Quick answer
Budget utility peak-demand charges as a separate line from the outdoor LED billboard quotation. Request average and maximum W/m² and the AC input for the exact model, pitch and configuration, ask the supplier which figure applies to the demand-related sizing input, and ask the utility to document tariff, time-of-use, demand-ratchet and power-factor terms before comparing offers.
Sources used: EA960R4 specs; EA960F4 specs; EA640F2 specs
Separate Utility Charges From the Billboard Quotation
Budget the utility peak-demand charge as its own scope line beside the outdoor LED billboard cabinets, the support structure and the dimming configuration. The screen quotation covers display hardware; a utility charge depends on the site’s tariff and the account’s load profile. Separating those lines lets you compare hardware vs installed cost and see which party supplies each item. A quotation request should still name the screen dimensions, installation location and preferred pixel pitch so the configuration behind the quotation stays visible.
The supplied outdoor cabinet pages describe weather protection and service access, not utility billing. EA960F4 is an outdoor advertising LED display built around a 960 × 960 × 80 mm aluminum cabinet with IP65 protection and front and rear maintenance access, and the series also supports 1,440 × 960 mm and 1,440 × 640 mm cabinets. EA960R4 is a 960 × 960 mm magnesium alloy cabinet for outdoor commercial advertising, fixed installation and rental applications, and its outdoor series cabinets carry an IP65 rating. Those facts scope the product; the tariff and the demand charge still have to be requested separately.
Request Average and Maximum W/m² for the Exact Configuration
Our recommended method is to request both average W/m² and maximum W/m² for the exact outdoor model, pixel pitch and configuration, together with the documented AC input, and to ask the supplier to state in writing which figure applies to the utility demand-related sizing input. Requesting both keeps the average vs maximum power basis visible on the quotation, instead of leaving a single figure to be interpreted one way or the other.
Where a supplier states a sizing convention, record it against the exact model. EA640F2, an indoor 640 × 480 mm cabinet, documents average consumption of 100-110 W/m² for SMD and 80-100 W/m² for COB, and maximum consumption of 300-330 W/m² for SMD and 230-300 W/m² for COB; its page states that electrical supply and cabling should be sized on the maximum rather than the average. That statement is scoped to EA640F2 and to electrical supply and cabling, so it is not evidence for an outdoor billboard’s utility demand charge.
Utility peak-demand budget: figures to request
| Decision | Evidence to request |
|---|---|
| Display load data | Request average W/m², maximum W/m² and the documented AC input for the exact outdoor model, pitch and configuration, and ask the supplier to state which figure applies to the utility demand-related sizing input. |
| Documented average vs maximum example | EA640F2, an indoor 640 × 480 mm cabinet, documents average consumption of 100-110 W/m² for SMD and 80-100 W/m² for COB, and maximum consumption of 300-330 W/m² for SMD and 230-300 W/m² for COB; its page states that electrical supply and cabling should be sized on the maximum rather than the average. The figures are scoped to that indoor model. |
| Tariff terms | Ask the utility to document the tariff schedule, time-of-use windows, demand-ratchet terms and power-factor terms for the account. |
| Dimming scope | Ask whether automatic nighttime dimming is included and whether that scope changes the load figure you give the utility. |
| Quote separation | Require separate lines for cabinets, structure, dimming scope and the utility demand charge. |
What to Put in the Utility Request
Once the supplier has confirmed the exact configuration’s power data, give those figures to the utility or the electrical designer with the proposed operating hours and the intended dimming plan. Ask the utility to document the applicable tariff schedule, the time-of-use windows, any demand-ratchet term and the power-factor terms for the account, plus which meter and billing determinants apply.
This is a purchasing sequence, not a statement that every utility applies the same rate structure, and the utility’s written response is the basis for the demand-charge budget line. Keep that response separate from the display quotation so a hardware total is not compared with a site-specific utility total.
Keep Dimming, Structure and Site Work as Separate Lines
Ask whether the quoted configuration includes automatic nighttime dimming and how the dimming setting is controlled, and ask the supplier whether that scope changes the load figure you pass to the utility. Treat dimming as its own configuration line rather than folding it into the utility budget.
Site work such as permits and structural engineering also sits outside the cabinet quotation. The outdoor pages document IP65 protection and service access for EA960R4 and EA960F4, and the EA960F4 960 × 960 mm aluminum cabinet is listed at 25.3 kg with an operating range of -20°C to +50°C. Those are product inputs for an engineer, not structural or electrical approvals.
Keep any electrical service upgrade on its own line as well, and give the electrical designer the exact configuration’s power data so the upgrade scope is priced against the quoted display rather than a generic allowance.
