EPB (Electric Power Board of Chattanooga) Rate Selection Guide
EPB is the municipal electric utility serving Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a TVA distributor delivering power to roughly 200,000 customers over its fiber-connected smart grid. It operates one of North America's most advanced AMI systems with 15-minute interval capability, though raw interval files are not yet exposed for self-service download.
EPB (Electric Power Board of Chattanooga) Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSA Block 1 (≤50 kW) | commercial | $16.55/mo + 10.859¢/kWh | Small businesses, offices, small institutional loads |
| GSA Block 2 (50–1,000 kW) | commercial | $16.55/mo + $18.30/kW (>50 kW) + 10.859¢/4.640¢ kWh | Mid-size commercial with measurable demand |
| GSA Block 3 (>1,000 kW) | industrial | $198.25/mo + $18.32–$20.94/kW + 4.640¢/kWh | Large industrial / high-demand facilities |
| TDGSA / Manufacturing | industrial | Time-of-day demand & energy (see tariff) | Loads that can shift to off-peak periods |
Market Overview
EPB is a municipal utility and TVA distributor. Tennessee has no retail electric choice; EPB purchases all wholesale power from TVA and sets retail rates within TVA's wholesale rate structure. C&I customers cannot select an alternative supplier.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the EPB (Electric Power Board of Chattanooga) Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
EPB's commercial and industrial rates are derived from TVA's wholesale rate structure and adjusted monthly by TVA's Fuel Cost Adjustment. The verified figures below are from EPB's General Power Rate — Schedule GSA (effective October 2024). EPB also publishes GSAC, TDGSA, LGS, manufacturing (TDMSA/LMS), DPS, and EV charging (EVC) schedules; consult the rate-schedule library for full terms.
Effective: October 1, 2024 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Power Rate – Schedule GSA (Block 1, ≤50 kW & ≤15,000 kWh) | commercial | Small commercial/industrial/governmental customers at or below 50 kW demand and 15,000 kWh/month. | Customer charge $16.55/delivery point/month; energy charge 10.859¢/kWh. (Non-metered: $3.59 customer charge, 10.859¢/kWh.) Plus TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment. | — |
| General Power Rate – Schedule GSA (Block 2, 50–1,000 kW) | commercial | Medium commercial/industrial customers with billing demand >50 kW up to 1,000 kW (or <50 kW but >15,000 kWh/month). | Customer charge $16.55/month; demand charge $0 on first 50 kW then $18.30/kW above 50 kW; energy charge 10.859¢/kWh for first 15,000 kWh then 4.640¢/kWh. Plus TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment. | — |
| General Power Rate – Schedule GSA (Block 3, >1,000 kW) | industrial | Large customers with contract/billing demand greater than 1,000 kW (and metered demand exceeding 750 kW). | Customer charge $198.25/month; demand $18.32/kW on first 1,000 kW, $20.94/kW above 1,000 kW (plus $20.94/kW for demand above the greater of 2,500 kW or contract demand); energy 4.640¢/kWh. Plus TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment. | — |
| Time-of-Day General Power – Schedule TDGSA | commercial | Commercial/industrial customers electing TVA's time-of-day general service structure. | Time-differentiated demand and energy charges plus TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment; see schedule for current block rates. | — |
| Large General Power – Schedule LGS | industrial | Large general power loads above the GSA range. | Demand- and energy-based charges set within TVA's wholesale structure plus Fuel Cost Adjustment; see schedule for current rates. | — |
| Manufacturing Service – Schedule TDMSA / LMS | industrial | Qualifying manufacturing and large manufacturing loads. | Time-of-day manufacturing demand/energy charges plus Fuel Cost Adjustment; see schedule for current rates. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Small commercial (offices, retail ≤50 kW)
Confirm GSA Block 1 fit and monitor the 15,000 kWh/month threshold that triggers Block 2 demand billing.
Below 50 kW and 15,000 kWh the account avoids demand charges entirely, paying only the $16.55 customer charge plus 10.859¢/kWh energy and the TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment.
- Track monthly kWh to avoid crossing 15,000 kWh
- Use MyEPB to spot usage creep early
Mid-size commercial / light industrial (50–1,000 kW)
Focus on demand management; the $18.30/kW charge above 50 kW dominates the bill.
Demand is billed on the highest 30-minute average above 50 kW, so flattening peaks directly cuts cost; a time-of-day option may help shiftable loads.
