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ConEd Residential (SC1/EL1) — Field Guide

⚠️ Disclaimer: This guide was generated by an LLM (Claude Opus 4.5) based on the tariff JSON plus the model's background knowledge of utility rate structures. The content looks reasonable but has not been verified by domain experts. Please verify any claims before relying on them for business or regulatory purposes.

Data Source: This guide covers tariff data from the Arcadia Signal API (formerly Genability). The JSON structure, field names, and lookup mechanisms described here are specific to Arcadia's tariff data model. The full JSON output is included below for reference.

Master Tariff ID: 809 Tariff Code: EL1 Tariff Name: Residential and Religious Customer Class: Residential Customer Count: ~3 million

Overview

EL1 is ConEd's default residential rate—the tariff that applies to most homes and apartments in New York City and Westchester County. With approximately 3 million customers, it's one of the largest residential tariffs in the United States by customer count.

This is a standard, non-time-of-use rate. Customers are charged the same per-kWh delivery rate regardless of when they consume electricity (though rates do vary by season). ConEd also offers optional time-of-use rates for residential customers who want to shift usage to off-peak hours, but EL1 remains the default for customers who don't opt into an alternative.

The "Religious" in the tariff name refers to houses of worship, which are eligible for this rate alongside residential customers.


Quick Reference: All Charges

Rate Group Rate Name Charge Type Charge Class Zone Season Tiered Rate Value
Basic Service Charge Customer Charge FIXED_PRICE DISTRIBUTION $20.00/mo
Basic Service Charge Billing and Payment Processing FIXED_PRICE DISTRIBUTION $1.28/mo
Delivery Charges Delivery Revenue Surcharge CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION Lookup
Delivery Charges Reconciliation Rate CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION Lookup
Delivery Charges Transition Adjustment CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION Lookup
Delivery Charges Uncollectible Bill Expense CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION Lookup
Delivery Charges Monthly Adjustment Clause CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION Lookup
Delivery Charges Revenue Decoupling Mechanism CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION Lookup
Delivery Charges Clean Energy Standard (Delivery) CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION Lookup
Delivery Charges Summer Rate CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION ≤250: $0.16107, >250: $0.18518
Delivery Charges Winter Rate CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION ≤250: $0.16107, >250: $0.16107
Merchant Function Merchant Function Charge CONSUMPTION_BASED SUPPLY,CONTRACTED Lookup
Supply Charges MSC Rate CONSUMPTION_BASED SUPPLY,CONTRACTED Lookup
Supply Charges MSC I Adjustment CONSUMPTION_BASED SUPPLY,CONTRACTED Lookup
Supply Charges MSC II Adjustment CONSUMPTION_BASED SUPPLY,CONTRACTED Lookup
Supply Charges Clean Energy Standard (Supply) CONSUMPTION_BASED SUPPLY,CONTRACTED Lookup
SBC Charges System Benefits Charge CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION Lookup
NY State Surcharge New York State Surcharge CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION Lookup
Minimum Charge Minimum Charge MINIMUM $20.00/mo
Rider: Tax Sur-Credit Tax Sur-Credit CONSUMPTION_BASED Lookup
Rider: DLM Dynamic Load Management CONSUMPTION_BASED Lookup
Rider: CBC Customer Benefit Contribution QUANTITY $1.84/kW
Rider: EV Make Ready EV Make Ready Surcharge CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION $0.0008/kWh
Rider: Arrears Mgmt Arrears Management Recovery CONSUMPTION_BASED DISTRIBUTION $0.0012/kWh
Rider: GRT GRT Distribution QUANTITY TRANS,DISTRIBUTION H: 3.33%, I: 5.51%, J: 4.79%
Rider: GRT GRT Supply QUANTITY SUPPLY H: 1.01%, I: 3.09%, J: 2.41%
Rider: VDER VDER Cost Recovery CONSUMPTION_BASED $0.0011/kWh

Charge-by-Charge Breakdown

Basic Service Charges

Customer Charge — $20.00/month

A flat monthly fee that covers the cost of having an account: metering, billing systems, customer service. Everyone pays this regardless of usage.

Billing and Payment Processing Charge — $1.28/month

Covers the cost of generating and mailing bills, processing payments. Added in recent years as utilities unbundled these costs.


Delivery Charges

These are charges for using ConEd's distribution network (wires, poles, transformers). They're regulated by the NY PSC.

