Using Utility Rate Data, Energy Consumption Records, Utility Commission Filings and Rate Case Documents for Energy Sales, Solar Prospecting and Commercial Energy Services
By Email ExtractorPublished 6 min read
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Utility Rate Data as Business Intelligence
The US has 3,000+ electric utilities, 1,500+ natural gas utilities and 50+ state utility commissions that regulate rates. Utility rate data, rate case filings, tariff schedules and commission decisions are public records that signal energy cost pain points, upcoming rate increases and customer propensity to adopt energy solutions:
Data type
Where to find it
Prospecting value
Utility rate schedules / tariffs
Utility website; state utility commission
Current rates by customer class; demand charges; time-of-use rates; rate structures
Rate case filings (proposed rate increases)
State utility commission dockets
Upcoming rate increases; customer impact by class; implementation timeline
Current rate schedules; tariff books; programme descriptions
PDF, HTML
Free public access
EIA (US Energy Information Administration)
Utility statistics; average rates by state; generation; sales
CSV, API
Free public access
OpenEI (Open Energy Information)
Utility rate database; rate structures; API
JSON, API
Free public access
City energy benchmarking portals
Building energy consumption by address; Energy Star scores
CSV, HTML
Free public access (covered cities)
DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency)
State and utility incentives; rebates; policies
HTML
Free public access
SEC EDGAR (investor-owned utilities)
Annual reports; 10-K filings; rate case details
HTML, PDF
Free public access
Terms of service considerations
Allowed
Not allowed
Downloading publicly filed rate cases and tariffs
Scraping behind utility account login walls
Using utility commission public docket data
Accessing individual customer usage data
Using EIA, OpenEI and DSIRE public databases
Overwhelming utility commission servers
Using city benchmarking portal downloads
Accessing draft or confidential rate case testimony
Using SEC EDGAR utility financial filings
Misrepresenting identity in public records requests
Prospecting from Utility Rate Data
By rate signal
Signal
What it indicates
Outreach approach
Rate increase approved (general)
All customers in utility territory paying more
"Your electric rates increased by [X]% effective [date]. For [building type] customers on [rate schedule], this adds approximately $[X] per year. [Solar / efficiency / demand response] can offset this increase..."
High demand charges ($15+/kW)
Buildings with high peak demand pay significant demand charges
"Your utility charges $[X] per kW for demand. A [X]-kW peak reduction saves $[X] per month. [Battery storage / demand response / load management] reduces peak demand by [X]%..."
Time-of-use rate differential
Significant price difference between peak and off-peak
"Your utility charges $[X]/kWh during peak hours vs. $[X]/kWh off-peak. [Battery storage / load shifting / solar + storage] takes advantage of this differential..."
New efficiency rebate programme
Utility offering rebates for efficiency improvements
"[Utility] now offers $[X] rebates for [lighting / HVAC / controls] upgrades. Combined with energy savings, the payback period for [improvement] is [X] years..."
Net metering rule change
Favourable (or soon-ending) net metering
"[Utility]'s net metering programme [is favourable / is changing on date]. Commercial solar systems installed before [deadline] are grandfathered at current net metering rates for [X] years..."
Community solar programme launch
New subscriber programme available
"[Utility] launched a community solar programme. Your building can save [X]% on electricity without installing panels. No upfront cost; savings start immediately..."
By building and benchmarking data
Signal
What it indicates
Outreach approach
High Energy Use Intensity (EUI)
Building uses significantly more energy per square foot than peers
"[Building name]'s energy use intensity of [X] kBtu/sq ft is [X]% above the median for [building type]. An energy audit identifies the highest-impact improvements..."
Benchmarking compliance deadline approaching
Building must report energy use (covered cities)
"Your building at [address] must submit energy benchmarking data by [deadline]. We provide [benchmarking compliance service]; [energy audit]; [improvement plan]..."
Poor Energy Star score
Building rated below 50 (median) or triggering improvement mandate
"[Building name]'s Energy Star score of [X] is [below median / below city threshold]. [City] requires buildings scoring below [threshold] to [implement improvements / undergo audit]..."
Processing Utility Rate Data
When compiling prospect data from state utility commission dockets (PDF, HTML), utility rate schedules (PDF), EIA databases (CSV), city benchmarking portals (CSV), DSIRE incentive databases (HTML), commercial real estate databases (CoStar -- CSV, HTML), building owner records (county assessor -- CSV) and industry association directories (HTML), upload the files to Email Extractor to extract and deduplicate email addresses across all sources. Building owners, facilities directors and energy managers appear across utility rate case intervenor lists, benchmarking databases, real estate records, industry associations and professional networks, so deduplication prevents contacting the same energy decision maker through overlapping outreach from different data sources.
