When large-scale operations require high power consumption, Primary Service–also known as Medium Voltage Service–emerges as a strategic solution.
By leveraging primary metering, businesses can unlock significant cost savings, streamline energy management, and optimize infrastructure investments.
What is Primary Service?
Primary service refers to electrical distribution at voltages exceeding 1,000 volts, typically in the range of 4,000 to 35,000 volts.
The term originates from utility industry terminology, where these voltages are used in overhead or aerial pole-mounted distribution to the primary winding of utility transformers – either pole-mounted “pot” transformers or pad-mounted service transformers.
These systems are commonly used by utility providers for power transmission before stepping down to consumer-level voltages. Industries with heavy energy demands, such as manufacturing plants, data centers, university campuses, and EV charging hubs, benefit greatly from this service model.
The Business Case for Primary Service
Organizations considering primary service gain access to several key advantages:
- Cost-Effective Energy Consumption: Primary service users purchase electricity at bulk rates, resulting in an approximate 25% cost reduction per kilowatt-hour compared to standard utility customers.
- Optimized Peak Demand Charges: Electric utilities impose fees based on peak demand periods. By consolidating power usage into a single, smoothed-out demand curve, businesses avoid excessive charges tied to multiple peaks.
- Infrastructure Ownership Savings: Standard utility customers pay hidden fees for the maintenance of final-mile infrastructure. Primary service eliminates these costs, which are often embedded in kilowatt-hour rates or billed separately as wheeling or delivery charges, allowing businesses to manage their distribution systems more efficiently.
- Simplified Metering and Billing: For multi-building sites like university campuses or corporate complexes, each meter represents an administrative expense. Primary service consolidates metering into a single account, reducing overhead and simplifying energy tracking.
Considerations & Challenges
While primary metering has compelling benefits, there are some responsibilities that customers must take on, such as:
- Businesses must own and maintain medium voltage transformers and distribution equipment.
- A dedicated electrician or maintenance contract is required to ensure system reliability.
However, many local electric utilities offer solutions such as leasing equipment or maintenance agreements, which allow customers to retain primary metering rates without the burden of direct equipment ownership.
How WGI Delivers Comprehensive Primary Service Solutions
At WGI, our MEP experts specialize in designing and implementing primary service solutions tailored to unique operational needs – And our portfolio includes overhead, underground, and pole-mounted medium voltage systems for some of the world’s largest organizations, such as military bases, hospitals, major universities, and even NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
We pride ourselves on guiding clients through:
- System design and engineering for cost-effective power distribution.
- Utility coordination to secure optimal rates and infrastructure agreements.
- Turnkey implementation of primary service systems for long-term efficiency.
Optimize Energy with the Primary Service Experts
So, don’t wait a moment longer…. Contact our team today and let’s explore how Primary Service can optimize the energy strategy in any of your new or pre-existing facilities!
