Tariff (disambiguation)
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The article on trade-barrier tariffs exists at Tariff. The other meanings are addressed here.
A tariff is a schedule of prices or terms of how a product is sold as in an electricity tariff published by an electric utility or electricity retailer. This would typically list the prices (or rates) for various services or components of the service such as: the service charge, time of use energy (kWh) charges and, for demand, (kW) charges.
The origin of the term can be traced back to the operation of pirates in the Mediterranean near the island of Tenerife, which is the largest of the Canary Islands. Apparently, these pirates had a schedule of prices which they levied on ships that wanted to make passage in the waters around their island. Hence the imposition of a tariff.
Under British law, a tariff is also a recommendation for the length of a prison sentence to be served, before the prisoner is eligible for parole. The Home Secretary bears responsibility for tariffs, and often considers the recommendation of the sentencing judge.