Ratepayer Lab Tools

Ratepayer Lab is a one-stop-shop for the reports, articles, and resources that consumer advocates need to advance affordability at their state public utility commissions.

EPPS

RMI's Energy Poverty Policy Simulator empowers consumer advocates to estimate the costs and impacts of implementing targeted customer affordability programs in their state. With this information, consumer advocates can assess regulatory actions related to energy assistance, bill discounts, arrearage forgiveness, and low-income energy efficiency policy design and implementation. Learn More

Dispatch Dashboard

The Economic Dispatch Dashboard lets users track when utilities run coal plants uneconomically, when cheaper resources were readily available on the market. The dashboard shows impacts on customer bills, emissions, and affordability. It quantifies potential savings and regional cost burdens, helping advocates identify regulatory and policy actions to reduce costs and protect ratepayers. PIMs Database: Consumer advocates can use the PIMs database to reference design and performance information on 200+ PIMs nationwide that address emergent topics like affordability. It can inform new PIM proposals in their jurisdiction, illustrate how specific designs have impacted performance outcomes elsewhere, and shed light on the ratepayer costs and benefits associated with PIMs. Learn More

Docket Opportunity Tracker

RMI’s Docket Opportunity Tracker helps these stakeholders easily plan when regulatory proceedings will occur based on adjustable geographic, utility, and timeframe parameters so that they can better allocate resources and prioritize their work. The Docket Opportunity Tracker currently tracks two types of proceedings: 1) resource planning dockets (e.g. integrated resource plans), or 2) Fuel Adjustment Clause (FAC) proceeding where utilities submit requests to recover fuel costs. Learn More

GridUp

RMI’s GridUp EV Load Forecasting tool estimates the timing and magnitude of EV charging demands across the country. This uniquely detailed resource provides advocates with an independent benchmark for utility forecasts and associated upgrade requests. RMI can also provide advocates with deeper support to use this resource in tailored ways, such as comparing against hosting capacity availability or estimating rate impacts from different grid investment strategies. Learn More

Optimus

Optimus is a financial modeling tool that helps quantify how different utility planning, policy, and market scenarios affect ratepayers and stakeholders. It lets users assess distributional impacts of resource plans, policies, risk exposures, and regulatory mechanisms, empowering them with evidence to inform advocacy, regulatory interventions, and just transition strategies. Learn More