Supported Charge Calculations

Last updated: April 13, 2026

Factor supports a range of charge types used in billing and rating.

Periodic Charges

Periodic charges are calculated based on time. Factor supports:

  • Daily charges

  • Monthly charges

Required rate configuration:

  • Charge type PERIODIC

  • Rate type FLAT for when the rate does not change

  • Rate type TEMPORAL for when the rates change over time - for example summer vs winter

Volume Charges

Volume charges are calculated based on a measured quantity, such as usage or consumption. Factor supports the following volume charge types:

Flat

A charge where the unit price remains constant.

Required rate configuration:

  • Rate type FLAT

  • Charge type VOLUME

Temporal

A charge where the unit price varies depending on when the volume was consumed.

Required rate configuration:

  • Rate type TEMPORAL

  • Charge type VOLUME

Spot / Indexed

A charge where the unit price is based on an external price index, such as a spot price.

Required rate configuration:

  • Rate type FLAT

  • Charge type VOLUME

  • Price type SPOT

Stepped

A charge where the unit price varies based on the quantity consumed.

Required rate configuration:

  • Rate type FLAT

  • Charge type VOLUME

  • Price type STEPPED

Peak Demand Charges

Peak demand is the highest level of demand recorded during a defined period. It is typically measured over a specific interval, such as 15 or 30 minutes, and represents the point at which usage was at its maximum.

Required rate configuration:

  • Rate type FLAT or TEMPORAL - temporal would be used if the peak demand charge only applied sometimes - for example only in summer

  • Charge type PEAK

Excess Demand Charges

Excess demand is the site's peak demand less the site’s nominated or contracted capacity. Where the peak demand is less than the site's nominated capacity the excess demand is 0.

Required rate configuration:

  • Rate type FLAT or TEMPORAL

  • Charge type EXCESS

Forecasts which utilise excess demand charges require the site capacity to be specified.

Nominated Capacity Charges

Nominated capacity charges are where a nominated site capacity is rated per day and for a price. Think of this as a three factor charge:

Nominated capacity * number of days * price

Nominated capacity support the following units:

  • kVA/day

  • kVA/month

  • kW/day

  • kW/month

Required rate configuration:

  • Rate type FLAT

  • Charge type NOMINATED_CAPACITY

Forecasts which utilise nominated capacity charges require the site capacity to be specified.