Over the past few years, the electricity sector has undergone many changes. One of the key ones is the introduction of market mechanisms for supply value formation. Today, the so-called price categories of electricity consumers operate . 442 Government Decision of 05/04/2012 regulates the supply for different groups of users.
Relevance of the issue
Why do we need price categories of electricity consumers ? Previously, the economy had a regulated model. However, in the transition to a new economic system, past tariffs for organizations began to be replaced by market prices. They are formed in accordance with wholesale supply and demand. As you know, these factors are subject to constant change. Accordingly, the wholesale price of electricity is also adjusted. This, in turn, affects the cost of deliveries to end users.
Price categories of electricity consumers: definition
The new procedure for calculating the cost of deliveries is valid from January 1. 2012 Price categories of electricity consumers - basic tariff options. The final cost of deliveries to users depends on the group. The choice of the price category of electricity consumers is carried out by the subject himself. Previously, there were two tariffs - one-and two-part. Currently, 6 price categories of electricity consumers are provided. It depends on the group how the final cost includes the cost of power purchased by the supplier in the wholesale market, what tariff for transmission is included in it. In addition, according to the category, the consumer determines whether he needs to plan hourly consumption for a day.
Nuances
Before considering in detail the price categories of electricity consumers and how they differ , it should be said that some restrictions are provided for in regulatory enactments. First of all, they relate to entities using receiving devices whose power is more than 650 kW. These individuals cannot choose the first and second categories. The users connected directly to the generators or to the networks of the FGC UES are available in the fourth and sixth groups. You should also be aware that the consumer must select the category within one month from the date of publication of the tariffs. As a rule, the publication takes place at the end of December.
First group
In this category, the purchase price of capacity in the wholesale market is already included in the cost of electricity. In this regard, the user pays for the entire amount received per month. There is one line in the delivery invoice. Electricity transmission is laid at a single-rate tariff. This group is available only to small users. Receivers must have a power of less than 670 kW. Calculations are made for volumes delivered per month. This category is used by most consumers.
Important point
As mentioned above, the consumer must choose a category in a timely manner. Users who have not notified the supplier of the transition to another group will be calculated first. If in the previous year deliveries were carried out within another category, then it will automatically move to the next period. The exception was only for 2011/2012. At that time, users did not have metering devices, however, the calculation was carried out at a two-part tariff. Accordingly, in the first quarter of 2012, consumers were included in the 4th category. Suppose that the volume of deliveries per month is 1000 kW / h. The tariff for the first category is 3.8 p. (without VAT). The total cost will be: 1000 x 3.8 = 3800 p.
Second option
In this category, power is also included in the price of electricity. However, the invoice indicates two or three amounts. This will depend on the option of the second category. The user can use the two-zone (day / night) and three-zone (peak / half-peak / night) calculation methods. The flow is taken into account at a single-rate tariff. This category is not available for consumers using receivers with a power exceeding 670 kW.
Other groups
All price categories of electricity consumers , with the exception of 3 and 5, require hourly billing. In the account, thus, there will be two lines. The first indicates the indicator for electricity, the second - for power. 3 and 5 price categories of electricity consumers require charging every hour. Accordingly, hourly accounting of supplies is necessary. The transmission tariff is single-rate, both for the first and second groups. In the fifth category, consumers are required to plan hourly energy use for the day ahead. In this case, deviations from the estimated volume are paid separately. They are included in the price. The fourth and sixth groups provide hourly pay. The power amount is calculated separately, as in categories 3 and 5. But the transfer is included in the price at a two-part tariff. This means that the user pays a separate bid for the content of networks, losses in them. Moreover, the latter is included, as a rule, in the price of electricity. There will thus be three lines in the account. The first indicates the indicator for electricity, the second and third - for the power of purchase and transmission, respectively. The sixth group, like the fifth, implies the responsibility of the user to plan hourly use and pay for deviations.
Price categories of electricity consumers: comparison
Before you understand which option is more suitable for the user, you should once again point out that when the power of the receiving device is more than 670 kW, the subject can carry out calculations only for the third or sixth group. To make the right choice, the consumer must answer the following questions:
- What transmission tariff will be more profitable?
- Does the company have the ability to accurately plan hourly supplies?
Find the answer to the first question. To understand which tariff will be more profitable for the enterprise, you need to compare the cost of two-part consumption with the established one-part consumption. If it turns out that it is more profitable to pay for the latter, then it is advisable to use 3 or 5 groups. If the two-part tariff is more attractive, then you should choose between the second and sixth categories.
Hourly Delivery Planning
To determine this possibility, the following should be considered. The cost of the supplier for the third and fourth groups includes the deviation of the actual hourly supply from the planned 5-7%. If the consumer believes that he can predict the volume more accurately, then choose the fifth or sixth category. If there is no such confidence, then it is better to use the third or fourth group. Experts recommend making payments for several months or even for the whole year. This is due to the fact that during calculations it may turn out that in one period one category will be beneficial, and in another, accordingly, a completely different one.
Users with receivers below 670 kW
All six categories are available to these consumers. It’s much harder for these users to understand which group is better than those who have 3-6 available. Most consumers traditionally work with suppliers in the first category. The cost of deliveries is calculated directly by the service company and is presented as a single-value value. It can be used integrally. This means that you can multiply the volume of monthly consumption by the price calculated by the supplier and get the final cost of electricity. In other groups, the calculation is carried out intervally or by daily zones. The first is carried out by the hour and is used in 3-6 categories. Daily zones are provided in the second group. Everything will depend on accounting devices.
If the devices do not allow to receive hourly indicators, then only the first category will be available to the consumer. Without information on the actual hourly volume, you cannot calculate the cost for other groups. If consumption is taken into account by the hour, then the only way to determine which category will be more profitable is to calculate the cost for all available options.