# OpenEI MCP for AI Agents AI Agent Connect

> OpenEI. Get real-time US electricity rates by address or coordinate for solar ROI and energy cost modeling. This Connector connects your agent to the National Utility Rate Database, allowing for instant queries on residential, commercial, and industrial tariffs.

## Overview
- **Category:** business-intelligence
- **Price:** Free
- **Endpoint:** https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_ahsqEDVif8a3sRKccnemtAEljvD6ot9vRSViUUpg/ai-agent-connect
- **Tags:** utility-rates, electricity-tariffs, energy-analysis, solar-data, tariff-structure

## Description

You're likely tired of hunting through PDFs and government spreadsheets just to figure out what a property actually pays for power. This Connector lets you just ask your agent for the numbers. Whether you're trying to figure out if a solar array makes sense for a warehouse or if a new facility is going to break the budget, you get the data instantly. It pulls from the National Utility Rate Database, so you're getting the same info the Department of Energy uses. You can dig into residential plans, industrial demand charges, and complex time-of-use structures without leaving your chat window. It's one of the best ways to handle energy intelligence through the Vinkius catalog because it turns a massive database into a conversational tool. Instead of manual data entry, you get a clear picture of energy costs in seconds.

## Tools

### get_commercial_rates
Fetch all commercial tariffs for a location to help with business energy cost modeling. This is essential for commercial solar installations.

### get_industrial_rates
Pull industrial electricity rates to analyze heavy manufacturing costs and load forecasting. Use this for industrial facility site selection.

### get_rate_detail
Get exhaustive details on a specific rate ID, including seasonal variations and taxes. Use this for detailed cost modeling or bill analysis.

### get_utility_rates
Identify utility rates by location and sector using coordinates or a physical address. This is the primary way to find applicable rates.

### get_rates_by_address
Automatically geocode a street address to find all available electricity rates for that spot. It's perfect for providing instant quotes to customers.

### get_rates_by_coordinates
Find the serving utility and its rates based on precise GPS coordinates. Use this for site selection and energy consulting.

### get_residential_rates
Retrieve residential electricity plans, including tiered rates and EV charging options. This is great for homeowners evaluating solar ROI.

### get_utility_detail
Look up a specific utility company's service territory, contact info, and generation mix. Use this to research utility company details.

### list_utilities
Browse and filter the database for utility companies by state, country, or name. Use this to identify companies for research or further queries.

### search_utilities_by_name
Find a utility's unique ID by searching for part of its company name. Use this when you know the name but not the specific database ID.

## Prompt Examples

**Prompt:** 
```
What are the residential rates at 123 Main St, Austin, TX?
```

**Response:** 
```
I found the following residential rates for 123 Main St, Austin, TX:

* **Standard Tiered Rate**: $0.125/kWh
* **Time-of-Use Plan**: 
  * Peak: $0.180/kWh
  * Off-Peak: $0.095/kWh
* **EV Charging Rate**: $0.140/kWh

These rates are provided by the local serving utility.
```

**Prompt:** 
```
Compare industrial electricity rates in Nevada and Arizona.
```

**Response:** 
```
Here is a comparison of average industrial electricity rates:

| State | Avg. Industrial Rate | Key Features |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Nevada** | $0.072/kWh | Low base rates, high demand charges |
| **Arizona** | $0.089/kWh | Seasonal variations, tiered industrial plans |

Nevada currently offers lower base costs for heavy manufacturing.
```

**Prompt:** 
```
Give me the full rate breakdown for a commercial time-of-use plan in Chicago.
```

**Response:** 
```
I've retrieved the full commercial time-of-use structure for Chicago:

* **Energy Charges**: Range from $0.140 to $0.310/kWh
* **Demand Charges**: $15.50/kW (Summer Peak)
* **Fixed Charges**: $45.00/month
* **Seasonal Periods**: 
  * Summer Peak
  * Summer Off-Peak
  * Winter Peak
  * Winter Off-Peak
```

## Capabilities

### Get rates by street address
Provide a physical address to identify the serving utility and its specific electricity tariffs.