Core Delivery Rate

Summer/Winter Rate — $0.16107–$0.18518/kWh

The main volumetric delivery charge. Tiered at 250 kWh:

  • Tier 1 (≤250 kWh): $0.16107/kWh (both seasons)
  • Tier 2 (>250 kWh): $0.18518/kWh (summer only; winter stays at $0.16107)

The tier structure incentivizes conservation. Summer Tier 2 is higher because peak summer demand strains the grid. This rate is set during rate cases and stays fixed for 1-3 years.

Delivery Adjustments

📘 Deep Dive: These adjustments involve regulatory mechanisms, time lags, and reconciliation math. For a complete explanation with step-by-step examples, see Delivery Adjustments Guide.

Monthly Adjustment Clause (MAC)Variable Umbrella adjustment that captures various delivery cost true-ups: property taxes, storm costs, pension expenses. Changes monthly based on actual vs. forecasted costs.

Revenue Decoupling Mechanism (RDM) AdjustmentVariable Part of NY's decoupling policy: ConEd's revenue is "decoupled" from sales volume. If customers use less than expected, this adjusts upward (and vice versa). Removes utility incentive to discourage conservation. Typically reconciled annually.

Delivery Revenue SurchargeVariable A supplemental revenue adjustment for specific shortfalls or PSC-ordered changes outside the normal MAC/RDM mechanisms.

Clean Energy Standard Delivery SurchargeVariable Recovers ConEd's costs for grid infrastructure needed to comply with NY's Clean Energy Standard (distribution upgrades, DER integration).

Reconciliation RateVariable True-ups for deferred costs from NY's 1990s electricity restructuring. Legacy item, typically small.

Transition AdjustmentVariable More legacy costs from deregulation-era restructuring. Typically minimal now.

Uncollectible Bill ExpenseVariable Recovers costs from customers who don't pay their bills. Spiked during COVID; now returning to normal levels.


Supply Charges

These are charges for the electricity commodity itself. Only apply if you use ConEd as your supplier (not an ESCO). All are variable rates requiring the Lookups API.

Core Supply Rate

MSC Rate (Market Supply Charge)Variable, by zone

The base cost of electricity. ConEd forecasts this monthly based on expected wholesale prices from NYISO. Zone-specific because NYISO prices differ by location (H, I, J).

Merchant Function ChargeVariable Covers ConEd's costs to administer supply service: procurement staff, risk management, billing systems. Only applies to default service customers (not ESCO customers).

Supply Adjustments

📘 Deep Dive: Supply adjustments involve NYISO settlement, load-weighted averaging, and 2-3 month reconciliation lags. For a complete explanation with step-by-step examples, see Supply Charges Guide.

MSC I AdjustmentVariable, by zone Reconciles actual energy costs vs. what was billed via the forecasted MSC. Applied with a 2-3 month lag after NYISO settlement finalizes. Zone-specific because wholesale energy prices differ by location.

MSC II AdjustmentVariable Reconciles capacity costs, ancillary services, and working capital. Not zone-specific—averaged across ConEd's territory.

Clean Energy Standard Supply SurchargeVariable Recovers the cost of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), Zero Emission Credits (ZECs), and other clean energy compliance costs on the supply side.


System Benefits Charge

System Benefits Charge (SBC) — Variable

Funds NY's clean energy programs administered by NYSERDA: energy efficiency rebates, low-income assistance, renewable energy research. Set by the PSC; all customers pay.


NY State Surcharge

New York State Surcharge — Variable

A temporary surcharge authorized by the NY PSC. Often used for policy initiatives or one-time cost recovery.


Minimum Charge

Minimum Charge — $20.00/month

If your total bill (before taxes) is less than $20, you pay $20 anyway. Ensures ConEd recovers basic service costs from very-low-usage customers.


Rider Charges

Riders are add-on tariff components that apply to multiple base tariffs. They're modular—ConEd can update them without revising every tariff.

📘 Deep Dive: Each rider has its own origin story, policy rationale, and calculation method. For detailed explanations including how VDER and CBC work together for solar, why all customers pay for EV infrastructure, and the COVID arrears recovery program, see Riders Guide.

Tax Sur-Credit — Variable

Adjusts for differences between tax costs embedded in rates vs. actual taxes paid. Can be positive (surcharge) or negative (credit). Related to federal tax reform and property tax changes.

Dynamic Load Management (DLM) Surcharge — Variable

Recovers costs for ConEd's demand response programs: paying customers and batteries to reduce load during peak periods. Part of NY's grid modernization efforts.

