Grain Site Off-Peak Manual

Grain Site Off-Peak Manual

2017

Is Off-Peak Right for You? Cass County Electric is listening, and we know that you want the lowest power costs possible while giving you the flexibility to make your operation work. Our off-peak program for grain sites has done just that, saving members 30-50% on power costs with a low number of hours in critical peak periods. This is done with the Incremental Pricing Plan, better known as IPP. With this program, we are able to “buy through” some of our control periods. In other words, when our electric demand is higher than our resources, and prices are too expensive to ignore, we can buy that energy for you and you pay the average price of these purchases at the end of the season. This is called our “yellow” zone and accounts for about 80% of the total load control. Our agricultural producers have found this to be very affordable and convenient to be able to continue to operate, where the original off-peak program would just have you off during these periods.

The critical or emergency peak situations are called our red zone periods. Red zone hours are a very small percentage of the year, but account for nearly 50% of our power costs. For most members, this is included in their base energy rates, but for commercial, irrigation, and grain site IPP members, the energy rate is kept low and the red zone charges are passed along directly. Red zone is billed as demand and the current prices are $134.40/kW for winter and $87.36/kW for summer. Running grain site equipment during these periods should be avoided as much as possible. Moving grain will typically not be that consequential, however, drying grain or running fans can get very costly.

While the savings in power costs have averaged 30-50%, it IS possible to bring on enough red zone demand to negate or even cost more than the regular rates. This is not likely, but this is possible.

The IPP program is very flexible and in fact, does not require any direct control whatsoever. We require your electrician to wire red and yellow lights to your site to let you know your current status. Because of the risk you may not see these lights, we strongly encourage you to consider direct control, especially on bin fans. This should be done in conjunction with a bypass, which is also specified in the installation section. Most participants on the program have also opted to receive a text message notification indicating the red and yellow conditions, which is a service we offer free of charge and highly recommended.

Off-peak may be right for you! Please call us if you have any questions or if you would like to get signed up.

Incremental Pricing Plan (IPP) History CCEC’s grain site IPP program, is a flexible program that allows you to indirectly or directly control what you want. In 2003, high energy prices led us to develop a new approach to demand response for commercial and agricultural off-peak members. The incentives of off-peak decreased as hours of load control and diesel prices increased. There was a smaller gap between off-peak and no off-peak. We worked with our power supplier, Minnkota Power to create a solution that would provide the flexibility to these commercial, industrial, and agricultural consumers. The current program is designed to pass on market charges when prices are moderate, (yellow zone), near-time pricing.

The Bypass Option - How it Works When direct control is incorporated in this rate, a bypass option is an addition that controls the affected equipment at a grain site, and allows the member to bypass the control and continue to operate. This bypass “resets” itself, and puts the decision into the member’s hands each time a control event occurs. Here is the standard method a bypass is wired: 1.

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If yellow zone control is initiated, the site shuts down and the yellow light is illuminated.

The member can bypass this event by pushing the bypass button. The yellow light remains illuminated and within seconds, power is returned to the site. Power costs are now at the yellow zone energy rate.

If red zone control is initiated, the site shuts down again, the yellow light goes out and the red light is illuminated.

The member can bypass this event by pushing the bypass button. The red light remains illuminated and within seconds, power is returned to the site. Power costs are now at the red zone demand rate.

At the end of a control event, power remains on (if bypassed) or will automatically come back on if the bypass was never pushed.

A variation can be done in the programming of the control to prevent yellow zone control from occurring. The yellow light will be illuminated during a yellow zone event, but without the direct control.

Please ask for this option if you are interested.

Grain sites can receive a discounted rate for the following devices: • Aeration fans o 1-phase fans 10 hp or greater must have soft-start (VFD) motors o 3-phase fans 30 hp or greater must have soft-start (VFD) motors • Electric plenum heaters for aeration fans • Batch drying equipment • Materials handling • Lights & outlets located directly at grain storage location for the use of grain-related activities • Scale house control rooms

Rates The rate table below shows you all of the alternatives between regular and off-peak schedules, size, whether it is single-phase or three-phase, etc. No matter what your electrical service, we have an off-peak IPP rate option that will work for you. CCEC does not recommend rate 300 for grain sites, please call us to discuss which rate option can work best for each scenario. Please call Bob Miller 701-356-4522 in the Energy Management Department if you have any questions.

Grain Site Rate Schedules Rate Type Phase Size Classification of Service

300 Regular Rate

200 Regular Rate

100 Regular Rate

628 Off-Peak IPP

658 Off-Peak IPP

8 Off-Peak IPP

3Φ 50 kW or Larger Dedicated Service

3Φ <50 kW

1Φ Any Size

3Φ Any Size

1Φ Any Size

1Φ Any Size

Dedicated Service

Dedicated Off-Peak Service

Dedicated Off-Peak Service

Submetered Rate Attaches to Rate 100

$50 No Monthly Demand Charge

$24 No Monthly Demand Charge

$5 No Monthly Demand Charge

Red Zone Demand x $134.40/kW winter or $87.36/kW summer Variable per season up to $0.095/kWh $0.076/kWh Plus Purchased Power Adjustment

Red Zone Demand x $134.40/kW winter or $87.36/kW summer Variable per season up to $0.095/kWh $0.076/kWh Plus Purchased Power Adjustment

Red Zone Demand x $134.40/kW winter or $87.36/kW summer Variable per season up to $0.095/kWh $0.076/kWh Plus Purchased Power Adjustment

$60 No Monthly Demand Charge

Red Zone Charge

$120 Billing Demand x $14.32/kW per Month No Red Zone Charge

Dedicated Service (submetered rates allowed) $24 No Monthly Demand Charge

No Red Zone Charge

No Red Zone Charge

Yellow Zone Charge

No Yellow Zone Charge

No Yellow Zone Charge

No Yellow Zone Charge

Energy Charge

$0.056/kWh Plus Purchased Power Adjustment

$0.092/kWh Plus Purchased Power Adjustment

$0.099/kWh Plus Purchased Power Adjustment

Basic Charge Demand Charge

If you would like a detailed rate policy, please contact us at 1.800.248.3292

Grain Site IPP Wiring Instructions Cass County Electric is very committed to providing high quality and reliable services. It is very important to us that our members get good performance with their IPP program, and that serviceability, when it is needed, is straight-forward. We have set up the following standards and rules to ensure this is met: 1.

