Freedom of Information request - Electricity tariff to TfL entities for train traction
Request ID: FOI-0375-2021
Date published: 02 October 2020
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
I am interested to know some information regarding the electricity tariff that you (or any of your sub-entities - LUL, etc) pay to your supplier. I am specifically interested in the energy used for traction by electric trains, and am not interested in the energy for other services, e.g. signalling, stations, etc. However, if this information cannot be disaggregated I am happy to accept answers for the aggregated system.
1) Do you pay a 'time of use' tariff, i.e. is it more expensive to power trains during peak periods than it is during off-peak periods?
2) Is your supply tariff based on total energy use, or peak power demand, or a combination of both? I am interested to know whether there is any monetary incentive from the supplier for you to reduce your peak power demand.
I appreciate that the details of your agreement with your supplier are likely commercially sensitive, which is why I have tried to keep my questions to general effects. I am trying to gain an understanding of the market forces upon you, in relation to traction energy for trains.
Please do let me know if I need to clarify my questions.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0375-2021/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 10 June 2020 asking for information about electricity tariffs.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
1.Do you pay a 'time of use' tariff, i.e. is it more expensive to power trains during peak periods than it is during off-peak periods?
Yes. Multiple elements of the TfL electricity bill are based on time of use with the most expensive time being the evening peak period on a Winter weekday.
2.Is your supply tariff based on total energy use, or peak power demand, or a combination of both? I am interested to know whether there is any monetary incentive from the supplier for you to reduce your peak power demand.
The majority of charges levied on TfL are consumption based. However, some others are based on electrical demand during discrete periods.
If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please note, the Government has announced a series of measures to tackle the coronavirus. It is essential for London, that we continue to provide a safe transport network for essential journeys.
In current circumstances, we are not able to answer FOI requests readily and we ask that you please do not make a request to us at present.
Answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. In any event, please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
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