as kVA. This was defined based on feedback received during energy standards consultation sessions. A change to cater for both kVA and kW requires consultation via a CR. The DSB recommends providing the rates in kVA, converting kW to kVA.