Electricity Usage and Measurement
Electrical Load Factor Calculator
Use Electrical Load Factor when load factor is the quantity you need. Enter average demand and peak demand, then compare the answer with the equipment or operating limits that apply to your case.
Enter values for Load factor
Keep every entry on the units shown below.
Changing Average demand
Change Average demand from 42 kW to 50.4 kW and preserve the rest of the case. This moves the answer from 52.50% to 63.00%.
Do not average the two cases if either could define an operating limit.
How the result is calculated
Here, Load factor is obtained from load factor = average ÷ peak × 100. The formula draws on Average demand and Peak demand.
For the example shown, load factor equals 52.50%. Treat that value as a demonstration, not a recommendation.
Calculate load factor from average demand and peak demand. A later coincidence factor decision can draw on Electrical Coincidence Factor Calculator.
Values this page needs
Use tariff periods, demand intervals, meter ratios, and operating hours from the same billing case. Do not combine a worst-case value with unrelated nominal data.
At least one field has a positive lower bound because it appears in a denominator. Confirm decimal placement whenever a source uses a different unit scale. For the companion round-trip efficiency calculation, open Battery Round-Trip Efficiency Calculator.
- Average demand
- Default example: 42 kW. Enter average demand in kW.
- Peak demand
- Default example: 80 kW. Enter peak demand in kW.
Interpreting the answer
Interpret Load factor on the same basis used for the source values. Compare it with the relevant tariff and measured load profile.
A result without its source conditions is difficult to compare or audit.
Transferring the result
Archive average demand and peak demand with load factor. Identify the instrument, rating, or assumption behind each entry.
Transfer load factor at its stored precision for dependent calculations. Keep a separate displayed value if reporting precision differs.
Practical limits
Average and peak must cover the same interval.
Outside the entered variables, consider meter accuracy, sampling interval, waveform bandwidth, and conversion loss. Test an additional scenario when an omitted effect has a plausible range.
Use tariff periods, demand intervals, meter ratios, and operating hours from the same billing case.
Questions about Electrical Load Factor
Should intermediate values be rounded?
Retain the raw result for comparison and create a separately rounded reporting value if needed.
What happens when a denominator is zero?
Peak demand is used in a denominator and must be greater than zero.
Which source values should I use for Load factor?
Use average demand and peak demand from one operating condition. Record meter scaling, time period, load profile, and applicable tariff.
What is not captured by this equation?
Average and peak must cover the same interval. A broader review should include fixed charges, demand ratchets, seasonal rates, uncertainty, and future load change.
Why does the field result disagree with this page?
Differences can come from meter accuracy, sampling interval, waveform bandwidth, and conversion loss, measurement uncertainty, or values taken under different conditions.
Can I change several inputs at once?
Keep unaffected entries fixed so the cause of the difference remains visible. Record meter scaling, time period, load profile, and applicable tariff.