Customer Benefit Contribution (CBC) — $1.84/kW of solar system size

Only applies to customers with solar panels. A monthly fee based on your solar system's nameplate capacity (kW). Created as part of NY's Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) reforms to ensure solar customers contribute to grid costs. If you don't have solar (systemSize = 0), this is $0.

Electric Vehicle Make Ready Surcharge — $0.0008/kWh

Recovers ConEd's costs for EV charging infrastructure: installing "make-ready" infrastructure (conduit, wiring) to support public and fleet charging stations. All customers pay a tiny amount per kWh.

Arrears Management Program Recovery Surcharge — $0.0012/kWh

Recovers costs from ConEd's COVID-era arrears forgiveness program. During the pandemic, many customers fell behind; this surcharge spreads the cost of debt forgiveness across all ratepayers.

Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) — Varies by zone

New York municipalities levy a Gross Receipts Tax on utilities. Applied as a percentage of your charges, split into Distribution and Supply components:

Zone GRT Distribution GRT Supply
H (Upper Westchester) 3.3322% 1.0101%
I (Lower Westchester) 5.5127% 3.0928%
J (NYC) 4.7940% 2.4066%

Different municipalities have different tax rates, so this varies by zone.

Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) Cost Recovery — $0.0011/kWh

Recovers costs ConEd pays to solar generators under NY's VDER/Value Stack tariff. When solar systems export power, ConEd compensates them based on time-varying values; this surcharge recovers those costs from all ratepayers.


Example Bill Calculation

A Zone J customer in July (Summer) using 500 kWh:

Delivery Charges

Charge Calculation Amount
Customer Charge $20.00 $20.00
Billing & Payment $1.28 $1.28
Summer Rate Tier 1 250 kWh × $0.16107 $40.27
Summer Rate Tier 2 250 kWh × $0.18518 $46.30
Delivery Adjustments 500 kWh × ~$0.02 (varies) ~$10.00
Subtotal Delivery ~$117.85

Supply Charges

Charge Calculation Amount
MSC Rate (Zone J) 500 kWh × ~$0.08 (varies) ~$40.00
MSC I/II Adjustments 500 kWh × ~$0.005 ~$2.50
CES Supply 500 kWh × ~$0.003 ~$1.50
Merchant Function 500 kWh × ~$0.001 ~$0.50
Subtotal Supply ~$44.50

Riders & Taxes

Charge Calculation Amount
Tax Sur-Credit 500 kWh × ~$0.001 ~$0.50
DLM Surcharge 500 kWh × ~$0.001 ~$0.50
EV Make Ready 500 kWh × $0.0008 $0.40
Arrears Management 500 kWh × $0.0012 $0.60
VDER Cost Recovery 500 kWh × $0.0011 $0.55
SBC + NY Surcharge 500 kWh × ~$0.005 ~$2.50
GRT Distribution ~$118 × 4.794% ~$5.66
GRT Supply ~$45 × 2.4066% ~$1.08
Subtotal Riders ~$11.79

Total

~$174.14 for 500 kWh in summer (Zone J)

Breakdown by Category

Category Amount % of Bill
Fixed Charges $21.28 12%
Delivery (Volumetric) ~$96.57 55%
Supply ~$44.50 26%
Riders & Taxes ~$11.79 7%

Key insight: Delivery charges make up the majority of the bill. The tiered structure means the second 250 kWh costs more than the first—incentivizing conservation.


Full Tariff JSON

The complete tariff JSON response from the Arcadia Signal API is included below for reference. For an introduction to the tariff JSON structure (hierarchy, properties, rates, rate bands), see Understanding Arcadia Tariff JSON. For complete field definitions, see the Arcadia Tariff API Reference.

