How to figure a district heating bill
There is no national district heating program in the United States. Service comes from city or campus district steam and hot water utilities, such as the Con Edison steam system in Manhattan or a university central plant, and each one files its own tariff. What they share is the billing structure: a usage charge for the heat your meter records plus a fixed monthly service or demand charge, with tax added on top.
Heat is billed in MMBtu (one million Btu) for hot water service, or in Mlb of steam (thousands of pounds) where steam is delivered. Because meters are labeled differently from one system to the next, this tool converts therms, MWh, and Mlb steam into MMBtu before applying your rate. The Mlb conversion assumes about 1,190 Btu per pound of steam, which is typical of saturated steam at distribution pressure but should be checked against your tariff, since condensate return credits also vary.
Enter the rate and service charge printed on your own bill rather than relying on a national average, which does not exist for this service. Rates move with fuel cost, and commercial tariffs often add a demand component based on peak hourly use. The effective cost per MMBtu in the results tells you what you really paid once fixed charges are spread over the heat you used, which is the number to compare against a gas boiler alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
The service or demand charge covers the capacity held available for your building, so it appears whether or not you draw heat. Only the usage portion of the bill falls to zero.
Multiply by the enthalpy of the steam delivered, roughly 1,190 Btu per pound for saturated steam, so 1 Mlb is about 1.19 MMBtu. Your tariff may specify a different value or credit returned condensate.