Saving Energy at My Business

Using electricity efficiently across your business operations helps reduce energy costs, ease demand on the power grid, and can support your organization’s sustainability goals. Small changes like investing in ENERGY STAR–certified equipment and optimizing heating and cooling systems with heat pumps can deliver significant savings. Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) has compiled practical strategies to help businesses lower energy use.

Explore ENERGY STAR Resources

ENERGY STAR®, a program of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), offers a variety of resources and services to help Americans improve energy efficiency and save money on energy bills. In addition to certifying energy efficient products, homes, and commercial buildings, ENERGY STAR also offers tools and resources to help businesses manage their energy use in a cost-effective way:

• Learn about Portfolio Manager®, ENERGY STAR’s energy measurement and tracking tool for commercial buildings
• Explore commercial resources from ENERGY STAR.

The Department of Energy also offers an Energy Saving Guide for businesses.

Manage Business Energy Demand to Save Money

RMLD bills commercial customers based on demand (kilowatts) and energy (kilowatt-hours). Decreasing overall energy consumption will reduce costs for commercial customers. 

Demand measures the rate of energy used by electrical equipment during a specific period of time, based on the number and size of electrical equipment being used simultaneously. Demand is billed based on the highest quantity of kilowatts registered by the meter in any 15-minute interval during the billing cycle, but not less than eighty percent of the maximum demand established during the preceding summer season (June through September) or sixty percent of the maximum demand established during the winter season (October through May). Commercial customers can decrease the demand charge portion of their bill by spreading electricity usage out rather than using large quantities within a confined timeframe.

Explore the RMLD Commercial Peak Demand Response Program>> Your business can earn bill credits for active demand response actions. 

Consider Industrial Time-of-Use Rate

In addition to its standard commercial billing rate, RMLD also offers an industrial Time-of-Use (TOU) Rate. TOU has two rates: one that is higher than the standard rate during on-peak hours when electricity is in high demand, and one that is lower than the standard rate during off-peak hours when electricity is not as in demand. Because a different type of meter is required for the time-of-use rate, the customer charge is slightly higher, and customers are required to stay on the rate for a minimum of one year.

On-peak hours are Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m., excluding holidays. Off-peak hours are all hours outside of that range, including weekends, and holidays.

How Do I Know if Time-of-Use is Right for Me?
The TOU rate may help customers save money on their electric bill if most of their usage typically occurs during off-peak hours. If you are able to shift your energy use times, consider TOU. Businesses that run a three-shift operation or have a steady load throughout the day may benefit from switching to the TOU Rate.

Please email RMLD or call 781-942-6598 to determine whether switching to TOU will benefit your business.

Save Money with RMLD Commercial Rebates

RMLD offers a variety of energy efficiency, conservation, and electrification incentives to promote electrification and sustainable practices. Explore current rebates and cost-savings programs.