Rate Engine
The Oracle Utilities Rate Engine is a computing model that relies on detailed rate configuration data, full rate plan data, customer details, and AMI customer energy use data as its primary inputs. The Rate Engine performs calculations that are presented within the web portal (residential and non-residential versions) and outbound communication products (for example, residential proactive alerts and non-residential proactive alerts, and many others as described in Rates Engagement - Outbound Communications). These features help customers make smarter choices about their energy use and rate plans.
Note that the Rate Engine is the same billing-grade/revenue-grade rate engine used by Oracle Utilities CIS, such as Customer Cloud Service and Customer to Meter. This means that utilities which have implemented Oracle CIS are more likely to be compatible with the Rate Engine.
In the context of Opower web and outbound products, the purpose of the Rate Engine is to convert customer energy use values to estimated energy cost insights and trends that enable potential cost savings and help customers make smarter energy choices. These insights are valuable because cost-based information, dollars and cents, is typically easier for customers to understand and act upon than energy usage information (for example, units such as kWh or kW).
- Rate analysis and modeling activities, which are not included in the Advanced Rates Engagement Cloud Service and must be purchased separately. These analysis and modeling activities depend on the quantity and complexity of the rates that the utility wishes to be presented within the Oracle Utilities Opower products.
- Rates data integration activities, which are included in the Advanced Rates Engagement Cloud Service.
For more information about the comprehensive rates data enablement services, see Rates Analysis, Modeling, and Data Integration.