The Challenge

Veregy, a Phoenix-based project developer, was brought in to lead the Wayne Township Fire Department’s effort to reduce energy costs by transitioning from AES Indiana’s Large Secondary Service (SL) rate schedule to the Small Secondary Service (SS) rate schedule, which has no demand charges and offers lower monthly charges. To qualify for the SS rate, the facility must maintain demand below 75 kW, a requirement that can be difficult for municipal buildings with variable operational loads. Veregy needed a control strategy that could reliably keep demand under this threshold while coordinating with the facility’s building management system and integrating with a newly installed 311 kW solar PV array and a BYD Chess 120 kW / 258 kWh energy storage system. The combined PV and energy storage system provided an opportunity to shave demand peaks by discharging during high load periods, but achieving consistent rate enablement requires precise and predictable controls to ensure demand remains below the 75–kW limit without disrupting building operations.

The Solution

Veregy selected Energy Toolbase’s ETB Controller with Acumen AI to manage the BYD energy storage system and support the site’s rate enablement strategy using ESS Optimizer, which automatically determines the appropriate dispatch approach. For this project, ESS Optimizer was configured with an import limit set just below 75 kW to help the facility maintain eligibility for the SS tariff. ETB Controller works in coordination with the facility’s building management system to identify periods of elevated load and discharge the battery to offset peak demand. The combined operation of the PV system, BYD energy storage system, and ETB Controller enables the facility to reduce peak demand on AES Indiana’s SL tariff while working toward transitioning to the more favorable SS rate once the demand threshold has been consistently met.  

Veregy also has a long-standing relationship with Energy Toolbase, having previously deployed BYD and ETB Controller systems across six elementary schools in the same jurisdiction. Their familiarity with the hardware and controls made ETB Controller a trusted and reliable choice for this project. This deployment showcases how coordinated solar and storage assets can support rate enablement for municipal facilities by reducing peak demand and lowering long-term utility costs.