Should we take note of Triads?

Chef1980uk

nfo from web:

What Is a Triad?
Energy suppliers pay the National Grid for energy transmission, calculated from their demand in each UK region at the time of highest national electrical demand. These peak demand times are known as Triads. Triads always occur between November and February, and are typically between 5.00pm and 6.00pm, because industrial demand coincides with the domestic tea-time peak.
The triad charges are passed on to customers by the suppliers, based on the customers' own demand at the time of the Triads. That's why some customers can reduce their own bills by reducing their Triad demands.

I never knew they existed until today when i was sent to work in a different building, but on the notice board was a newsletter explaining what Triads were and the 3 dates set for this period, the first being today.

On it, it stated that the cost of energy during a Triad rises dramatically, the high for last year was £17 per kw.

There was no mention that Triads affect residential areas so i presume its just an industry action, but 15 minutes prior to our tanoy announcement, my wife experienced a loss of electricity for a short period of time, along with the street and most of Sleaford.

Can anyone shed any light on Triads and/or confirm whether residential areas are immune?

Cardew

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jd87

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icefall

Interesting, never heard of a triad before.

edgex

from wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Grid_(UK)#Demand_charges

Consumers of electricity are split into two categories: half-hourly metered (HH) and non-half-hourly metered (NHH). Customers whose peak demand is sufficiently high are obliged to have a HH meter, which, in effect, takes a meter reading every 30 minutes. The rates at which charges are levied on these customers' electricity suppliers therefore varies 17,520 times a year.
The TNUoS charges for a HH metered customer are based on their demand during three half hour periods of greatest demand between November and February, known as the Triad. Due to the nature of electricity demand in the UK, the three Triad periods always fall in the early evening, and must be separated by at least ten clear working days. The TNUoS charges for a HH customer are simply their demand during the triad periods multiplied by the tariff for their zone

so, it only affects commercial users