Peak demand pricing can significantly increase your electricity costs when your usage spikes above a defined threshold, even for a short time. Emporia's Peak Demand Management feature helps you monitor usage and automatically adjust connected devices to avoid triggering these higher charges, potentially saving hundreds of dollars each month.
What is Peak Demand Pricing?
Peak demand refers to the highest level of power your home draws during a billing period, often measured as a 15-minute averaged interval by utilities. Some utilities add demand charges or change your rate based on the highest interval, which can substantially increase your bill if you exceed their threshold.
How It Works:
Utilities measure your power consumption in 15-minute intervals
Your highest interval becomes your "peak demand" for the billing period
Exceeding the threshold can result in higher rates for your entire bill
Even a single brief spike can trigger these charges
Example of Peak Demand Pricing
Imagine your home typically uses around 2 kW, but during a party, you briefly spike to 8 kW with HVAC, EV charging, and other loads running at once.
The Impact:
If your utility has a 5 kW demand threshold (using 15-minute averages)
You exceed it even once during the month
Your entire month may be billed at a higher "peak demand" rate
Note: This is just one example. Utilities differ in thresholds, averaging windows, and how demand charges are applied, so always review your own provider's tariff details.
How Emporia Helps
Using Emporia's Peak Demand Management feature, you can automatically keep your real-time usage under a chosen demand threshold. The system tracks your total load and adjusts connected devices so you're less likely to trigger higher demand charges.
Key Benefits:
Monitor Real-Time Usage - Emporia tracks your whole-home consumption and surfaces trends that affect peak demand
Automatic Adjustments - The platform can temporarily turn off or reduce the usage of connected devices to stay under your configured demand goal
Prevent High Charges - Keeping demand below your utility threshold can prevent being billed at higher rates, potentially saving hundreds of dollars in a single month
Required Components
To use Peak Demand Management, you need an energy monitor plus controllable devices that Emporia can manage.
Energy Monitor:
Vue energy monitor (Vue 3, Vue Gen 2, or Vue Gen 1) with 200A CTs installed on your main lines
Controllable Devices:
Emporia EV Chargers with on/off and charge-rate control
Emporia Smart Plugs with on/off control
Compatible smart thermostats that support temperature adjustments
Setting Up Peak Demand Management
Configure Peak Demand Management from the Discover section of the Emporia app.
Accessing the Feature:
Tap the Discover button at the bottom of the app
Select Peak Demand Management (second option from the top)
Choose which Vue energy monitor is tracking your system's mains
Once selected, you can see and configure the devices that will participate in demand management.
Connected Smart Devices
The Peak Demand Management settings page shows a list of connected smart devices that can be automated.
Device Configuration:
Enable Devices - Turn on the toggle next to each device you want Emporia to control
Set Priority - Tap and hold the handle (four bars) next to a device to drag it up or down
Priority System:
Devices at the top have the highest priority (turned off last, turned back on first)
Devices at the bottom have the lowest priority (turned off first)
Prioritization helps keep your most important loads running while lower-priority devices cycle off to protect you from demand charges.
How It Works
The energy monitor continuously measures your total usage and compares it to your configured demand threshold. When usage approaches or exceeds that threshold, the system automatically adjusts connected devices to bring consumption back under the limit.
Example Scenario:
Threshold: Peak Demand goal set at 6.0 kW
Below threshold: All enabled devices run normally when total usage is well under 6.0 kW
Approaching threshold: If usage rises to about 5.7 kW and an air conditioner drawing roughly 2.0 kW is running, total demand could jump to around 7.7 kW; the system will turn off the AC or another lower-priority device to reduce load to about 3.7 kW
Staying under threshold: The device remains off until overall usage stays below a safe margin (for example, under 4.0 kW), helping prevent another spike that would exceed your demand goal
This automatic cycling helps smooth out short-term peaks while maintaining comfort and essential services where possible.
Feedback and Suggestions
This knowledge base is continuously evolving to provide comprehensive support for managing your energy effectively. If you found this article unhelpful or think it could be improved, please contact our Customer Support team.