Click to expand full JSON (~2000 lines)
[
  {
    "tariffId": 3491277,
    "masterTariffId": 809,
    "tariffCode": "EL1",
    "tariffName": "Residential and Religious",
    "tariffBookName": "Residential and Religious",
    "lseId": 2252,
    "lseName": "Consolidated Edison Co-NY Inc",
    "lseCode": "ConEd",
    "serviceType": "ELECTRICITY",
    "priorTariffId": 3465591,
    "tariffType": "DEFAULT",
    "customerClass": "RESIDENTIAL",
    "privacy": "PUBLIC",
    "customerCount": 3024550,
    "customerLikelihood": 100.0,
    "customerCountSource": "FERC Form 1",
    "territoryId": 2533,
    "effectiveDate": "2025-01-01",
    "endDate": null,
    "closedDate": null,
    "effectiveOnRule": "TARIFF_EFFECTIVE_DATE",
    "timeZone": "US/Eastern",
    "billingPeriod": "MONTHLY",
    "currency": "USD",
    "chargeTypes": "FIXED_PRICE,CONSUMPTION_BASED,QUANTITY,MINIMUM",
    "chargePeriod": "MONTHLY",
    "minMonthlyConsumption": null,
    "maxMonthlyConsumption": null,
    "minMonthlyDemand": null,
    "maxMonthlyDemand": null,
    "hasTimeOfUseRates": false,
    "hasTieredRates": true,
    "hasContractedRates": true,
    "hasTariffApplicability": false,
    "hasRateApplicability": false,
    "hasNetMetering": true,
    "isActive": true,
    "properties": [
      {
        "keyName": "consumption",
        "quantityKey": null,
        "displayName": "Consumption (kWh)",
        "family": "load",
        "keyspace": "electricity",
        "description": "Quantity in kWh of load that is used for a period of time",
        "dataType": "DECIMAL",
        "propertyTypes": "RATE_CRITERIA",
        "operator": null,
        "isDefault": false
      },
      {
        "keyName": "systemSize",
        "quantityKey": null,
        "displayName": "System Size",
        "family": "system",
        "keyspace": "solarPV",
        "description": "Nameplate capacity (kW).",
        "dataType": "DECIMAL",
        "propertyTypes": "RATE_CRITERIA",
        "operator": "=",
        "propertyValue": "0",
        "quantityUnit": "kW",
        "isDefault": true
      },
      {
        "keyName": "territoryId",
        "quantityKey": null,
        "displayName": "Territory",
        "family": "billing",
        "keyspace": "electricity",
        "description": "Rate Baseline Region",
        "dataType": "CHOICE",
        "propertyTypes": "RATE_CRITERIA",
        "operator": null,
        "choices": [
          { "displayValue": "Zone H", "value": "3632", "dataValue": "3632", "likelihood": null },
          { "displayValue": "Zone I", "value": "3633", "dataValue": "3633", "likelihood": null },
          { "displayValue": "Zone J", "value": "3634", "dataValue": "3634", "likelihood": null }
        ],
        "quantityUnit": "",
        "isDefault": true
      },
      {
        "keyName": "chargeClass",
        "quantityKey": null,
        "displayName": "Charge Class Type",
        "family": "service",
        "keyspace": "electricity",
        "description": "The tariff has rates with the following charge class.",
        "dataType": "CHOICE",
        "propertyTypes": "SERVICE_TERMS",
        "operator": "=",
        "propertyValue": "DISTRIBUTION,SUPPLY,CONTRACTED",
        "choices": [
          { "displayValue": "Transmission", "value": "1", "dataValue": "1", "likelihood": null },
          { "displayValue": "Distribution", "value": "2", "dataValue": "2", "likelihood": null },
          { "displayValue": "Supply", "value": "4", "dataValue": "4", "likelihood": null },
          { "displayValue": "Tax", "value": "8", "dataValue": "8", "likelihood": null },
          { "displayValue": "Other", "value": "16", "dataValue": "16", "likelihood": null },
          { "displayValue": "Contracted", "value": "32", "dataValue": "32", "likelihood": null }
        ],
        "isDefault": false
      }
    ],
    "rates": [
      {
        "tariffRateId": 20389545,
        "masterTariffRateId": 18246979,
        "tariffId": 3491277,
        "tariffSequenceNumber": 2,
        "tariffBookSequenceNumber": 2,
        "rateGroupName": "Basic Service Charge",
        "tariffBookRateGroupName": "Basic Service Charge",
        "rateName": "Customer Charge",
        "tariffBookRateName": "Customer Charge",
        "fromDateTime": "2025-01-01T00:00:00-05:00",
        "toDateTime": null,
        "chargeType": "FIXED_PRICE",
        "chargeClass": "DISTRIBUTION",
        "chargePeriod": "MONTHLY",
        "transactionType": "BUY",
        "variableFactorKey": "billingPeriodProrationFactor",
        "rateBands": [
          {
            "tariffRateBandId": 15213465,
            "tariffRateId": 20389545,
            "rateSequenceNumber": 1,
            "hasConsumptionLimit": false,
            "hasDemandLimit": false,
            "hasPropertyLimit": false,
            "rateAmount": 20.0,
            "rateUnit": "COST_PER_UNIT",
            "isCredit": false,
            "prevUpperLimit": null
          }
        ],
