
Tariff Rate Design Optimizer
Design defensible utility tariff structures with regulatory compliance and equity
What You Can Do
You'll architect complete tariff designs by translating cost-of-service studies into customer rate schedules that recover authorized revenues fairly across customer classes. Claude helps you model complex rate mechanisms (demand-response, time-of-use, tiered structures), stress-test designs against regulatory principles (cost causation, gradualism, equity, simplicity), and prepare defensible methodologies for rate case testimony and filings.
Features
map utility costs to customer classes and rate components using regulatory methodologies
design and compare tariff mechanisms (flat rates, tiered, time-of-use, demand charges, fixed/variable splits)
calculate class-specific rates that recover authorized revenues and maintain cost recovery across customer segments
document methodologies and generate testimony language aligned with regulatory principles and precedent
stress-test tariff designs against edge cases (weather volatility, load growth, distributed generation penetration, customer migration)
model customer bill impacts by customer class and usage profile to identify equity risks
evaluate competing design approaches against regulatory criteria and stakeholder objectives
structure tariff documentation, schedules, and supporting analysis for regulatory filing and hearing readiness
Example Output
Example 1: Tiered Rate Design
- Base tariff analysis for 3 customer classes (residential, small commercial, large industrial)
- Cost allocation showing demand vs. energy components
- Proposed tiered rate structure: $15 monthly fixed charge + $0.142/kWh tier 1 (first 500 kWh) + $0.098/kWh tier 2 (above 500 kWh)
- Bill impact summary: median residential bill +3.2%, weighted by CCOS allocation methodology
- Regulatory defense: alignment with cost-causation principle and gradualism (phase-in schedule)
Example 2: Time-of-Use Rate Modeling
- Demand profile analysis by hour and season
- TOU rate proposal: $12 fixed + $0.18/kWh peak (2–8 PM Jun–Sep) + $0.08/kWh off-peak
- Load shift elasticity scenarios and revenue adequacy under different adoption rates
- Customer equity analysis: bill impacts across income deciles and usage patterns
- Risk assessment: regulatory objections and mitigation strategies
Example 3: Rate Case Testimony Outline
- Tariff design methodology aligned with regulatory precedent
- Cost allocation documentation with CCOS mapping
- Comparative analysis of rejected alternatives and rationale for selected design
- Bill impact exhibits by customer class and prototypical bills
- Response to anticipated intervenor challenges
What's Included
- SKILL.md instruction file: complete tariff design methodology and decision framework
- Rate design template: standardized cost allocation worksheet and rate calculation schedules
- Tariff comparison framework: matrix for evaluating alternative designs against regulatory criteria (cost causation, gradualism, equity, simplicity, administrative feasibility)
- Bill impact analysis checklist: prototypical bill scenarios, equity metrics, and customer segment impact summary
- Regulatory defense playbook: testimony outline structure, common intervenor objections, and evidence-building approach
Who It's For
- Rate analysts — designing tariff structures and preparing rate case filings
- Utility regulatory affairs teams — developing tariff proposals and regulatory strategies
- Energy consultants — advising utilities on cost-of-service and rate design methodologies
- Public utility commissioners — evaluating tariff designs against regulatory principles
- Stakeholder advocates — analyzing tariff equity impacts and developing positions on rate proposals
Best For
- Designing new rate schedules or restructuring existing tariffs
- Modeling demand-response, time-of-use, and tiered rate mechanisms
- Cost allocation analysis translating CCOS studies into class-specific rates
- Stress-testing tariff designs against regulatory challenges and edge cases
- Preparing tariff testimony and rate case filing documentation







