Microgrid & Distributed Energy Equipment worked example

Controls Commissioning Load with connected commissioning load of 6 kW: a worked example in microgrid & distributed energy equipment

This worked example runs the controls commissioning load numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: connected commissioning load of 6 kW instead of the typical 12 kW. Estimate the electricity used and cost to power up and commission microgrid controllers and DER controls, so teams can budget commissioning energy, compare test setups, or fold electricity into the project quote.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Connected commissioning load: 6 kW (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 12)
  • Commissioning runtime: 8 hr (held at the documented default)
  • Blended electricity rate: 0.12 $ / kWh (held at the documented default)
  • Controllers commissioned: 1,000 controllers (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Total controls commissioning energy cost = connected commissioning load × commissioning runtime × blended electricity rate.
  • Controls commissioning energy used works out to 48 kWh at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Total controls commissioning energy cost works out to 5.76 $ at these inputs.
  • Energy cost per controller works out to 0.01 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Hourly controls commissioning energy cost works out to 0.72 $ / hr at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where connected commissioning load sits at 12 kW and the headline result is 96 kWh, this scenario comes in 50% below the baseline at 48 kWh.
  • Use it when budgeting commissioning energy, allocating cost per controller in a DER project, or comparing the energy footprint of different commissioning plans. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Controls commissioning energy used: 48 kWh (headline result)
  • Total controls commissioning energy cost: 5.76 $
  • Energy cost per controller: 0.01 $ / piece
  • Hourly controls commissioning energy cost: 0.72 $ / hr

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Controls Commissioning Load calculator, set connected commissioning load to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.