Magic Valley Electric Cooperative Rate Selection Guide
Magic Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC) is a member-owned electric cooperative serving roughly 145,000 meters across the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. As a co-op that opted out of ERCOT retail competition, MVEC is the sole electricity provider in its territory and offers billing and account data through its Meridian portal and MVEC Connect mobile app.
Magic Valley Electric Cooperative Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Service | Commercial (<50 kW) | $34.00/mo + $0.091870/kWh | Small commercial accounts below 50 kW peak demand |
| Large Power Service | Commercial (50-600 kW) | $85.00/mo + tiered energy + $5.00/kW demand | Mid-size commercial with measurable demand 50-600 kW |
| Large Power Industrial Service | Industrial (>=600 kW) | $225.00/mo + tiered energy + $4.80/kW demand | Large industrial loads at or above 600 kW peak demand |
Market Overview
MVEC is a member-owned cooperative that opted out of Texas retail electric competition. It is the exclusive provider of delivery and energy in its certificated Rio Grande Valley territory, and rates are set by the member-elected board rather than the PUCT. There is no retail supplier choice for any customer class.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Magic Valley Electric Cooperative Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
MVEC publishes three commercial classes on its Rates & Pricing page: General Service (0 to under 50 kW), Large Power Service (50-600 kW), and Large Power Industrial Service (600 kW and above). The figures below are taken directly from MVEC's official commercial rates page; rates were updated effective October 1, 2025 (an approximately 6% increase). All classes carry a 3% discount for customer-owned transformers and facilities.
Effective: October 1, 2025 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Service | commercial | Customers whose highest peak demand in the billing period and preceding 11 months is 0 kW to under 50 kW at a single point of delivery / meter. | $34.00 customer charge; $0.091870 per kWh (demand and energy); 3% customer-owned transformer & facilities discount. | — |
| Large Power Service | commercial | Customers whose highest peak demand in the billing period and preceding 11 months is 50 kW to 600 kW. | $85.00 customer charge; energy: first 200 kWh/billing kW @ $0.086610, next 200 kWh/billing kW @ $0.066610, over 400 kWh/billing kW @ $0.046610; demand charge $5.00 per kW; 3% owned transformer & facilities discount. | — |
| Large Power Industrial Service | industrial | Customers whose highest peak demand in the billing period and preceding 11 months is 600 kW or greater. | $225.00 customer charge; energy: first 200 kWh/billing kW @ $0.084500, next 200 kWh/billing kW @ $0.064500, over 400 kWh/billing kW @ $0.044500; demand charge $4.80 per kW; 3% owned transformer & facilities discount. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Mid-size commercial facility (50-600 kW)
Buildings such as retail centers, schools, or light manufacturing in the 50-600 kW range fall under Large Power Service with a $5.00/kW demand charge.
The declining energy blocks plus per-kW demand charge reward steady, high load factor operation; managing the rolling 11-month peak is the biggest lever on the bill.
- Track your peaks and avoid setting a new annual peak
- Consider owning your transformer for the 3% discount
- Pull monthly bills from the Meridian portal to monitor demand trends
Large industrial load (>=600 kW)
Plants and large industrial sites above 600 kW qualify for Large Power Industrial Service with the lowest energy blocks and a $4.80/kW demand charge.
Industrial pricing offers the lowest marginal energy rates; with a $225 customer charge, demand management and load factor dominate total cost.
- Implement peak-shaving controls to limit the 11-month ratchet
- Own service facilities for the 3% discount
- Request detailed usage data from Business Development for engineering analysis
Small business / multi-site portfolio
Small commercial accounts under 50 kW are billed on General Service at a flat per-kWh rate with no demand charge.
Below 50 kW there is no demand charge, so energy efficiency and the 3% owned-facilities discount are the main savings levers; portfolio data must be pulled per-account via the portal.
- Use the MVEC Connect app to monitor each account
- Enroll qualifying sites in Energy Wise for summer credits
- Contact Business Development for consolidated reporting on multi-site portfolios
Historical Rate Trends
MVEC's most recent documented rate action was a general rate increase effective October 1, 2025, reported in local news as exceeding 6%. As a cooperative, rate changes are approved by the member-elected board rather than the PUCT.
October 1, 2025
General rate increase across MVEC customer classes, reported locally as exceeding 6%, reflected in the current commercial schedules.
+6%Overall trend: Upward - a rate increase of over 6% took effect October 1, 2025.
Next expected change: Not announced. Future changes are set at the board's discretion; monitor the MVEC News Center and Rates & Pricing page.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because MVEC bills demand on a rolling 11-month peak and applies per-kW demand charges to Large Power and Industrial accounts, C&I cost control centers on managing peak demand and crossing class thresholds advantageously.
Peak demand management
For: Large Power (50-600 kW) and Industrial (>=600 kW) accounts
Stagger large equipment starts and shave coincident peaks to reduce billing demand, which is set by the highest peak over the billing period plus the preceding 11 months.
Own your transformer and facilities
For: All commercial classes
Customer-owned transformers and service facilities earn a 3% discount on both demand and energy charges across all commercial classes.
Right-size your rate class
For: Accounts near 50 kW or 600 kW peak demand
Energy blocks decline at the 50 kW and 600 kW thresholds; understanding where steady load sits relative to those breakpoints helps confirm you are on the lowest-cost applicable class.
Load management / demand response
For: Eligible small business accounts
Participate in MVEC demand response programs to earn credits while reducing coincident peak contribution.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Magic Valley Electric Cooperative interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MVEC support Green Button or an interval data API for C&I customers?▾
No. MVEC does not offer Green Button Download My Data, Connect My Data, ESPI, or any public interval data API. Commercial and industrial customers needing granular usage data must request it directly from MVEC Business Development at 1-866-225-5683.
How can a C&I customer or energy manager get usage data from MVEC?▾
Through the Meridian portal (monthly bills and usage) for each account, or by contacting MVEC Business Development for custom reporting. There is no automated multi-account export, so larger portfolios typically rely on manual PDF/portal retrieval or negotiated data arrangements.
Can MVEC commercial customers shop for a competitive retail electric provider?▾
No. Although Texas has retail choice through ERCOT, MVEC opted out of retail competition. MVEC is the exclusive provider of both delivery and energy in its territory, so there is no competitive supplier shopping for any customer class.
What commercial rate schedules does MVEC offer?▾
MVEC offers General Service (under 50 kW), Large Power Service (50-600 kW), and Large Power Industrial Service (600 kW and above). Each carries a fixed customer charge, tiered energy blocks, and (for the larger classes) a per-kW demand charge. Rates were updated effective October 1, 2025.
Does MVEC offer EDI for invoice or usage transactions?▾
No formal EDI trading partner program exists (no 810, 820, 814, or 867). MVEC may consider electronic data exchange for large accounts on a case-by-case basis; contact Business Development at 1-866-225-5683.
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