What is an Overage Tier?
An overage tier is a pricing band that charges a higher rate once your usage exceeds the included allotment — the classic surprise on an AI bill.
How overage works
Most AI providers bill included usage + per-unit overage beyond it.
The overage rate is often higher than the included unit rate.
An agent in a loop can cross the included allotment in minutes.
Why agents hit it
Autonomous volume: retries, fan-out, and long contexts consume allotment fast.
The crossing happens silently — you find out on the invoice.
The control
A pre-spend firewall caps the dollars before the tier is crossed: per-agent ceilings, velocity limits, and category rules.
FAQ
Is overage always more expensive?
Typically yes — overage units are billed at a higher effective rate than included units. Check your provider's pricing.
Can sipi.bot prevent overage?
Yes — set a daily ceiling below the included allotment and the agent physically can't cross into the overage band.
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