Non-industry-specific term referring to a fixed rate for a service or commodity. Depending on the context, it can mean a fixed rate to which other charges may be added or discounts applied, or a rate which remains fixed and unchangeable until the parties responsible for setting the rate choose to change it.

Base rates are often set for energy by regulatory authorities in regions served by public utilities as a means of enforcing efficiency on the utility and assuring the public of a stable energy price, although additional amounts can be added energy base rates can be added in some circumstances. A base rate could remain fixed for as long as a year, or could change with each billing period depending on how a given region structures its rates.