• LED fixtures may run hotter at the driver level due to compact electronics, which affects: o Driver longevity and potential failure (maintenance cost). o Slight increase in real input wattage beyond nameplate under high ambient temps .
• Bottom Line If your utility bill hasn’t dropped as much as expected: ✅ What should be happening: • Lower kWh usage → lower energy charge • Lower average demand → potentially lower demand charge ❌ What might be going wrong: • Low power factor → utility is charging for excess apparent power • In-rush spikes → elevating your demand charge • All lights switched on simultaneously → demand peak • Drivers drawing more power than rated under load/heat
✅ Recommendations • Check your LED fixture's power factor — aim for PF ≥ 0.9. • Ask your utility if you’re charged for low power factor or kVA. • Use a clamp meter or energy logger to measure real-time kW, kVA, and PF. • Stagger switching to avoid simultaneous in-rush events. • Review your utility bill details — look at the demand charge line and any PF penalties This inquiry was made after an actual installation because results were far from what was expected based upon the preinstallation analysis . It was too difficult to anticipate utility bill intricacies. Consider a follow-up AI inquiry on the same AI platform for the post- installation experience: QUESTION: “I changed from 1,000W pulse-start metal halide flood lamps to 600W LED floods in order to save energy and money. The new energy bills are almost twice as much due to increased demand charges and a "power factor surcharge." Why did this happen?” ChatGPT said: That’s a frustrating and surprisingly common issue —especially in commercial or outdoor lighting upgrades . While LEDs are vastly more efficient on paper , the electric utility
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