If we're being billed under commercial rates, there's a chance we're incurring an additional demand charge above and beyond the kWh numbers that we've measured here.
They take the time in which we drew the most power, and charge us $8.85 per kW past 50kW's (on their small general service plan - I'm not sure what plan we actually have). In short, if both fridges, the drink machine, and a soldering iron all turn on at the same time... we get charged a lot for the sudden usage spike. I believe electric motors are notorious for spikes on startup (I'm not an electrical engineer). On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Ian Trump <itr...@octopitech.com> wrote: > Seems low for what we got handed from hydro. > > Sent from my iPhone > > On 2013-06-11, at 15:55, "Ron" <r...@skullsecurity.net> wrote: > >> Richard says we're using 2.4 kWh/h right now. The going price is around >> 7.5 cents/kWh, which works out to $130/month at our current burn rate. >> >> Does that make sense with the numbers we have? >> >> Ron >> >> On 2013-06-11 13:40, David Stewart wrote: >>> I'll bring in the killawatt type device tonight if anyone wants to help map >>> power after the meeting I can stick around for a bit. Only need one or two >>> people. I think if there are numbers for specific machines that people >>> want they should bring them up at the meeting. >>> >>> >>> Cheers, >>> *Connected by Motorola* >>> >>> >>> Ian Trump <itr...@octopitech.com> wrote: >>> >>> Folks, >>> >>> >>> >>> Let me bring you up to speed. In our first couple of months of occupancy we >>> ran the drink machine sparingly due to the electrical constraints. We have >>> since began running it 24/7. We added the 3-D printer which does not run >>> very much at all, but does use some electricity (it heats up plastic stuff) >>> we added cameras, security system, etc. We have hosted a lot of events at >>> the Space which is great and we have taken to start using the Air >>> Conditioning and some new (and skull-o-tron) video game consols have shown >>> up in the sapce. All wonderful stuff that contributes to the vibrancy of a >>> hacker space. We recived estimated (bassed on past use) bills for the last >>> couple of months, then our meter was inspected. >>> >>> >>> >>> Chaos & Terror. >>> >>> >>> >>> I'm all for dilligence in turning off lights and thigns that do not need to >>> be on 24/7 (like our beloved drink machine). Servers present an issue which >>> I think we need to address on a cost recovery basis and I'll need help on >>> figureing out what that looks like. Bottom line is our Infrastructure costs >>> money to run, no big suprise there. >>> >>> >>> >>> So we have 41 members (roughly) if folks can donate a little bit more $10 >>> to $20 in the next two months we can clear off our Electrical bill and >>> manage it as best we can. If folks can make an effort to up their monthly >>> contributions from 40.00 to 50.00 dollars this will go along way in making >>> the space viable. PAD forms for the adjustment are available, just make re >>> you indicate change, atatching a voided check is always a good idea to >>> ensure it's the right account. >>> >>> >>> >>> Again, and it seems like I am a broken record for saying this: Recruit, >>> Recruit, Recruit. Our only source of reliable income is member ship dues. >>> Wehave a cusion and we have members with deep pockets, we will get through >>> this minor crisis if we put our creative minds togther and reach down and >>> find a little bit more cash, untill we have enough members to sustain our >>> organization. >>> >>> >>> >>> As a board were going to look at the 1800 dollars of insurance we need for >>> the space and see if we can either reduce it, or smooth it our over monthly >>> payments, that makes it a little bit more reasonable to absorb. >>> >>> >>> >>> Let's keep the lights on and the drinks cold by working together. >>> >>> >>> >>> Ian >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> *From:* discuss-boun...@lists.skullspace.ca on behalf of Adam Thompson >>> *Sent:* June-11-13 13:00 >>> *To:* discuss@lists.skullspace.ca >>> *Subject:* Re: [SkullSpace-Discuss] [SkullSpace-Announce] Today's meeting >>> >>> >>> We can use the readings off the hydro meter ourselves. Nothing prevents us >>> from taking a reading every day and projecting what our bill is going to >>> me… this is trivial data to massage, but it does have to be collected >>> manually. >>> >>> The meter reading will be denominated in kWh or something similar; it will >>> be a linear, constant scale and if necessary we can ask Hydro how to >>> interpret the reading. >>> >>> The function of a kill-a-watt is to provide more precise information that >>> the utility meter gives us, but the same results can be obtained by >>> creating a controlled test environment and measuring over a sufficiently >>> long time period – ideally, several hours. >>> >>> >>> >>> -Adam Thompson >>> >>> athom...@athompso.net >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> *From:* discuss-boun...@lists.skullspace.ca [mailto: >>> discuss-boun...