General > General Technical Chat
private household vs. business enterprise: active power vs. apparent power?!
PushUp:
private household vs. business enterprise: How does billing look like with reference to active power (W) vs. apparent power (VA)?
...just curious...as I haven't thought about it before...paying more attention to consumption in general due to different aspects in the entire world...especially nowadays... ::)
When we all (should) have to consider the ecological footprint of our earth, I don't see the point why (not) to distinguish between active power (W) and apparent power (VA) even for private households by the local electric power station?
When a private household uses consumer-friendly products like very efficient LED lamps for example, why should this be an disadvantage for payment, when it costs more for the better product, saving energy (reactive power) by the local electric power station, but does not save that money on the billing itself in contrast to an inefficient LED lamp, which probabaly shows nearly the same active power, but with a very bad power factor? Both lamps give light and as long as you don't compare/repair them, you will probably never see the difference?!
Is the only reason, not being able to measure/filter these measured values with the standard electric meter within private households or what and where is the difference between private households vs. business enterprises, that they have to pay for apparent power (VA)?
Does this mean always and for everything? Or is there also a seperation between active power (W) and apparent power (VA) within business enterprises: What about the machine in the production and the desk lamp in the accounts department? Always apparent power...?
ThanX & Cheers! :)
Ice-Tea:
Suppose scale plays a role. A meter capable of measuring reactive power will be more expensivee and I guess it just doesn't warrant the extra cost to be able to "catch" a bad 4W LED lamp in the act. Better to spend the effort to monitor a 1MW pump or crane and spend the effort to correct that.
themadhippy:
--- Quote --- not being able to measure/filter these measured values with the standard electric meter within private households
--- End quote ---
The old 2 coil meters used for billing couldn't and a separate power factor meter was fitted however the new smart meters can.
Benta:
I don't understand your question. Or whether it's really a question...
Someone:
--- Quote from: PushUp on April 12, 2022, 07:03:39 pm ---Or is there also a seperation between active power (W) and apparent power (VA) within business enterprises
--- End quote ---
This is somewhat backwards, large consumers were charged for bad power factor, but it wasn't (normally/traditionally) billed as a separate metered item. It was more like a fine or penalty for large consumers, keep your power factor above 0.XX or you get charged more:
https://app.bchydro.com/accounts-billing/rates-energy-use/electricity-rates/power-factor.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=redirect&utm_content=powerfactor
Or a direct answer for some users with smart meters:
--- Quote from: https://www.ergon.com.au/retail/business/tariffs-and-prices/large-business-tariffs/kva-tariffs ---Do I get charged for both kW & kVA demand?
No, you will only be charged one or the other depending on which tariff you are on. Usage will continue to be measured and billed in kWh.
--- End quote ---
As always, greatly varies depending on location!
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version