utility rate
[ju-ˈti-lə-tē rāt]
nounpl: utility rates
tarifa de serviço público
1. The price charged by utility companies for the provision of essential services such as electricity, water, gas, or sewage
The utility rates increased by 10% this year due to infrastructure improvements.
As tarifas de serviço público aumentaram 10% este ano devido a melhorias na infraestrutura.
2. The standard charge per unit of consumption for utilities
My utility rate for electricity is $0.12 per kilowatt-hour.
Minha tarifa de eletricidade é de R$0,50 por quilowatt-hora.
3. A regulated fee set by utility commissions to ensure fair pricing
The public utility commission approved the new utility rates after public hearings.
A comissão de serviços públicos aprovou as novas tarifas após audiências públicas.
In the USA, utility rates are typically regulated by state public utility commissions to protect consumers from monopolistic pricing. In Brazil, utility rates (especially for electricity and water) are set by regulatory agencies like ANEEL (Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica) and vary significantly by region. Rate increases are often contentious political issues in both countries.
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