@lists.skullspace.ca] *On Behalf Of *Roswyne >>> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 11, 2013 12:57 PM >>> *To:* Skull Space Discussion List >>> *Subject:* Re: [SkullSpace-Discuss] [SkullSpace-Announce] Today's meeting >>> >>> >>> >>> Can we call in the readings ourselves to get a more accurate picture of our >>> real power usage? If we are billed monthly, a self-reading would be better >>> than an estimate. >>> >>> Would you like me to pick up a kill-a-watt (at my own expense) to hook up >>> to the drink machine? >>> >>> Maybe we could set the drink machine to cool the drinks less. Generally the >>> greater the temperature difference you want to create, the more inefficient >>> it is. Having the drinks a couple of degrees less cold could make a >>> significant difference. >>> >>> On Jun 11, 2013 11:59 AM, "Ron" <r...@skullsecurity.net> wrote: >>> >>> They only read our bill every 3 or 4 months. We can't afford another >>> $850 bill. If that happens, we're basically dead. >>> >>> The fun of running at a deficit. :) >>> >>> Ron >>> >>> On 2013-06-11 11:54, Justin Lacko wrote: >>>> For the amount of time the sound system is used, I don't think we need to >>>> monitor it. The monitoring is more helpful for stuff that is always on. >>>> >>>> Mak/Ron: The easier method for instant savings may just be to make the >>>> changes now and see what our next bill looks like. Reducing the drink >>>> machine's uptime to 30% of its current uptime would result in a noticeable >>>> savings. Furthermore, as Adrian once mentioned, we could look into putting >>>> more insulation inside the panels of the machine, so the compressor >>>> wouldn't have to kick in so often. >>>> >>>> >>>> On 11 June 2013 11:49, Ace Tunes <aceoftu...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Probably 1am to 10 am would be better, give it time to cool down by >>> noon. >>>>> >>>>> How much are power meters (the kind that you put between power source >>> and >>>>> device) maybe we should start monitoring new equipment (for a month) as >>> it >>>>> comes into the space. For example the new and, may I say, amazing sound >>>>> system. >>>>> On 2013-06-11 11:38 AM, "Justin Lacko" <jus...@takaji.ca> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Quick suggestions: Somebody bring in/buy an electronic timer. They're >>>>>> like $30 at Ukrainian Tire. Put the drink machine on there, and set the >>>>>> power cycle to be off during the weekdays from 1AM to noon. Put 2-3 >>> cans of >>>>>> each type of drink in the fridge to offset the chance of someone >>>>>> complaining of being there during the off times and not being able to >>> enjoy >>>>>> a cold drink. >>>>>> >>>>>> Long ago I took out 1/2 the fluorescent bulbs over the lounge; we could >>>>>> consider doing that for the back part of the classroom. >>>>>> >>>>>> I don't know the current state of the server area but we could see if >>> we >>>>>> could move any extra machines onto the VM server or whatever. >>>>>> >>>>>> Other than that, we already turn off everything when we leave so I'm >>> not >>>>>> sure where else we may find power savings. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On 11 June 2013 11:02, Ron <r...@skullsecurity.net> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hey everybody, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Today's meeting is 6pm at SkullSpace (374 Donald), as usual. The >>> summary >>>>>>> of today's meeting is: we just got two large bills (insurance and >>>>>>> electrical) and, while we can afford them, big bills while running at >>> a >>>>>>> deficit = bad. So we need to come up with ways to get more money and >>>>>>> members! We also need to find a way to use less power. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Here are some topics: >>>>>>> - Electrical usage/bills >>>>>>> - Fundraising plans >>>>>>> - SkullCamp >>>>>>> - Anti-social >>>>>>> - Magic the Gathering >>>>>>> - Anything else? >>>>>>> - Thoughts on how we can raise some extra money/members >>>>>>> - Referral deal if somebody brings in a new member? >>>>>>> - Anybody have other ideas? >>>>>>> - BSides Winnipeg call for presentations >>>>>>> >>>>>>> And I think that's it! If you have other topics, please bring them to >>>>>>> the meeting and we'll definitely make time! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Ron >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> SkullSpace Announce Mailing List >>>>>>> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Announce >>>>>>> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-announce-archive/ >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >>>>>> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >>>>>> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >>>>> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >>>>> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >>>> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >>>> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >>> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >>> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >>> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >>> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ > _______________________________________________ > SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List > Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss > Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ _______________________________________________ SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/