        "hasApplicabilityFormula": false
      },
      {
        "tariffRateId": 20389546,
        "masterTariffRateId": 17033348,
        "tariffId": 3491277,
        "tariffSequenceNumber": 2,
        "tariffBookSequenceNumber": 3,
        "rateGroupName": "Basic Service Charge",
        "tariffBookRateGroupName": "Basic Service Charge",
        "rateName": "Billing and Payment Processing Charge",
        "tariffBookRateName": "Billing and Payment Processing Charge",
        "fromDateTime": "2025-01-01T00:00:00-05:00",
        "toDateTime": null,
        "chargeType": "FIXED_PRICE",
        "chargeClass": "DISTRIBUTION",
        "chargePeriod": "MONTHLY",
        "transactionType": "BUY",
        "rateBands": [
          {
            "tariffRateBandId": 15213466,
            "tariffRateId": 20389546,
            "rateSequenceNumber": 1,
            "hasConsumptionLimit": false,
            "hasDemandLimit": false,
            "hasPropertyLimit": false,
            "rateAmount": 1.28,
            "rateUnit": "COST_PER_UNIT",
            "isCredit": false,
            "prevUpperLimit": null
          }
        ],
        "hasApplicabilityFormula": false
      },
      {
        "tariffRateId": 20389547,
        "masterTariffRateId": 17275990,
        "tariffId": 3491277,
        "tariffSequenceNumber": 3,
        "tariffBookSequenceNumber": 1,
        "rateGroupName": "Delivery Charges",
        "tariffBookRateGroupName": "Delivery Charges",
        "rateName": "Delivery Revenue Surcharge",
        "tariffBookRateName": "Delivery Revenue Surcharge",
        "fromDateTime": "2025-01-01T00:00:00-05:00",
        "toDateTime": null,
        "chargeType": "CONSUMPTION_BASED",
        "chargeClass": "DISTRIBUTION",
        "chargePeriod": "MONTHLY",
        "transactionType": "NET",
        "variableRateKey": "DeliveryRevenueSurchargeSc1",
        "rateBands": [
          {
            "tariffRateBandId": 15213467,
            "tariffRateId": 20389547,
            "rateSequenceNumber": 1,
            "hasConsumptionLimit": false,
            "hasDemandLimit": false,
            "hasPropertyLimit": false,
            "rateAmount": 0.0,
            "rateUnit": "COST_PER_UNIT",
            "isCredit": false,
            "prevUpperLimit": null
          }
        ],
        "hasApplicabilityFormula": false
      },
      {
        "tariffRateId": 20389554,
        "masterTariffRateId": 16981863,
        "tariffId": 3491277,
        "tariffSequenceNumber": 3,
        "tariffBookSequenceNumber": 8,
        "rateGroupName": "Delivery Charges",
        "tariffBookRateGroupName": "Delivery Charges",
        "rateName": "Summer Rate",
        "tariffBookRateName": "Energy Rate - Summer - Territory H",
        "fromDateTime": "2025-01-01T00:00:00-05:00",
        "toDateTime": null,
        "territory": {
          "territoryId": 3632,
          "territoryName": "Zone H",
          "lseId": 2252,
          "lseName": "Consolidated Edison Co-NY Inc",
          "parentTerritoryId": 2533,
          "usageType": "TARIFF",
          "itemTypes": "ZIPCODE",
          "deregRes": false,
          "deregCandi": false,
          "centerPoint": { "latitude": 41.24471966666667, "longitude": -73.81995450000002 },
          "countryCode": "US"
        },
        "season": {
          "seasonId": 213,
          "lseId": 2252,
          "seasonGroupId": 1,
          "seasonName": "Summer",
          "seasonFromMonth": 6,
          "seasonFromDay": 1,
          "fromEdgePredominance": "PREDOMINANT",
          "seasonToMonth": 9,
          "seasonToDay": 30,
          "toEdgePredominance": "SUBSERVIENT"
        },
        "chargeType": "CONSUMPTION_BASED",
        "chargeClass": "DISTRIBUTION",
        "chargePeriod": "MONTHLY",
        "transactionType": "NET",
        "rateBands": [
          {
            "tariffRateBandId": 15213474,
            "tariffRateId": 20389554,
            "rateSequenceNumber": 1,
            "hasConsumptionLimit": true,
            "consumptionUpperLimit": 250.0,
            "hasDemandLimit": false,
            "hasPropertyLimit": false,
            "rateAmount": 0.16107,
            "rateUnit": "COST_PER_UNIT",
            "isCredit": false,
            "prevUpperLimit": null
          },
          {
            "tariffRateBandId": 15213475,
            "tariffRateId": 20389554,
            "rateSequenceNumber": 2,
            "hasConsumptionLimit": true,
            "hasDemandLimit": false,
            "hasPropertyLimit": false,
            "rateAmount": 0.18518,
            "rateUnit": "COST_PER_UNIT",
            "isCredit": false,
            "prevUpperLimit": null
          }
        ],
        "hasApplicabilityFormula": false
      },
      {
        "tariffRateId": 20389563,
        "masterTariffRateId": 17033332,
        "tariffId": 3491277,
        "tariffSequenceNumber": 5,
        "tariffBookSequenceNumber": 3,
        "rateGroupName": "Supply Charges",
        "tariffBookRateGroupName": "Supply Charges",
