Connexus Energy Rate Selection Guide
Connexus Energy is Minnesota's largest member-owned electric cooperative, serving 146,640+ members across the north Twin Cities metro. AMI smart meters feed the MyConnexus Account portal (MyMeter by VertexOne) for billing and usage data, but Connexus does not currently offer Green Button, a public API, or EDI — third-party access is arranged case-by-case with the utility.
Connexus Energy Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Commercial | Commercial | $16.50/mo + $0.1390 (Jun-Sep) / $0.1290 (Oct-May) per kWh + PCA | Small businesses under 25 kW demand |
| General Commercial | Commercial | $41/mo + $15.70/$12.30 per kW demand + $0.0680/$0.0580 per kWh + PCA | Mid-size demand-metered C&I |
| GC Peak Period Rate | Commercial | $65/mo + $4.25/kW max demand + $34.80/kW summer peak + $0.0635/kWh + PCA | Load-flexible sites that can peak-shave |
| Large Commercial | Industrial | $0.0020/kWh distribution + market pass-through (negotiated MSA) | Transmission-voltage (69 kV+) industrial loads |
| EV Fleet - Pilot | EV | $41/mo + TOD $0.2250 peak / $0.1330 int / $0.0725 off-peak per kWh + PCA | Separately metered EV fleet charging |
Market Overview
Connexus Energy is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative governed by an elected board rather than rate-regulated by the Minnesota PUC like IOUs. Members cannot shop for a competitive electricity supplier; all power and delivery come from Connexus, with wholesale supply via Great River Energy. Rates are published in the cooperative's rate book and trued up monthly through a Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) Rider.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Connexus Energy Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
Connexus Energy's 2026 business rates are published in its Section III Business Electric Rate Book, effective January 1, 2026 (Revisions dated 12-11-2025). The 2026 financial plan includes an approximately 4.5% general rate increase. All energy usage is subject to the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) Rider, and certain communities add a surcharge. The figures below are verified directly from the filed 2026 commercial rate book PDF (note: the public Business Rates web page shows slightly different/older posted values, e.g. General Commercial demand $14.80/$10.65 and $35.00 basic — the rate book governs).
Effective: January 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Commercial | commercial | Non-residential single- or three-phase members whose recorded demand has not exceeded 25 kW for the preceding 12 months (no irrigation). | Effective 1/1/2026 (rate book): Cost of Basic Service $16.50/month. Energy Charge $0.1390/kWh June-September, $0.1290/kWh October-May. Energy subject to the Power Cost Adjustment Rider. (The public web page posts $14.50 basic and $0.1313/$0.1213 energy.) | — |
| General Commercial | commercial | Non-residential single- and three-phase members; 12-month minimum commitment; demand-metered (no irrigation). | Effective 1/1/2026 (rate book): Cost of Basic Service $41.00/month. Demand Charge $15.70/kW June-September, $12.30/kW October-May. Energy Charge first 400 kWh/kW $0.0680/kWh, over 400 kWh/kW $0.0580/kWh. Power-factor adjustment below 0.90; primary-voltage credits available. Energy subject to the PCA Rider. | — |
| General Commercial Peak Period Rate | commercial | Non-residential members who can shift/reduce load around the monthly coincident peak; 12-month minimum; not combinable with peak-shaving generation rider or irrigation. | Effective 1/1/2026 (rate book): Cost of Basic Service $65.00/month. Maximum Demand Charge $4.25/kW. Peak Period Demand Charge $34.80/kW June-August, $11.00/kW all other seasons. Energy Charge $0.0635/kWh. Energy subject to the PCA Rider. | — |
| Large Commercial | industrial | Members served at transmission voltage of 69 kV or greater; 12-month minimum; three-phase. | Effective 1/1/2026 (rate book): Distribution Service Charge $0.0020/kWh. Transmission, ancillary services, energy, and capacity billed as market pass-through per a negotiated Member Service Agreement (includes renewable/carbon-free attribute obligations). Member may self-procure capacity. | — |
| EV Fleet - Pilot | ev | Separately metered electric vehicle fleets; 12-month minimum. | Effective 1/1/2026 (rate book): Cost of Basic Service $41.00/month. Time-of-day Energy Charge $0.2250/kWh peak (7-9 a.m. & 3-8 p.m. weekdays), $0.1330/kWh intermediate, $0.0725/kWh off-peak. Energy subject to the PCA Rider. | — |
| Controlled Off-Peak Energy Storage | commercial | C&I members on another rate who add a separately metered controlled load (space/water heating, chillers, EVs); ~8 hours overnight (typically 11 p.m.-7 a.m.). | Effective 1/1/2026 (rate book): Energy Charge $0.0577/kWh. Exempt from the Power Cost Adjustment Rider. Tampering penalty $15.00/kW. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Demand-metered facility with peaky summer load
Facilities with sharp summer demand peaks should compare the General Commercial Peak Period Rate against standard General Commercial and consider peak-shaving.
