Resources · BC Hydro tariffs
How BC Hydro demand charges work
BC Hydro bills Medium and Large General Service customers a demand charge on the highest demand interval in each billing period, plus a monthly minimum charge tied to winter demand. This guide sets out the published rates and how billing demand is defined.
Rates effective April 1, 2026; check BC Hydro for current rates. NeoTechX is not affiliated with BC Hydro.
Business rates at a glance
| Rate schedule | Applies to | Basic charge | Demand charge | Energy charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small General Service (RS 1300) | under 35 kW | 40.89 ¢/day | None | 14.06 ¢/kWh |
| Medium General Service (RS 1500) | 35 to under 150 kW | 29.99 ¢/day | $6.07/kW | 10.86 ¢/kWh |
| Large General Service (RS 1600) | 150 kW and over, or over 550,000 kWh a year | 29.99 ¢/day | $13.83/kW | 6.79 ¢/kWh |
How is billing demand measured?
Demand is the highest demand averaged over not more than 30 consecutive minutes. For Medium and Large General Service, billing demand is the highest kW demand in the billing period. There is no ratchet: next month starts fresh.
Because one interval sets the charge for the whole month, coincidence matters more than total consumption. A chiller, an air compressor and a large pump starting in the same half hour can set a peak that none of them would set alone.
The monthly minimum charge
Medium and Large General Service bills carry a monthly minimum charge of 50% of the highest demand charge billed in a period wholly within November 1 to March 31, over the preceding 11 periods. This is a minimum charge, not a ratchet. It can limit the value of a lower demand in low-consumption months.
Transmission service
Transmission customers (60 kV and above) are billed per kVA under different rules. Rate Schedule 1830 bills $12.178/kVA on billing demand, the highest of current HLH kVA, 75% of the November-to-February peak, or 50% of contract demand. Rate Schedule 2801 is a time-of-use pilot at $11.79/kVA.
A related charge is the power factor surcharge.
Frequently asked questions
What is the BC Hydro demand charge for Large General Service?
Under Rate Schedule 1600, rates effective April 1, 2026, BC Hydro bills $13.83 per kW of billing demand per month, before riders and taxes. Billing demand is the highest demand in the billing period, averaged over not more than 30 consecutive minutes.
Does BC Hydro general service have a demand ratchet?
No. Medium and Large General Service bill on the highest kW in each period, with no ratchet. They do carry a monthly minimum charge of 50% of the highest demand charge billed in a period wholly within November to March, over the preceding 11 periods. Ratchets apply to transmission service.
Why is my demand charge high when my energy use is normal?
Because the demand charge is set by one interval, not by total energy. If several large loads start in the same half hour, that interval sets the charge for the whole month.
See what a kilowatt of peak is worth on your bill.
Tariff arithmetic on your own figure. Not a quote or a prediction.
Sources
- BC Hydro Electric Tariff, Rate Schedules 1300, 1500, 1600, 1830 and 2801, rates effective April 1, 2026