Tariff Search¶

MeterBase maintains a comprehensive database of 62,700+ utility tariffs from 2,866 utilities across the United States. Use the tariff search to explore available rates by location, utility, or customer sector.

Searching for Tariffs¶

Search by ZIP Code¶

The most common search method. Enter a ZIP code to find all tariffs available at that location:

Web UIAPI

Navigate to Tariffs in the sidebar
Enter a ZIP code in the search bar
Results show all utilities serving that ZIP and their available tariffs

curl "https://api.meterbase.io/api/tariffs/search?zip_code=90028" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"

Search by State¶

View all tariffs available in a state:

curl "https://api.meterbase.io/api/tariffs/search?state=CA" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"

Search by Utility¶

Find all tariffs offered by a specific utility:

curl "https://api.meterbase.io/api/tariffs/search?utility_id=1247" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"

Search by Sector¶

Filter by customer sector to narrow results:

curl "https://api.meterbase.io/api/tariffs/search?zip_code=90028&sector=commercial" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"

Available sectors:

Sector	Description
`residential`	Single-family and small multifamily
`commercial`	Commercial and large multifamily
`industrial`	Industrial and manufacturing
`lighting`	Street lighting and outdoor lighting
`agricultural`	Agricultural and irrigation

Multifamily Properties

Most multifamily properties with master meters are classified as commercial for rate purposes. Check with your utility if you are unsure which sector applies.

Combined Search¶

Combine parameters for precise results:

curl "https://api.meterbase.io/api/tariffs/search?\
zip_code=90028&\
sector=commercial&\
tariff_type=tou&\
min_demand=0&\
max_demand=100" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"

Understanding Tariff Types¶

MeterBase classifies tariffs into four primary types:

Flat Rate¶

A single per-kWh price regardless of usage level or time of day.

Energy Charge: $0.10/kWh (all hours, all usage levels)

Characteristics: Simple, predictable. Common for small commercial accounts.

Tiered (Inclining Block)¶

The per-kWh price increases as usage rises through defined tiers.

Tier 1 (0 - 500 kWh):       $0.08/kWh
Tier 2 (501 - 1,500 kWh):   $0.11/kWh
Tier 3 (1,501+ kWh):        $0.15/kWh

Characteristics: Rewards conservation. Common for residential and small commercial.

Time-of-Use (TOU)¶

Different per-kWh prices depending on the time of day and sometimes the season.

Summer On-Peak (12pm - 6pm weekdays):   $0.18/kWh
Summer Mid-Peak (8am - 12pm, 6pm - 9pm): $0.12/kWh
Summer Off-Peak (all other hours):        $0.07/kWh
Winter On-Peak:                           $0.11/kWh
Winter Off-Peak:                          $0.06/kWh

Characteristics: Rewards shifting usage to off-peak hours. Increasingly common as utilities modernize rate structures.

Demand-Based¶

Includes a per-kW charge based on the highest 15-minute average demand during the billing period, in addition to energy charges.

Energy Charge:  $0.06/kWh
Demand Charge:  $12.00/kW (based on monthly peak demand)
Customer Charge: $150.00/month

Characteristics: Common for larger commercial accounts (typically above 20-50 kW). Penalizes "peaky" load profiles.

Combined Rate Structures

Many tariffs combine these types. For example, a TOU rate with demand charges is common for mid-size to large commercial accounts. MeterBase handles all combinations.

Reading Tariff Details¶

Click on any tariff in search results to view its full structure. A tariff detail page includes:

Energy Rates¶

Per-kWh charges, broken down by:

Season -- Summer vs. winter (and sometimes shoulder seasons)
Time period -- On-peak, mid-peak, off-peak (for TOU rates)
Usage tier -- Tier boundaries and rates (for tiered rates)

Demand Rates¶

Per-kW charges, broken down by:

Season -- Summer and winter demand charges often differ
Time period -- Some tariffs have on-peak demand and max demand charges
Ratchet provisions -- Some tariffs use a percentage of the highest demand from the past 12 months as a billing minimum

Fixed Charges¶

Monthly charges independent of usage:

Charge Type	Description
Customer charge	Basic service charge for having an account
Meter charge	Monthly meter rental or maintenance fee
Minimum bill	Minimum monthly charge regardless of usage

Riders and Surcharges¶

Additional per-kWh or per-kW charges layered on top of the base rate:

Rider Type	Description
Fuel cost adjustment	Pass-through of fuel price changes
Renewable energy surcharge	Funding for renewable energy programs
Infrastructure charge	Grid modernization or reliability investments
Regulatory adjustment	Compliance-related cost recovery
Franchise fee	Local government franchise fee pass-through

Riders Change Frequently

Riders and surcharges are often updated quarterly or annually. MeterBase refreshes tariff data from OpenEI and EIA regularly, but check with your utility for the most current rider amounts.

Rate Calculator¶

Use the built-in rate calculator to estimate monthly cost under any tariff:

Web UIAPI

Open a tariff detail page
Click Rate Calculator
Enter monthly kWh usage and peak demand (kW)
Optionally enter time-of-use breakdown (% on-peak, mid-peak, off-peak)
View estimated monthly cost with full charge breakdown

curl -X POST https://api.meterbase.io/api/tariffs/calculate \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "tariff_id": 4521,
    "monthly_kwh": 38200,
    "peak_demand_kw": 67.5,
    "on_peak_pct": 35,
    "mid_peak_pct": 25,
    "off_peak_pct": 40,
    "season": "summer"
  }'

Response:

{
  "tariff_id": 4521,
  "tariff_name": "TOU-GS-2-D",
  "estimated_monthly_cost": 4345.00,
  "breakdown": {
    "energy_charges": 3175.00,
    "demand_charges": 776.25,
    "fixed_charges": 350.00,
    "riders": 43.75,
    "taxes": 0.00
  }
}

Tariff Data Sources¶

MeterBase's tariff database is compiled from:

Source	Data Provided	Update Frequency
OpenEI (USRDB)	Tariff rate structures, TOU periods, tier definitions	Monthly
EIA (Form 861)	Utility directory, service territories, revenue data	Annually
Internal mapping	ZIP code to utility associations	As needed
Manual curation	Corrections and additions for major utilities	Ongoing

Missing a Tariff?

If you cannot find a specific tariff, it may not yet be in the OpenEI database. You can request an addition or manually enter a custom tariff via the API.