Billing options
Your bill is based on one of our 'billing options' and the best option for you depends on how much electricity you use, when you use it, what you use it for and your 'peak' demand for electricity (sometimes called your 'maximum demand'). Many farms are billed on a Home Energy option. These are usually best if your average quarterly bill is less than £250.
Because most agri-food businesses use electricity late in the evenings and early mornings they almost always benefit from our 'Nightsaver' option (sometimes called Economy 7). Although the day rate is slightly dearer it offers less than half-price electricity from 1am to 8am every day (2am to 9am in summertime).
Having the wrong billing option can increase your energy costs significantly. Click here for a free option check or call us at 08457 455 455
Download our Range of Billing Options & Latest Prices (PDF).
Climate Change Levy (CCL)
The Climate Change Levy applies to businesses using more than 33 units of electricity a day (3,003 units a quarter). Climate Change Levy only applies to electricity which attracts VAT at 17.5%. If you are a registered charity or use electricity for 'domestic purposes' e.g. nursing home, residential home or caravan park you may be entitled to pay only 5% VAT and therefore avoid CCL. Call our Customer Helpline at 08457 455 455 for a VAT Declaration Form.
The revenue raised will be used in various ways by Government to encourage businesses to become more energy efficient. NIE Energy simply collects CCL - we do not decide what rate it is charged at and who is exempt from paying it. For more information call the Climate Change Levy Helpline 016 1827 0332 or visit the HM Revenue and Customs website.
Definitions of common 'Billing Option' terms
Unit - The amount of electricity you use is measured in 'kilowatt-hours (kWh). A 1 kilowatt load (1,000 watts) will use one unit of electricity in an hour.
Standing charge - This pays for things like metering, meter reading, billing and the upkeep of mains cables. Since these costs do not vary with the amount of electricity you use they are sometimes called fixed costs.
Maximum Demand - The amount of electricity you use varies during the day. It also varies from day to day and week to week. The maximum demand is the highest amount you use in any half-hour period and is measured in kilovolt amperes (kVA).
Chargeable service capacity (CSC) - This is based on the highest maximum demand recorded during either the present or the last financial year. If you go over your present CSC, the new higher figure will apply. For new or increased supplies, we base the CSC on the size of supply you ask for. It is therefore important that you accurately estimate the size of supply you need or you may pay more than you need to.
Availability charge - This goes towards the cost of providing and maintaining a suitable supply for your business. We base this charge on your Chargeable Service Capacity (see above).
Power Factor and reactive charges - Most modern electrical equipment is 'inductive'. This means it needs an electro-magnetic field to work and as a result uses two different types of power, 'Working Power' and 'Reactive Power'.
Working Power - This performs the actual job of creating heat, light, or movement. It is measured in kilowatts (kW) and is sometimes called 'useful power'.
Reactive Power - This creates the magnetic field, which some machines need to do their job. This is Reactive Power and is measured in kilovolt-amperes-reactive (kVAr). 'Working Power' and 'Reactive Power' added together give you the total power used by the machine. This total is called 'Apparent Power' and is measured in kilovolt-amperes (kVA).
Reactive Units - The amount of reactive power used over a period of time is recorded as 'Reactive Units', which is measured in kilovolt-amperes-reactive-per hour (kVArh).
Power Factor - Power Factor is the relationship between 'working power' and 'reactive power'. A good power factor indicates that very little reactive power is being used. A poor power factor indicates that a greater amount of reactive power is being used.
Reactive Charges - Reactive Charges will apply where the average Power Factor is less than 0.9 during the Winter Peak period of the 'Multi rate' options
Important - a poor Power Factor can be improved with Power Factor Correction Equipment. For suppliers see 'Electrical Switchgear Manufacturers' in Yellow Pages.