The Peak Period Rate concentrates demand charges into the summer coincident peak ($34.80/kW June-Aug) while charging a low $4.25/kW maximum demand and $0.0635/kWh energy. If you can curtail or shift load during the monthly coincident peak, total demand cost can fall well below flat General Commercial demand charges ($15.70/$12.30 per kW every month).
- Model 12 months of interval data to estimate coincident-peak exposure
- Pair with battery storage or load scheduling to shave the summer peak
- Commit only after confirming the 12-month minimum fits your plans
Large industrial site at transmission voltage
Loads served at 69 kV or greater should pursue Large Commercial service under a negotiated Member Service Agreement.
Large Commercial charges only a $0.0020/kWh distribution service charge and passes transmission, energy, ancillary, and capacity through at market via an MSA — letting sophisticated buyers manage commodity cost (and self-procure capacity) directly rather than paying bundled retail demand/energy rates.
- Engage a business account representative early to negotiate the MSA
- Plan for renewable/carbon-free attribute obligations in the agreement
- Evaluate self-procuring capacity vs. utility-provided
Member able to curtail 100+ kW (demand response)
Sites with curtailable load should enroll in the Partial Interruptible Credit Rider to monetize demand flexibility.
Curtailing during called control periods earns $8.53-$15.33/kW per month (highest in summer). With control limited to 6 hours/occurrence and 300 hours/year, a facility with backup generation or shiftable processes can capture significant credits with modest operational impact.
- Confirm reliable ability to drop to the agreed PDL to avoid the $5.00/kW penalty
- Pair with on-site generation or process scheduling
- Note the rider can't be combined with other load-control rates
EV fleet or overnight-shiftable load
Fleets and overnight-flexible loads should use the EV Fleet - Pilot time-of-day rate or Controlled Off-Peak Energy Storage.
Charging in the off-peak window costs $0.0725/kWh on the EV pilot (vs. $0.2250 peak), and Controlled Off-Peak Energy Storage offers $0.0577/kWh exempt from the PCA Rider for loads that can run ~11 p.m.-7 a.m. Both reward shifting EV charging and thermal storage to overnight hours.
- Schedule charging to the off-peak window to maximize savings
- Separately meter the controlled load as required
- Compare the EV TOD pilot vs. controlled storage for your duty cycle
Historical Rate Trends
Connexus is a not-for-profit cooperative; rates are set by its board and adjusted via an annual financial plan plus the monthly Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) Rider. The 2026 plan, effective January 1, 2026, includes an approximately 4.5% general rate increase with a $1-$4 bump to the cost of basic service depending on commercial rate.
January 1, 2026
2026 financial-plan general rate increase of approximately 4.5%, with a $1-$4 increase to the cost of basic service depending on commercial rate. New rate book effective 1/1/2026.
+4.5%Overall trend: Increasing — a roughly 4.5% general increase for 2026; wholesale power costs flow through monthly via the PCA Rider (recently slightly negative).
Next expected change: Next annual rate-book revision expected for January 1, 2027; PCA adjusts monthly. The SpryPoint CIS migration (announced Aug 2025) may reshape billing in future cycles.
