NOTE: This page describes historic functionality no longer included in the production version of Home Energy Saver or our API.
To select an electric utility tariff, users must specify their electric distribution utility, and the specific tariff they wish to analyze. The relationship between the input pages is shown in Figure 11. When editing their utility rates (on the existing HES energy prices input page), users can choose an option that starts the process of selecting a utility. Users may also make this choice to use a utility tariff rather than the state average prices from the Key inputs page. After selecting a ZIP code, users are asked to select their utility from a list of available utilities. The next page presents a list of available tariffs, based on their choice of utility[1]. After selecting a tariff, users return to continue refining their house description, or to initiate the calculation process.
Throughout this process, users retain the option to end the tariff selection and return to the default, annual-average rates, for cases where their utility is not available in the TAP database or they simply change their mind (by returning to the energy price page and selecting the radio button corresponding to the average electricity price).
Figure 11. Relevant HES Input Pages.
[1] Since large utilities in California typically have multiple climate zones, a link to a map showing the climate zones specific to the utility is given when available. The user can use this as a visual aid to refine their choice among the tariffs available for their utility