Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative Rate Selection Guide
Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC) is a member-owned rural electric cooperative serving roughly 47,600 members across nine Minnesota counties. Data access runs through the SmartHub portal, which uniquely supports Green Button Download My Data; there is no Green Button Connect, public API, or formal third-party program.
Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Commercial General Service | Commercial | Service charge + per-kWh (quoted); ~10 cents/kWh avg per third-party data | Small commercial members without demand billing |
| Large Commercial / Industrial | Industrial | Service + energy + per-kW demand; case-by-case quote | Larger demand-billed C&I loads |
| EV24 Time-of-Use | EV | 24-hour TOU program rate (submetered) | EV charging loads |
Market Overview
MVEC is a nonprofit, member-owned electric cooperative in Minnesota. Rates are set by its board of directors with Minnesota PUC oversight on service matters, and there is no competitive retail supplier choice. C&I members take bundled cooperative service, with larger accounts priced case-by-case.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
MVEC publishes residential rates but quotes commercial and industrial rates case-by-case through its Key Account team. Verified residential energy is 12.8 cents/kWh June-September and 12.0 cents/kWh October-May (first 2,000 kWh), with a Basic Monthly Service Charge that increased from $15 to $25 effective May 1, 2026. Commercial bills combine a basic service charge, a per-kWh energy charge, and (for larger loads) a demand charge; exact C&I figures require a quote from MVEC.
Effective: May 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Commercial General Service | commercial | Smaller commercial members without significant demand. | Basic Monthly Service Charge plus a per-kWh energy charge; specific figures quoted by MVEC. Third-party data (FindEnergy) estimates an average commercial rate near 10 cents/kWh. | — |
| Large Commercial / Industrial (Demand) | industrial | Larger C&I members billed on demand. | Basic service charge + per-kWh energy charge + per-kW demand charge; rates determined case-by-case by the Key Account team. | — |
| EV24 Time-of-Use | ev | Members charging electric vehicles via dedicated submeter (~750 enrolled). | 24-hour time-of-use rate for EV charging with submeter installation; program-specific pricing. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Small commercial member without demand billing
Small commercial members should benchmark against the published residential energy rate and confirm their general service rate with MVEC.
MVEC does not fully publish small commercial rates; the verified residential energy rate (~12 cents/kWh) is a reasonable benchmark pending a quote.
- Request the current general service rate from MVEC
- Track monthly usage in SmartHub
- Watch the rising basic service charge trend
Large commercial / industrial demand load
Larger demand-billed members should secure a Key Account rate review and prioritize demand management.
C&I rates are quoted case-by-case and include per-kW demand charges, so the rate review plus peak control drives cost.
- Engage the MVEC Key Account team
- Shave and stagger peaks to cut demand charges
- Use Green Button data to model load shape
Fleet / EV charging operation
Members charging EVs should evaluate the EV24 time-of-use program with submetering.
EV24 offers a 24-hour TOU rate with dedicated submetering that can lower charging cost versus standard service.
- Install the EV submeter through MVEC
- Shift charging to favorable TOU windows
- Track EV load separately from facility load
Energy consultant needing usage data
Consultants should use the member's Green Button export since no API or Connect My Data exists.
MVEC supports Green Button Download but not Connect; data sharing is manual or via case-by-case MVEC request.
- Have the member export Green Button XML from SmartHub
- Submit a written authorization for historical data requests
- Allow 5-15 business days for MVEC direct requests
Historical Rate Trends
MVEC adjusts rates by board action to cover rising wholesale and local costs. The most recent verified change is the May 1, 2026 increase to the residential Basic Monthly Service Charge.
May 1, 2026
Residential Basic Monthly Service Charge increased from $15 to $25 by board action to address rising costs.
+67%Overall trend: Rising fixed charges; the residential basic service charge increased 67% in 2026.
Next expected change: Future adjustments at board discretion; monitor MVEC rate announcements and the Electric Eye newsletter.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because MVEC quotes C&I rates case-by-case and bills larger loads on demand, the biggest levers are demand management, participation in load control programs, and securing a Key Account rate consultation.
Request a Key Account rate review
For: All commercial and industrial members
C&I rates are not fully published. A consultation with MVEC's Key Account team confirms the applicable service charge, energy rate, and demand charge so usage can be optimized against the actual tariff.
Manage peak demand
For: Demand-billed C&I members
Larger loads are billed on per-kW demand. Peak shaving and staggered equipment startup reduce billed demand.
Enroll in Energy Wise load control
For: Members with controllable loads or EV charging
MVEC's load management programs (AC, water heating, EV) offer reduced rates and bill credits in exchange for controllable load.
Use Green Button data for analytics
For: All members with SmartHub access
Export Green Button XML to model load shape, validate demand peaks, and target efficiency or solar investments.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a third party pull our commercial usage data automatically from MVEC?▾
No. MVEC has no public API and does not support Green Button Connect My Data, so there is no automated third-party pull. A member must export Green Button XML from SmartHub and share it, or submit a written authorization for MVEC to provide data case-by-case (typically 5-15 business days).
Does MVEC support Green Button for commercial accounts?▾
MVEC supports Green Button Download My Data (DMD) for all members through SmartHub, producing ESPI-compliant XML. It does not support Connect My Data (CMD), so third-party authorization flows are not available.
What interval granularity can commercial members get?▾
Tantalus AMI collects 15-minute to hourly data. Hourly usage is viewable in SmartHub and exportable via Green Button XML. For finer 15-minute exports, contact MVEC directly at info@mvec.net.
How are commercial and industrial rates set at MVEC?▾
C&I rates reflect demand, energy usage, and service type, and larger accounts are quoted on a case-by-case basis through the Key Account team rather than via a fully public commercial tariff. Contact (952) 492-2313 for a rate consultation.
Did MVEC change its rates in 2026?▾
Yes. Effective May 1, 2026, the MVEC board approved a rate adjustment that raised the residential Basic Monthly Service Charge from $15 to $25. C&I members should confirm current demand and energy charges with MVEC.
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