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Tariffs define the rate structures that energy retailers charge for electricity, gas, and water. They are used to validate invoice charges, calculate expected costs, and run brokerage commission calculations.
UMS Tariffs list showing tariff structures in a data grid

How tariffs are structured

UMS models pricing in three nested layers:
LayerDescription
Tariff GroupThe overall rate plan (for example, “Business Time of Use”), linked to a supplier and an agreement
TariffA date-scoped version of the group, with a start_date and optional end_date — lets rates change over time while keeping history
Tariff RateAn individual charge component within a version, with a category (peak, off-peak, supply, demand), value, and display_units (c/kWh, $/day)
Each rate can carry rate quantities — the applicable factors or consumption blocks that govern when the rate applies. See Key Concepts for where tariffs sit in the wider data model.

Tariffs list

The Tariff Groups page displays every tariff group in your organisation in a data grid:
ColumnDescription
IdInternal identifier for the tariff group
NameDescriptive name of the rate plan
ActiveWhether the tariff group is currently in use
CategoryUtility/rate category for the group
External ReferenceThe retailer’s own reference for this tariff
SupplierThe energy retailer the tariff belongs to
AgreementThe linked agreement
DescriptionFree-text notes (hidden by default)
The toolbar provides filtering, column visibility, export, density, and quick-search, matching the other list pages. Click New Tariff Group (the + action) to launch the Tariff Creation Wizard.
For the full build walkthrough — wizard steps, manual rate entry, and CSV import — see the Managing Tariffs guide.

Tariff detail page

A tariff group detail page — Overview tab with rate summary and details
Selecting a tariff group opens the detail page with a tabbed interface:
TabDescription
OverviewStatus, category, supplier, and agreement, plus a rate summary — version count, total rates, quantities, a timeline, and a category breakdown
RatesThe rates for each tariff version, shown as an interactive tree or a flat table
AccountsThe retail accounts this tariff group is assigned to
SettingsEdit core fields (name, category, supplier, agreement, external reference) or archive/delete the group
The header offers two actions: Duplicate (clone the group with all of its rates) and Add to Retail Account (create a tariff assignment).

Rates tab

The Rates tab toggles between a Tree view (rates grouped under their version) and a Table view with columns for description, category, value, display_units, and tax_applicable. Two controls drive it:
  • New Version — create a date-scoped tariff version (description, start_date, optional end_date) so rates can change over time. A group must have at least one version before rates can be added.
  • Add Rate — add an individual rate component to the current version.

Tariff assignments

A tariff assignment links a tariff group to a retailer’s retail account for a date range, so incoming invoices are validated against the correct rates. Each assignment records the tariffgroup, account (retail account), start_date, and end_date, and can be edited or removed from the assignment detail page.

Tariff reviews and scenarios

Comparing tariffs against actual or modelled consumption now lives under Scenarios — the tariff review routes redirect there. Use scenarios to model expected costs across rate plans before committing. See Building Scenarios for the workflow.
Accurate tariffs are essential for invoice validation and brokerage calculations — keep versions and effective dates current as retailers re-price.