Peak demand charges are driven by your highest 15-minute average power draw. The good news: you can often reduce them without new equipment. The key is staggering heavy loads so they do not overlap in the same interval. This article gives you a practical playbook with concrete stagger sequences and a before/after example. For more on why peaks can rise while consumption stays stable, read our guide on Fluvius digital meter peak reasons.
Step 1: Map your risk windows
Identify when your heaviest loads run. Common risk windows: first hour of operation (HVAC, compressors, process warmup), post-break restart, end-of-day catch-up. Note which systems overlap. That overlap is where your peak is set.
Example: A small factory opens at 07:00. At 07:05 the main compressor starts; at 07:08 the HVAC kicks in; at 07:10 the first production line is switched on. All three fall in the same 15-minute interval (07:00–07:15). The combined draw in that single interval is 120 kW. The rest of the day the site rarely exceeds 80 kW. The monthly peak is 120 kW-and the capacity charge is based on that.
Step 2: Define stagger rules with concrete sequences
Set a simple rule: no more than two major loads in the same 15-minute window unless operationally required. For flexible systems-EV charging, ventilation boost, hot water recovery, non-critical warmup-use 10–20 minute offsets.
Concrete sequence for the factory above: HVAC at 07:00, compressor at 07:15, production line at 07:25. A 15-minute delay on EV charging can cut a 20 kW overlap without affecting operations. The goal is to spread the same total consumption across more intervals so no single 15-minute block sets an unnecessarily high peak.
Step 3: Before/after example with € impact
Before / After
Before stagger
120 kW
After stagger
~85 kW
35 kW reduction ≈ €1,890/year at €4.50/kW/month
No new equipment-just better sequencing. Use our capacity tariff calculator to estimate your own savings.
Step 4: Assign ownership
Someone needs to review interval or peak data weekly. If you see a spike in the first half of the month, act before month-end. Adjust schedules or escalate with operations so the second half does not repeat the same spike. If your DSO or supplier offers a portal with month-to-date peak, check it in week 2 or 3.
Step 5: Validate on the invoice
When the invoice arrives, check the capacity line. Compare the stated peak to your expected range. If it seems wrong, request the 15-minute curve from your DSO and use it as evidence in a dispute. If the peak is correct but higher than you want, the fix is operational-stagger loads, not a dispute.
Estimate your savings
Use our capacity tariff calculator to estimate how much a lower peak would save. For a complete overview of the capacity tariff in Belgium, read our capacity tariff Belgium guide. For real-world examples of how peaks translate to costs, see our capacity tariff examples for SMEs. capacity tariff Belgium guide. capacity tariff examples for SMEs.
Key takeaways
- 1. Map risk windows: first hour, post-break, end-of-day.
- 2. Stagger rule: no more than two major loads per 15-minute window.
- 3. Use 10–20 minute offsets for EV, ventilation, hot water.
- 4. Review month-to-date peak weekly; act before month-end.