        "rateName": "MSC Rate - Zone J",
        "tariffBookRateName": "MSC Rate - Zone J",
        "fromDateTime": "2025-01-01T00:00:00-05:00",
        "toDateTime": null,
        "territory": {
          "territoryId": 3634,
          "territoryName": "Zone J",
          "lseId": 2252,
          "lseName": "Consolidated Edison Co-NY Inc",
          "parentTerritoryId": 2533,
          "usageType": "TARIFF",
          "itemTypes": "ZIPCODE",
          "deregRes": false,
          "deregCandi": false,
          "centerPoint": { "latitude": 40.72388634472048, "longitude": -73.93697824534158 },
          "countryCode": "US"
        },
        "chargeType": "CONSUMPTION_BASED",
        "chargeClass": "SUPPLY,CONTRACTED",
        "chargePeriod": "MONTHLY",
        "transactionType": "NET",
        "variableRateKey": "marketSupplyChargeResidentialZoneJ",
        "rateBands": [
          {
            "tariffRateBandId": 15213489,
            "tariffRateId": 20389563,
            "rateSequenceNumber": 1,
            "hasConsumptionLimit": false,
            "hasDemandLimit": false,
            "hasPropertyLimit": false,
            "rateAmount": 0.0,
            "rateUnit": "COST_PER_UNIT",
            "isCredit": false,
            "prevUpperLimit": null
          }
        ],
        "hasApplicabilityFormula": false
      },
      {
        "tariffRateId": 20389577,
        "masterTariffRateId": 19244387,
        "tariffId": 3491277,
        "riderId": 3399165,
        "tariffSequenceNumber": 11,
        "tariffBookSequenceNumber": 1,
        "rateGroupName": "CBC Rider",
        "tariffBookRateGroupName": "CBC Rider",
        "rateName": "CBC Rider",
        "tariffBookRateName": "CBC Rider",
        "fromDateTime": "2025-01-01T00:00:00-05:00",
        "toDateTime": null,
        "chargeType": null,
        "chargePeriod": "MONTHLY",
        "transactionType": "BUY",
        "rateBands": [],
        "hasApplicabilityFormula": false
      },
      {
        "tariffRateId": 20443074,
        "masterTariffRateId": 19242493,
        "tariffId": 3491277,
        "riderTariffId": 3495063,
        "tariffSequenceNumber": 11,
        "tariffBookSequenceNumber": 2,
        "rateGroupName": "Customer Benefit Contribution",
        "tariffBookRateGroupName": "Customer Benefit Contribution",
        "rateName": "Customer Benefit Contribution",
        "tariffBookRateName": "Customer Benefit Contribution",
        "fromDateTime": "2025-01-01T00:00:00-05:00",
        "toDateTime": null,
        "chargeType": "QUANTITY",
        "chargePeriod": "MONTHLY",
        "transactionType": "BUY",
        "quantityKey": "systemSize",
        "rateBands": [
          {
            "tariffRateBandId": 15291918,
            "tariffRateId": 20443074,
            "rateSequenceNumber": 1,
            "hasConsumptionLimit": false,
            "hasDemandLimit": false,
            "hasPropertyLimit": false,
            "rateAmount": 1.84,
            "rateUnit": "COST_PER_UNIT",
            "isCredit": false,
            "prevUpperLimit": null
          }
        ],
        "hasApplicabilityFormula": false
      },
      {
        "tariffRateId": 20669930,
        "masterTariffRateId": 20669924,
        "tariffId": 3491277,
        "riderTariffId": 3516477,
        "tariffSequenceNumber": 14,
        "tariffBookSequenceNumber": 2,
        "rateGroupName": "GRT Charges",
        "tariffBookRateGroupName": "GRT Charges",
        "rateName": "GRT Distribution - Zone J",
        "tariffBookRateName": "GRT Distribution - Zone J",
        "fromDateTime": "2025-01-01T00:00:00-05:00",
        "toDateTime": null,
        "territory": {
          "territoryId": 3634,
          "territoryName": "Zone J",
          "lseId": 2252,
          "lseName": "Consolidated Edison Co-NY Inc",
          "parentTerritoryId": 2533,
          "usageType": "TARIFF",
          "itemTypes": "ZIPCODE",
          "deregRes": false,
          "deregCandi": false,
          "centerPoint": { "latitude": 40.72388634472048, "longitude": -73.93697824534158 },
          "countryCode": "US"
        },
        "chargeType": "QUANTITY",
        "chargeClass": "TRANSMISSION,DISTRIBUTION",
        "chargePeriod": "MONTHLY",
        "transactionType": "BUY",
        "rateBands": [
          {
            "tariffRateBandId": 15595394,
            "tariffRateId": 20669930,
            "rateSequenceNumber": 1,
            "hasConsumptionLimit": false,
            "hasDemandLimit": false,
            "hasPropertyLimit": false,
            "rateAmount": 4.794,
            "rateUnit": "PERCENTAGE",
            "isCredit": false,
            "prevUpperLimit": null
          }
        ],
        "hasApplicabilityFormula": false
      }
    ]
  }
]
*Note: The JSON above is a representative excerpt showing key rate structures. Some rates have been omitted for brevity. The actual tariff contains ~50 rate entries including all zone/season variations.*

