Is Your Restaurant Paying Too Much? Grid Contract Checklist
Many restaurants are still using main fuses and grid tariffs from renovations completed years ago. Here is a checklist to determine if you are paying for capacity you no longer use.
Why the grid contract is often overlooked
The electricity contract is renegotiated at regular intervals, but the grid contract continues in the background and is rarely adjusted. When a restaurant is renovated, changes its concept, or replaces equipment with more energy-efficient alternatives, the grid tariff and main fuse rarely follow suit. The result is that you pay a fixed grid fee for capacity you effectively no longer use.
Checklist – how to see if you are paying too much
- Size of the main fuse. Is it 63A, 80A or higher? Review your hourly values from the grid company and see what peak power you actually draw. If the peak consistently stays below 70% of the fuse capacity, there is often room to reduce it by one or two steps.
- Tariff selection. Many restaurants are on a standard tariff for commercial businesses when a power tariff would have been cheaper – or vice versa. Ask the grid company for a comparison between available tariffs based on your actual consumption.
- Metering points (installation ID). If you have several metering points (kitchen, dining room, outdoor seating, basement storage), you pay a fixed fee per point. Check if any metering point is inactive or can be merged.
- Reactive power. Some grid companies charge for reactive power above a certain level. On the invoice, it is often listed as “kVArh” or “reactive energy”. If the amount is significant – discuss it with your electrician.
- Timing of power peaks. Do your highest peaks occur at the same time each day (e.g., lunch or dinner)? If so, there are often planning measures that can reduce the peak and lower the power demand fee.
Red flags on the invoice
- Fixed grid fee that is higher than your variable energy component
- Fuse level that has not changed since you took over the premises
- Reactive power lines without you knowing what they correspond to
- Several metering points where one or more have hardly any consumption
What you can do yourself first
- Log in to “My Pages” with your grid company and download hourly values for the past 12 months.
- Calculate your highest measured power and compare it against the main fuse capacity.
- Ask the grid company in writing for a tariff comparison for your installation.
Do you want a personal review?
This guide provides free knowledge from Savera and is intended to give you concrete things to check on your own. We are an independent advisor in business electricity – if you would like us to look specifically at your contracts, invoices, or consumption, you are welcome to book a free initial consultation.
Tip: Reducing the main fuse usually only requires a form to the grid company – but it should be preceded by a serious power analysis so you do not experience overload during peak load.