- Stagger large equipment startups
- Consider Business Power Tracker for near-real-time demand visibility
- Maintain power factor above 0.90
Large industrial / manufacturing (>1,000 kW)
Compare GSA Block 3 against LGS and manufacturing schedules (TDMSA/LMS) and manage contract demand carefully.
High-demand blocks carry $18.32–$20.94/kW with penalty tiers above contract demand, so accurate contract-demand setting and peak control are critical; manufacturing schedules may be cheaper for qualifying loads.
- Right-size contract demand to avoid excess-demand penalties
- Evaluate manufacturing schedule eligibility
- Request an EPB rate consultation at (423) 648-3268
Multi-site C&I energy team
Use Business Power Tracker plus delegated/email reporting since no Green Button or API exists.
EPB has no automated data API, so consultants should standardize on Business Power Tracker access and scheduled reports across sites for consistent demand and usage monitoring.
- Get written authorization on file with Business Services
- Schedule recurring reports per site
- Benchmark sites on demand/load factor
Historical Rate Trends
EPB retail rate movements track TVA wholesale rate changes plus the monthly TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment, which fluctuates with natural gas and coal markets. The current published GSA schedule carries an October 2024 effective date.
October 1, 2024
Current EPB General Power Rate – Schedule GSA effective date (base charges as published).
n/aOverall trend: Base rates move with TVA wholesale changes; month-to-month bill variation is driven mainly by the TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment.
Next expected change: Tied to future TVA wholesale rate actions and monthly Fuel Cost Adjustment updates; no fixed schedule published by EPB.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because C&I customers cannot switch suppliers, savings come from rate-schedule fit, demand management, and power-factor correction within EPB's TVA-based schedules.
Right-size the rate schedule
For: All C&I accounts
Confirm whether GSA blocks, TDGSA, LGS, or a manufacturing schedule minimizes total cost given your demand and load factor; request EPB's free rate consultation.
Demand (kW) management
For: Accounts >50 kW
Reduce coincident peak demand to lower the $18.30/kW (Block 2) or $18.32–$20.94/kW (Block 3) charges, since demand is billed on the highest 30-minute average.
Power-factor / kVA correction
For: Facilities with motors/inductive loads
Keep power factor above 0.90 to avoid kVA-based demand billing (demand is the higher of metered kW or 85% of kVA).
Shift load to off-peak (TDGSA)
For: Flexible/shiftable loads
Evaluate time-of-day schedules to move energy use into lower-priced off-peak periods.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download EPB (Electric Power Board of Chattanooga) interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a C&I energy consultant get delegated access to our EPB usage data?▾
Yes, but informally. EPB has no Green Button or aggregator API. With written authorization from the account holder, EPB Business Services (423-648-1500) can add a consultant as a Business Power Tracker user or schedule emailed reports. There is no automated/API-based delegation.
Does EPB provide downloadable 15-minute interval data for commercial accounts?▾
Not via self-service. The TUNet AMI collects 15-minute data, but the portal only shows aggregated daily/monthly views. Raw interval data must be requested directly, and Business Power Tracker provides the most granular near-real-time view for eligible C&I accounts.
How do I know which EPB rate schedule applies to my business?▾
It depends on contract/billing demand and energy. Smaller accounts fall under Schedule GSA blocks (50 kW and under, or 50-1,000 kW), accounts over 1,000 kW take the high-demand GSA block, and manufacturing or very large loads may qualify for TDGSA, LGS, or manufacturing schedules. Request a free rate consultation from EPB at (423) 648-3268.
Can EPB C&I customers shop for a competitive electricity supplier?▾
No. Tennessee is not deregulated and EPB buys wholesale power solely from TVA. Cost optimization comes from correct rate-schedule selection, demand management, and power-factor correction rather than supplier switching.
Does EPB charge for power factor / kVA?▾
Yes. EPB measures demand and can bill on kVA where it exceeds metered kW; power factor should generally stay above 0.90 to avoid additional charges, per EPB's commercial billing guidance.
Automate EPB (Electric Power Board of Chattanooga) Rate Analysis with Nectar
Nectar continuously monitors your EPB (Electric Power Board of Chattanooga) rate options and alerts you when a better schedule is available. Save 10-30% on energy costs.
Nectar for Energy & Sustainability Teams
Managing utility costs for commercial or industrial buildings? Nectar offers a free rate analysis — we'll review your current rate schedules and identify where switching tariffs or shifting load can save 10-30%.
Get a Free Rate AnalysisNectar for Energy Brokers & Consultants
Advising clients on rate optimization? Nectar works with energy consultants who need reliable interval data and automated rate comparison tools.
Partner with Us