Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation Rate Selection Guide
Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) is a member-owned electric cooperative serving roughly 117,000 accounts in southeastern North Carolina. Data access runs through the SmartHub member portal, with full AMI smart-meter coverage deployed in 2012 delivering hourly interval data and Green Button downloads.
Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small General Service (SGS) | commercial | 15.30 cents on-peak / 7.48 cents off-peak per kWh; $1.85/kW demand | Small commercial loads under 50 kW |
| Large General Service (LGS) | industrial | 15.30 cents on-peak / 6.14 cents off-peak per kWh; $5.45/kW demand | Facilities 50 kW and above with steady load |
| Large Commercial Off-Peak Advantage (LOPA) | industrial | 7.59 cents on-peak / 5.52 cents off-peak per kWh; $15.25/kW on-peak demand | Large facilities that can shift load off-peak |
Market Overview
North Carolina retail electricity is regulated with no retail choice. Brunswick EMC is a not-for-profit cooperative governed by its members; rate schedules are filed with and approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. C&I customers take service on cooperative tariff rates.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
BEMC's commercial and industrial schedules are time-differentiated, with on-peak/off-peak energy charges plus demand charges for general service. Rates below are from the NCUC-approved rate book effective November 1, 2025. SGS serves loads under 50 kW; LGS serves 50 kW and above; the Off-Peak Advantage schedules (COPA/LOPA) add super-off-peak pricing for load that can shift.
Effective: November 1, 2025 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small General Service (SGS) | commercial | Non-residential service with maximum demand under 50 kW. | Basic Facilities Charge $38.00/mo single-phase, $90.00/mo three-phase; Demand Charge $1.85/kW; Energy On-Peak 15.30 cents/kWh, Off-Peak 7.48 cents/kWh. | — |
| Large General Service (LGS) | industrial | Non-residential service with demand of 50 kW and above. | Basic Facilities Charge $38.00/mo single-phase, $90.00/mo three-phase; Demand Charge $5.45/kW of billed demand; Energy On-Peak 15.30 cents/kWh, Off-Peak 6.14 cents/kWh. | — |
| Small Commercial Off-Peak Advantage (COPA) | commercial | Optional TOU for non-residential service; not available to demand-response participants. | On-Peak Demand $12.50/kW, Anytime Demand $2.55/kW; Energy On-Peak 7.34 cents/kWh, Off-Peak 5.67 cents/kWh, Super Off-Peak 4.37 cents/kWh. | — |
| Large Commercial Off-Peak Advantage (LOPA) | industrial | Optional TOU for non-residential service where transformer capacity exceeds 50 kVA. | Basic Facilities Charge $43.00/mo single-phase, $100.00/mo three-phase; On-Peak Demand $15.25/kW, Anytime Demand $2.30/kW; Energy On-Peak 7.59 cents/kWh, Off-Peak 5.52 cents/kWh. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Mid-size commercial facility under 50 kW
Start on Small General Service and use SmartHub hourly data to shift load off the short on-peak window.
SGS is the default for sub-50 kW loads; COPA can beat it if a meaningful share of load shifts to off/super-off-peak.
- Pull 12 months of Green Button data before switching schedules
- Target the 2-6 PM summer and 6-9 AM winter on-peak windows for load shifting
Large facility / light industrial (50 kW+)
Take Large General Service and run an active demand-management program; evaluate LOPA if load is shiftable.
LGS demand is $5.45/kW, so peak management drives savings; LOPA's lower energy rates reward off-peak operation.
- Use SmartHub hourly data to identify and shave coincident peaks
- Stagger large motor/HVAC startups to limit 15-minute demand spikes
Energy/sustainability team needing analytics data
Use SmartHub Green Button exports as the data source; arrange a direct authorized request for ongoing or multi-meter needs.
BEMC has no automated API, so Green Button XML plus authorized requests are the practical paths for analytics platforms.
- Standardize on Green Button ESPI XML ingestion
- Contact Member Services early to set up multi-meter or recurring exports
Historical Rate Trends
BEMC's current rate schedules were approved by the NCUC and took effect November 1, 2025, with SGS and LGS added and the Off-Peak Advantage schedules revised on that date. Cooperative rates change through NCUC filings rather than a fixed schedule.
November 1, 2025
NCUC-approved rate book took effect; SGS and LGS added, COPA and LOPA revised.
n/aOverall trend: Recent restructuring (11/1/2025) introduced standalone Small and Large General Service schedules and revised the commercial Off-Peak Advantage rates.
Next expected change: Determined by future NCUC filings; no specific date published.
Cost Optimization Strategies
With BEMC's wide on-peak/off-peak energy spread and demand charges, C&I members can cut costs by shifting load off-peak, managing peak demand, and selecting the right schedule using hourly interval data.
Shift load off the narrow on-peak window
For: All C&I members on TOU general service
SGS/LGS on-peak energy is 15.30 cents/kWh vs ~6-7.5 cents off-peak, and on-peak windows are only a few hours (2-6 PM summer, 6-9 AM winter). Shifting discretionary load out of those windows cuts energy cost roughly in half.
Manage peak demand
For: LGS and large commercial members
LGS demand is $5.45/kW. Staggering equipment startups and trimming coincident peaks using SmartHub hourly data directly lowers the monthly demand charge.
Evaluate Off-Peak Advantage TOU
For: Members with shiftable load and off-peak operating flexibility
COPA/LOPA offer much lower energy rates (down to a 4.37 cents super-off-peak tier) in exchange for higher demand charges. Members that can move load to nights/weekends can save versus standard SGS/LGS.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a C&I member get hourly interval data from BEMC?▾
Log into SmartHub and use the My Usage / Usage Details view for hourly data, or download a Green Button ESPI XML export covering 12-14 months. For large facilities or multiple meters, Member Services (800-842-5871) can provide custom exports.
Does BEMC offer a real-time data API for vendors?▾
No public Connect My Data or Share My Data API is documented. Third-party access today is via customer-authorized Green Button file sharing or a direct authorized request. Aggregators seeking ongoing automated access should contact BEMC to discuss an agreement.
Which BEMC rate applies to my commercial facility?▾
Facilities under 50 kW typically take Small General Service (SGS); 50 kW and above take Large General Service (LGS). TOU options (Small/Large Commercial Off-Peak Advantage) are available for load that can shift to off-peak. All schedules are in the NCUC-approved rate book effective 11/1/2025.
Is BEMC a regulated or deregulated utility?▾
North Carolina is a regulated market with no retail choice. BEMC is a member-owned cooperative whose rates are approved by the NCUC. C&I members cannot shop for a competitive supplier.
Can interval data verify demand charges?▾
Yes. LGS and the commercial TOU schedules bill demand on the maximum 15-minute (or registered) kW. SmartHub hourly data and Green Button exports let C&I members validate demand charges and target peak-reduction opportunities.
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