Cost Optimization Strategies
For Connexus C&I members, demand charges and seasonal/peak structure are the biggest controllable costs. Matching the rate schedule to your load shape, shifting consumption off the weekday 4-10 p.m. peak, and curtailing during called control periods deliver the most savings. Power-factor correction and primary-voltage credits add incremental value.
Match schedule to load shape
For: All demand-metered C&I members
Steady, demand-heavy loads suit General Commercial; load-flexible sites that can cut the summer coincident peak save more on the General Commercial Peak Period Rate ($34.80/kW summer vs. flat demand). Small sites under 25 kW stay on energy-only Small Commercial.
Shift load off the weekday peak
For: Members with shiftable or storable loads
The Off-Peak General Commercial Rider redefines billing demand to reward avoiding the 4-10 p.m. weekday on-peak window ($46/month metering). Controlled Off-Peak Energy Storage ($0.0577/kWh, PCA-exempt) rewards moving chillers, heating, or EV charging to overnight hours.
Enroll in demand-response / interruptible credits
For: C&I members able to curtail 100+ kW
The Partial Interruptible Credit Rider pays $8.53-$15.33/kW per month for curtailing 100+ kW during Connexus control periods (capped at 6 hrs/occurrence, 300 hrs/year).
Correct power factor & capture voltage credits
For: Larger members with reactive loads or primary service
Maintain power factor at or above 0.90 to avoid the billing-demand penalty, and take primary-voltage service / member-owned transformers for a $0.15/kVA monthly credit plus the 1% loss adjustment offset.
Capture business efficiency & EV rebates
For: C&I members investing in efficiency/electrification
Use Connexus commercial rebates (LED lighting, HVAC, commercial EV charging) to lower the cost of efficiency and electrification projects.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Connexus Energy interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a third party pull our Connexus usage data automatically via API or Green Button?▾
No. Connexus does not offer a public API, Green Button, or a Share My Data portal. AMI usage is viewable in the MyConnexus portal but isn't exposed for automated machine retrieval. Third parties must obtain written member authorization and negotiate a custom data-sharing arrangement (typically PDF or CSV via secure email/FTP) with the business services team. A future SpryPoint CIS migration may expand these options.
Which rate applies to our commercial facility, and when do demand charges kick in?▾
Small Commercial applies if your demand has not exceeded 25 kW in the preceding 12 months (energy-only, no demand charge). Once you exceed 25 kW three times in 12 months you move to General Commercial, which adds a demand charge ($14.80/kW summer, $10.65/kW winter on the published web rate; $15.70/$12.30 in the filed 2026 rate book) plus tiered energy charges. Sites above 69 kV take Large Commercial under a negotiated Member Service Agreement.
How can we lower demand charges at our facility?▾
Three levers: (1) the Off-Peak General Commercial Rider rewards shifting load off the 4-10 p.m. weekday peak; (2) the General Commercial Peak Period Rate concentrates demand charges into the summer coincident peak ($34.80/kW June-Aug) so peak-shaving pays off; and (3) the Partial Interruptible Credit Rider pays $8.53-$15.33/kW for curtailing 100+ kW during control periods. The right choice depends on your load shape — model 12 months of interval data first.
Is there a rate for EV fleet charging or battery storage?▾
Yes. The EV Fleet - Pilot rate is a separately metered time-of-day rate ($0.2250/kWh peak, $0.1330 intermediate, $0.0725 off-peak, eff. 1/1/2026). The Controlled Off-Peak Energy Storage rate ($0.0577/kWh, ~8 hours overnight, exempt from the Power Cost Adjustment) suits chillers, water heating, and EV charging that can be shifted to ~11 p.m.-7 a.m.
Does the published energy/demand charge include everything on the bill?▾
No. All commercial energy usage is also subject to the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) Rider, which can be positive or negative each month (e.g., roughly -$0.003 to -$0.005/kWh in fall 2025), and certain communities add a surcharge. Primary-voltage and member-owned-transformer customers can earn a $0.15/kVA credit. Always model the PCA and any surcharge alongside the base rate.
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