Steam Benefits
The Benefits of Steam Service
Reliability
With a capacity of about 11.6 million pounds per hour, we maintain the steam production capability necessary to meet forecasted heating and cooling peak loads. Plus, we produce a reserve supply to cover equipment outages. We do this with three steam electric stations, four steam-only stations, and capacity supplied under a long-term contract with the Brooklyn Navy Yard Cogeneration Partners.
Energy Efficiency
Steam is produced from a central facility and delivered directly to the customers' premises. That means there’s no need for expensive equipment or to rely on deliveries.
Environmentally Friendly
When businesses choose steam, they choose to improve air quality. Steam service provides significant benefits to consumers and to the city by reducing the use of spaceheating boilers and trucks to deliver fuel oil. Production of steam in our central plants offers improved dispersion of emissions through tall stacks that range from 350 to over 500 feet in height. Our boilers use low sulfur oil or clean-burning natural gas to produce steam. We have reduced opacity at our plants by 65% over the past few years. And, in a joint project with the Electric Power Research Institute, we have installed state-of-the-art burners to lower nitrogen oxide emissions.
Steam Rates & Service Classifications
SC-1 All-purpose steam rate for small commercial and small residential accounts such as tailor shops and five-story brownstones.
SC-2 Annual power service for steam heat and/or air conditioning for large commercial office buildings, hospitals, and hotels. Subject to Winter Demand Billing if annual consumption exceeds 14,000 Mlbs.
SC-3 Apartment house steam service for buildings with at least 50% residential and containing at least three or more separate living apartments. Subject to Winter Demand Billing if annual consumption exceeds 14,000 Mlbs.
SC-4 Power service to customers who use steam supplied by the company and another energy source for the same purpose during the winter months. Classified as Back-up or Supplementary Service.
SC-5 Negotiated agreement to retain and attract customers that have viable competitive alternatives to the company's steam service.
SC-6 Firm transportation and delivery of steam to the premises of a customer who arranges for third-party supply of steam.
See more information concerning these service classifications.