### Pull industrial demand charges
Retrieve complex pricing for heavy manufacturing to help with load forecasting and site selection.

### Compare residential plans
Look up tiered rates and EV charging options for homeowners across different locations.

### Research utility territories
Find out which companies serve specific regions and get their contact information.

### Analyze full tariff structures
Get a complete breakdown of seasonal variations, taxes, and fixed charges for any rate ID.

## Use Cases

### Instant Solar ROI Calculation
A solar installer needs to know the payback period for a warehouse. They ask the agent for commercial rates at a specific address and get the data in seconds.

### Industrial Site Selection
A facility manager wants to know which state has the lowest industrial power costs. They ask the agent to compare rates across Nevada and Arizona.

### Energy Policy Research
A researcher needs to find every utility in California to study grid density. They ask the agent to list all utilities in that state.

### Commercial Bill Analysis
A business owner wants to know why their commercial bill is so high. They ask the agent to get the full rate structure for their specific tariff ID.

## Benefits

- Get instant solar ROI quotes by using get_rates_by_address to pull real-time pricing for customer proposals.
- Save hours on manual research by using list_utilities to browse company data across different states and regions.
- Build accurate cost models with get_rate_detail to see every tax, demand charge, and seasonal variation.
- Analyze industrial sites quickly with get_industrial_rates to see heavy power costs for manufacturing facilities.
- Compare residential plans with get_residential_rates to find the best EV charging and tiered rate options.
- Identify serving utilities instantly with get_rates_by_coordinates to streamline site selection and feasibility studies.

## How It Works

The bottom line is you get accurate US electricity pricing in seconds without manual research.

1. Subscribe to the OpenEI MCP on Vinkius.
2. Enter your OpenEI API Key in the configuration settings.
3. Ask your agent to find electricity rates for a specific address or coordinate.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Can the OpenEI MCP find rates for a specific house?**
Yes, you can provide a street address and the Connector will identify the serving utility and all applicable residential electricity rates for that location.

**Does OpenEI MCP include commercial demand charges?**
Yes, it retrieves full rate structures which include demand charges, energy charges, and fixed charges for commercial and industrial sectors.

**Can I use OpenEI MCP for solar feasibility studies?**
It is perfect for that. You can pull real-time rates to calculate solar ROI, net metering analysis, and energy cost projections for your customers.

**How does OpenEI MCP handle different electricity sectors?**
You can filter your queries by sector, including residential, commercial, and industrial, to get the specific pricing relevant to your project.

**Can OpenEI MCP help with industrial site selection?**
Yes, it allows you to pull industrial rates by coordinates or address, helping you compare energy costs across different locations for new facilities.

**Does OpenEI MCP provide info on utility generation mixes?**
Yes, the tool can provide details on a utility company's owned generation resources and their overall service territory.

**How do I find electricity rates for my address?**
Use the `get_rates_by_address` tool with your full street address. The API will geocode your location and return all applicable utility rates (residential, commercial, industrial). For example, enter '1617 Cole Blvd, Golden, CO 80401' to see rates from Xcel Energy and other providers serving that area.

**What's the difference between residential, commercial, and industrial rates?**
Residential rates (sector 1) are for homes and typically have simple tiered or time-of-use structures. Commercial rates (sector 2) serve businesses and include general service and large power tariffs with demand charges. Industrial rates (sector 3) are for heavy manufacturing with the lowest per-kWh costs but complex demand and power factor adjustments. Use the specific sector tools or filter with the sector parameter.

**Can I get complete rate structures with time-of-use details?**
Yes. Set the detail parameter to 'full' when calling get_utility_rates or get_rate_detail. This returns the complete tariff structure including energyratestructure (time-of-use periods and seasonal blocks), demandratestructure, fixed charges, minimum charges, and tax adjustments. Essential for accurate solar ROI calculations and detailed energy cost modeling.