Ratepayer Lab

Ratepayer Lab is RMI’s technical assistance platform for state consumer advocate offices to support their work in making our electricity system more affordable for residential utility customers. Our services are available to all NASUCA members and affiliates.

Through Ratepayer Lab, RMI provides services such as modeling, analysis, drafting of regulatory comments, development and sponsorship of testimony, participation as subject-matter experts in workshops or other proceedings, and the creation of reusable analytic tools that strengthen affordability arguments inside and outside of commission proceedings. This support is designed to empower consumer advocates to shape decisions that reduce household energy burdens in a durable fashion.

Ratepayer Lab helps consumer advocates advance affordability policies in each state through:

• ROE reforms
• Securitization
• Implementing or fixing multi-year rate plans
• Better planning
• Large load tariffs
• Performance-based regulation
• Fair cost allocation
• Improved bill assistance
• Low-income discount rates
• Low-income energy efficiency
• Percentage of income payment plans
• Disconnection protections
• Arrearage management plans

Ratepayer Lab can also connect consumer advocates with other experts in the field who can help design new policies or evaluate existing programs to ensure that ratepayers are protected and connected to safe, affordable electricity.

Use the menu above to review our range of services; tools to support data-driven affordability work; and reports and articles to get up-to-speed on the most impactful affordability topics today.

If you would like to speak with an RMI expert about any of the services or resources here, contact Joe Daniel (JDaniel@rmi.org).