Updated AC power pricing methodology  

Under Wireless Colocation, service providers today are provided the option for consistent fuse based pricing for power.  

Fuse size billing is currently selected and applied based on the fuse size physically installed by a service provider on site.  

DC power charging

When DC power is requested, a headroom safety factor is applied that sufficiently protects service provider equipment, preventing nuisance tripping and upstream fuse discrimination, and closely aligns with power consumption as Chorus DC power plant is relied upon for backup power. The physically installed fuse or circuit breaker size is then applied for power billing.

AC power charging

Where a service provider requires an AC power supply (essential or non-essential), the physically installed fuse size is often based on not only the load of the service provider’s equipment but also the recharging load of the batteries in their DC power plant.  

As a result, the fuse size is subsequently higher than what the service provider’s average power consumption equivalent would be (because the fuse is sized for the combined equipment and recharge peak load). Billing is then applied for a fuse size potentially higher than the service provider’s average usage.  

We are seeking feedback by 28 March 2024 on a new method of selecting the fuse size when billing for Wireless Colocation AC essential or non-essential to reflect a “virtual fuse” comparative to meter based pricing.  

The virtual fuse reflects the service provider’s average equipment load with headroom safety factor.  

The next available “virtual fuse size” is then selected from the relevant AC power rate card table for monthly power billing. This will allow service providers to install larger fuse or circuit breakers to protect their equipment and support peak loads without billing applied at a consistent peak load level.

The updated pricing methodology is expected to give service providers more certainty and comparative pricing between the available options.  

For example, if a service provider indicates an average load of 2kW AC essential the following table provides an indicative comparison of the new pricing mechanism: 

*Meter based assumes consistent power consumption for a month.  

Power consumption is tracked at a site level and if fluctuations in load are seen to be higher than the service provider’s quoted average, service providers will be contacted to confirm the expected demand and an audit to review the “virtual fuse” size may be required.  

We are proposing to apply this methodology to any future Wireless Colocation AC power requests and amendments to existing installs following the notice period.

Note: the terms “fuse” and “circuit breaker” are used interchangeably, and rate card applies regardless of protection device used.

Contact 

If you have any questions regarding this, please get in touch with your account team.