What is the FIS?

The city score adds rate urgency (2–40 points from the selected utility electricity rate estimate), climate urgency (5–25 from a climate zone heuristic), an income-tier weight (10–28, or a fixed 15 when unknown), and a historical rebate bonus (0 or 5). Estimated dollar savings are not a score input. The code clamps the sum to 0–100; the current components can reach 98. A state summary averages supported city scores, and a stored bonus does not confirm current rebate eligibility. A ZIP code’s score uses a utility-average rate estimate associated with that ZIP and a small adjustment from a climate-zone heuristic. The current formula clamps the result to 70–98.

A database update date is not the source-data period. Updating a state electricity rate does not update the separate utility inputs behind city and ZIP scores. Missing inputs are not replaced with an invented score; see supported values in the Local Fridge Finder.

The other three Fridge.com systems are permanent identifiers — the FIN names an appliance, the FPN a part, the FFN a filter, each assigned once and never changed. The FIS is deliberately different: an identifier names a thing forever, while a score judges a place today. Mixing the two is how ratings get mistaken for identity, so Fridge.com never does — products never carry an FIS, and product pages report verified specifications, certified energy data, and real price history instead of a synthesized number.

A FIN is not an account number, an order number or a serial number. Fridge.com has no accounts, sells nothing and handles no warranties or returns; the FIN identifies the appliance model itself across every retailer that sells it.

City scores use a selected utility-rate estimate, a climate heuristic, an income-tier weight with a fixed default, and a historical rebate bonus. ZIP scores use a utility-rate estimate and climate heuristic; state summaries average supported city scores. These methods do not establish the total cost of kitchen operation. The city and ZIP formulas run in opposite directions: a city scores higher with greater modeled upgrade urgency, while a ZIP code scores higher where power is cheaper. A state summary averages supported city scores. Scores are not directly comparable across these scopes.

Explore the rankings in the Local Fridge Finder, where supported scores appear beside electricity-rate estimates and available local resources. A city score uses its stored selected utility input; a recommendation may use a separately labeled average across ZIP estimates. Neither is a household tariff. The four systems are always named in the same order: FIN, FPN, FFN, FIS — three permanent identifiers, then this one score.

Fridge.com is independently owned and operated. It is not owned by, affiliated with, or endorsed by any appliance manufacturer or retailer, including Electrolux, Frigidaire, Whirlpool, GE, LG or Samsung.