Understanding the JSON

Key Fields

Field What It Means
chargeType How the charge is calculated (see below)
chargeClass Category: DISTRIBUTION, SUPPLY, TRANSMISSION, TAX
rateAmount The rate value (may be 0.0 if variable)
variableRateKey If present, use Lookups API to get actual value
territory If present, rate varies by zone (H, I, or J)
season If present, rate varies by season (Summer/Winter)
rateBands Array of tiers (if multiple, rate is tiered)

Charge Types

chargeType Meaning Unit
FIXED_PRICE Flat monthly fee $/month
CONSUMPTION_BASED Per-kWh charge $/kWh
QUANTITY Based on a property value Varies ($/kW, %)
MINIMUM Floor on total bill $/month

Fixed vs. Variable Rates

Fixed rates have the value directly in rateAmount:

{
  "rateName": "Customer Charge",
  "rateAmount": 20.0
}

Variable rates show rateAmount: 0.0 and have a variableRateKey:

{
  "rateName": "MSC Rate - Zone J",
  "rateAmount": 0.0,
  "variableRateKey": "marketSupplyChargeResidentialZoneJ"
}

Tiered Rates

Tiered rates have multiple rateBands with consumption limits:

{
  "rateName": "Summer Rate",
  "rateBands": [
    { "rateSequenceNumber": 1, "consumptionUpperLimit": 250.0, "rateAmount": 0.16107 },
    { "rateSequenceNumber": 2, "rateAmount": 0.18518 }
  ]
}

Zone-Specific Rates

Rates that vary by zone have a territory object:

{
  "rateName": "Summer Rate",
  "territory": {
    "territoryId": 3634,
    "territoryName": "Zone J"
  }
}

The three zones:

territoryId Zone Area
3632 H Upper Westchester
3633 I Lower Westchester
3634 J New York City

Seasonal Rates

Rates that vary by season have a season object:

{
  "rateName": "Summer Rate",
  "season": {
    "seasonName": "Summer",
    "seasonFromMonth": 6, "seasonFromDay": 1,
    "seasonToMonth": 9, "seasonToDay": 30
  }
}
Season Months
Summer June 1 – September 30
Winter October 1 – May 31

Tariff Properties

The properties array tells you what inputs are needed to calculate bills for this tariff. SC1 is relatively simple—it only requires four properties.

Property Type Description Default Used For
consumption DECIMAL Energy usage in kWh All consumption-based charges
systemSize DECIMAL Solar system capacity in kW 0 CBC rider (solar customers only)
territoryId CHOICE Service zone (H, I, or J) Zone-specific rates (MSC, GRT, delivery)
chargeClass CHOICE Charge categories to include DISTRIBUTION,SUPPLY,CONTRACTED Filtering rates by category

consumption

{
  "keyName": "consumption",
  "displayName": "Consumption (kWh)",
  "family": "load",
  "keyspace": "electricity",
  "dataType": "DECIMAL",
  "propertyTypes": "RATE_CRITERIA",
  "isDefault": false
}

