kapasiteettimaksu

Kapasiteettimaksu, often translated as capacity charge or capacity fee, is a type of fee levied by service providers, particularly in the energy sector, to cover the costs associated with maintaining the infrastructure and capacity required to meet demand, even during periods of low usage. This charge is distinct from consumption-based charges, which are calculated based on the amount of a service actually used.

The primary purpose of a kapasiteettimaksu is to ensure that a provider can reliably deliver a service when it is needed. For example, electricity companies incur significant costs in building and maintaining power plants, transmission lines, and distribution networks. These assets must be available to meet peak demand, even if those peak periods are infrequent. The capacity charge helps to recover these fixed costs, ensuring the financial stability of the provider and the continued availability of the service.

In practice, a kapasiteettimaksu might appear on a utility bill as a fixed monthly amount, often tiered based on the maximum capacity or connection size. This means that even if a customer uses very little electricity in a given month, they will still pay a base fee to cover the cost of having that connection and the associated infrastructure available. This model is common in telecommunications, water supply, and electricity grids. It aims to create a fairer cost distribution, as the infrastructure is built and maintained for all users, not just those who consume the most.