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All direct control that is done on an off-peak grain site MUST be done with one control circuit, using one off-peak ripple control switch.

Every off-peak grain site with IPP is encouraged to directly control as much load as possible to minimize the risk of red zone demand charges. There is no minimum requirement, however, we strongly recommend bin fans be directly controlled.

The grain site IPP program, if directly controlled, requires a bypass with red and yellow lights and MUST be wired to the specifications of the schematic diagrams AND use the specified parts. NO EXCEPTIONS. Cass County Electric will provide the ripple control and deliver to your site upon request.

A standard order for the exact bypass parts needed, can be ordered from Dakota Supply Group (DSG) or Border States. Ask for the CCEC Grain Site Bypass Standard Order.

All other parts and labor used for the wiring of off-peak, bypass, and lights are to be billed to the member by the electrician and its total cost will be dependent on the work involved and will not be fixed

by Cass County Electric.

The lights may be mounted vertical or horizontal on the same billboard as the ripple control or another suitable and visible location. The ripple control must be mounted inside an enclosure large enough to house ripple control, 8-pin relays, and have the bypass button mounted on the outside of this box.

See photos below to see a properly wired installation.

Please call the CCEC Energy Management department when the wiring is complete to verify the control work was done properly and with the required equipment. We will then install meter, program control, and begin off-peak rate.

Ripple control and bypass circuits must be wired 120V. If wiring a 480V site, the use of a 50 VA (or larger) transformer will be required.

Please call us if you have any questions during this installation.

Theory of Operation The ripple responds to “Yellow Zone” and “Red Zone” control instructions from Minnkota. The normal configurations create control when either “Yellow” or “Red” zone control is activated. The “Reset Button” can be used to manually restore operations through control periods.

When “Yellow Zone” control is received the left two ripple switches go down. This will turn-on the yellow lamp and flip the control circuit state (Figure #1 Normally-Closed; Figure #2 Normally-Open). The control circuit may be used for load-control, audible alarm, or some other device. Pressing the Reset Button will restore the control circuit to its normal state (ex: restore load), but will leave the yellow lamp on. When “Red Zone” control is active, the far right switch goes down. Again the control circuit state is flipped and the red lamp is turned-on while the yellow lamp turns off. Pressing the Reset Button again will restore the control circuit normal state. CCEC advises to not run through Red Zone, due to demand charges.

When “Red Zone” is terminated, the far right switch returns to the up (normal) position and the red lamp turns off. The yellow lamp turns on there is no change in the state of the control circuit.

When “Yellow Zone” is terminated, the two left ripple switches return to the up (normal) position. The yellow lamp turns off and the control circuit returns to its normal state.

NOTE: When members opt not to control in “Yellow Zone”, the left switch is programmed to remain up (normal position). When “Yellow Zone” control is received, the yellow lamp will come on, however, there will be no change in the state of the control circuit. “Red Zone” will change the state of the control circuit as described above.

Here is a suggested parts list for the grain site bypass:

CCEC Grain Site Bypass order through DSG (2)- RAB VXBR100DG Vapor proof fixtures (1)-Ruby globe for fixture (1)-Amber globe for fixture (1)-1/2” offset nipple (2)-1/2” locknuts (1) – 2” rigid nipple (2) 8 pin relay with 120 volt coil (2) 8 pin base

(2)-1” locknuts (1)-1” offset nipple (1)-12x12x4 NEMA 3R Junction box with knockouts (2)-15 watt GE CFL lamp (2)-N.O. start blocks for push button (1)- Square D weatherproof boot 9001KU5 (1)- Square D push button 9001SKS53B 6 inches of rail stock for 8 pin base

CCEC Grain Site Bypass Order through Border States (2) VW1 100W VT Wall Fixt Only (2) V131 Screw on Alum Lampguard (2) 75 ½ Alum 5H WP Rnd Box (1)VGR100 100W Ruby VT HR Globe (1)VGA100 100W AMB VT HR Globe (2) 700-HN100 Socket Tube base (1) 800T-XD1 Shallow Block 1 No (1)6A4 1-IN D/C Offset Nip (1) 800H-N5B Hypalon Prot. Boot

(2) CF13EL/Minitwist/1 (1) 1/2x2-Galv-nip (1) 6A2 1/2D/C Offset Nipple (1)LN101SC 1/2Stl Locknut (2) 700-HA32A1 700-HA General Purp (1) 800T-A1D1 30.5 MM Type 4/13 Mom. (1) A12R124 NEMA3R SCR CVR Box (2)LN103 1-IN Steel Lockout

Other Resources Custom Rate Comparisons- contact Bob at 1.800.248.3292 or bmiller@kwh.com for rate comparisons or program details.

Notification Methods: o Text Messaging- this is a service that is offered free of charge. We highly recommend members sign up for this option o Use http://minnkota.paulbunyan.net/status/cass/ to see current status* * Call CCEC for codes