The fundamental input for billing—how much electricity (kWh) the customer used. Required for all CONSUMPTION_BASED charges. No default value; you must provide it.

systemSize

{
  "keyName": "systemSize",
  "displayName": "System Size",
  "family": "system",
  "keyspace": "solarPV",
  "dataType": "DECIMAL",
  "propertyTypes": "RATE_CRITERIA",
  "operator": "=",
  "propertyValue": "0",
  "quantityUnit": "kW",
  "isDefault": true
}

The nameplate capacity of a customer's solar PV system. Defaults to 0 (no solar). Only affects the Customer Benefit Contribution (CBC) rider, which charges $1.84/kW/month. If you're modeling a non-solar customer, you can omit this or leave it at 0.

territoryId

{
  "keyName": "territoryId",
  "displayName": "Territory",
  "family": "billing",
  "keyspace": "electricity",
  "dataType": "CHOICE",
  "propertyTypes": "RATE_CRITERIA",
  "choices": [
    { "displayValue": "Zone H", "value": "3632" },
    { "displayValue": "Zone I", "value": "3633" },
    { "displayValue": "Zone J", "value": "3634" }
  ]
}

Selects which NYISO load zone the customer is in. Required for the Calculate API because several rates vary by zone:

Zone territoryId Area Notes
H 3632 Upper Westchester Lower wholesale prices, lower GRT
I 3633 Lower Westchester Moderate prices
J 3634 New York City Higher prices (transmission-constrained), higher GRT

chargeClass

{
  "keyName": "chargeClass",
  "displayName": "Charge Class Type",
  "family": "service",
  "keyspace": "electricity",
  "dataType": "CHOICE",
  "propertyTypes": "SERVICE_TERMS",
  "propertyValue": "DISTRIBUTION,SUPPLY,CONTRACTED",
  "choices": [
    { "displayValue": "Transmission", "value": "1" },
    { "displayValue": "Distribution", "value": "2" },
    { "displayValue": "Supply", "value": "4" },
    { "displayValue": "Tax", "value": "8" },
    { "displayValue": "Other", "value": "16" },
    { "displayValue": "Contracted", "value": "32" }
  ]
}

This is a SERVICE_TERMS property (not RATE_CRITERIA), meaning it describes what charge classes are available in this tariff rather than being an input you provide. The default value shows this tariff includes DISTRIBUTION, SUPPLY, and CONTRACTED charges.

Use this to understand what categories of charges exist. If a customer uses an ESCO (third-party supplier) instead of ConEd supply, you'd exclude SUPPLY charges from calculations.


How to Get Variable Rate Values

Rates with variableRateKey show rateAmount: 0.0 in the JSON. To get actual values, use Arcadia's APIs:

API What It Returns When to Use
Lookups API Raw rate values for one variableRateKey Historical analysis of specific rates
Calculate API All resolved rates + computed bill line items Getting all rates at once

Key differences:

  • Lookups API: One call per variableRateKey — you'd need 16+ calls to get all variable rates, then combine results
  • Calculate API: One call returns ALL rates resolved, with line-item detail showing each rateAmount

📘 Full Guide: For detailed examples including code for getting a full year of variable rates via both methods, see Variable Rates API Guide.

Quick Example: Lookups API

GET /rest/public/properties/marketSupplyChargeResidentialZoneJ/lookups
    ?fromDateTime=2024-01-01T00:00:00-05:00
    &toDateTime=2025-01-01T00:00:00-05:00

Returns monthly bestValue entries for that one rate.

Quick Example: Calculate API

POST /rest/public/calculate
{
  "masterTariffId": 809,
  "fromDateTime": "2024-01-01",
  "toDateTime": "2024-01-31",
  "territoryId": 3634,
  "detailLevel": "CHARGE_TYPE_AND_TOU",
  "propertyInputs": [{ "keyName": "consumption", "dataValue": 500 }]
}

Returns line items for ALL charges with resolved rateAmount values—even variable ones.


Summary: What You Need to Know

  1. Fixed vs. Variable: Check for variableRateKey — if present, rateAmount is a placeholder and you need the Lookups API
  2. Zone-specific: Check for territory object — if present, there are separate rates for H, I, J
  3. Seasonal: Check for season object — if present, Summer and Winter have different values
  4. Tiered: Check rateBands array length — if >1, there are consumption tiers (check consumptionUpperLimit)
  5. Riders: Rates with riderId are modular components that apply across tariffs
  6. Supply vs. Delivery: chargeClass tells you — SUPPLY rates only apply if using ConEd for supply