A Practical Budget Sequence
Fix the outdoor model, pixel pitch, cabinet format and active screen area first. Then request average W/m², maximum W/m² and AC input for that exact configuration, and ask the supplier which figure applies to the utility demand-related sizing input. Next, give those inputs to the utility or electrical designer for a written demand-charge estimate covering tariff, time-of-use windows, demand ratchets and power factor. Finally, compare LED screen quotes using the same model, pitch and screen area in every line.
Defer approval if the average W/m², maximum W/m², supplier-stated sizing basis, tariff terms or dimming scope are missing. A utility charge estimate that is not tied to the exact quoted configuration is provisional.
Common Budgeting Mistakes
One mistake is requesting only one power figure. EA640F2 documents both average and maximum consumption for its SMD and COB options, so the two documented figures describe the configuration together rather than one standing in for the other.
Another mistake is reusing an indoor model’s figures for an outdoor billboard, or carrying one outdoor cabinet’s specification into another model’s budget. EA640F2 is a 640 × 480 mm indoor cabinet rated IP31 for indoor use, while EA960R4 and EA960F4 are separate outdoor cabinets with their own formats.
A third mistake is folding the utility charge into the cabinet quotation. Keeping cabinet, structure, dimming and utility lines separate is our recommended budgeting method; it makes visible whether the demand charge, the dimming scope and the electrical site work are each included or excluded.
Outdoor billboard scenarios: what to confirm
| Scenario | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Fixed outdoor billboard using EA960R4 or EA960F4 | Confirm the exact model, pitch, cabinet format and screen area before requesting power data. |
| Reusing an indoor model’s figures | EA640F2 power figures are documented for that indoor SMD and COB model and do not transfer to an outdoor billboard. |
| Existing panel capacity may be short | Keep any electrical service upgrade as a separate scope and give the electrical designer the exact configuration’s power data. |
| Dimming included in the quotation | Ask whether dimming is included and whether it changes the load figure passed to the utility. |
| Utility applies a demand ratchet | Ask the utility to explain any demand-ratchet term in writing. |
| Power-factor terms apply | Ask the utility to document power-factor terms and whether correction equipment is a separate scope. |
Buyer checklist
- Fix the outdoor model, pixel pitch, cabinet format and active screen area before any utility discussion.
- Request average W/m², maximum W/m² and the documented AC input for the exact quoted configuration.
- Record any supplier-stated sizing basis against the exact model; EA640F2 states that electrical supply and cabling should be sized on the maximum rather than the average for that indoor model.
- Ask the utility to document tariff, time-of-use, demand-ratchet and power-factor terms in writing.
- Keep cabinet, structure, dimming scope and utility demand charges as separate quotation lines.
- Defer final budget approval until the exact configuration’s power data and the utility terms are available.
Frequently asked questions
Which W/m² figure should I give the utility for demand-related sizing on an outdoor LED billboard?
Ask the supplier to state, for the exact quoted outdoor model and pitch, which figure applies to the utility demand-related sizing input, and request both average and maximum W/m² so the basis is visible. For reference, EA640F2 is a named indoor model whose page states that electrical supply and cabling should be sized on the maximum rather than the average; that statement is scoped to EA640F2 and not to utility demand calculation.
What should I ask the utility before budgeting peak-demand charges?
Ask for the applicable tariff schedule, the time-of-use windows, any demand-ratchet term, the power-factor terms and the meter and billing determinants, in writing. Give the utility the exact outdoor model’s average and maximum W/m² and its documented AC input so the estimate is tied to the quoted configuration.
Should utility demand charges be included in the LED billboard cabinet quotation?
No. Keep the utility demand charge as a separate line from the cabinets, structure and dimming scope so proposals can be compared on the same configuration. A quotation request should name the screen dimensions, installation location and preferred pixel pitch.
What if the supplier has not provided average and maximum W/m² for the outdoor model?
Defer the demand and energy estimates until the supplier provides both figures for the exact quoted configuration. The supplied outdoor pages for EA960R4 and EA960F4 document cabinet, protection and service features, so power data remains a specific request to the supplier.
Can I use an indoor LED display’s power figures for an outdoor billboard budget?
Not as a substitute. EA640F2 is a 640 × 480 mm indoor cabinet rated IP31 for indoor use, and its documented average and maximum consumption figures are scoped to its own SMD and COB configurations. Request power data for the exact outdoor model and pitch being quoted.
Does dimming change the load figure I give the utility?
Ask the supplier whether the quoted configuration includes automatic nighttime dimming and whether that scope changes the load figure you pass to the utility. Treat dimming as its own configuration line, separate from the utility demand charge.
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Sources & references
Source pages can change. Access dates record when they were consulted.
- EA960R4 specs Accessed 6 October 2026
- EA960F4 specs Accessed 5 October 2026
- EA640F2 specs Accessed 5 October 2026
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