Nueces Electric Cooperative Rate Selection Guide
Nueces Electric Cooperative (NEC) is a member-owned distribution cooperative serving eight South Texas counties from Robstown, TX. NEC was the first deregulated cooperative in Texas: it owns and operates the distribution wires within ERCOT while members can take energy supply from a competitive retailer (including NEC's own NEC Co-op Energy affiliate). Data access runs through the SmartHub (NISC) portal, with third-party access via Letter of Authorization and competitive-retailer EDI.
Nueces Electric Cooperative Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Power Service | Commercial/Industrial | $96.50 customer + $5.35/kW demand (delivery) | C&I facilities 35 kW and up; energy via REP |
| General Service | Commercial | $32.50/$80.00 customer + $0.0294/kWh distribution | Small commercial/ag under 35 kW |
| Large Power Over 2 MW | Industrial | $303.00 customer + $0.475/kW + STEC pass-through | Large primary-voltage industrial over 2 MW |
| T&D Adjustment | All | $0.018500/kWh (01-2025) | Applies to all distribution-area bills |
Market Overview
NEC was the first deregulated cooperative in Texas and operates within ERCOT. Energy supply is competitive (members may choose a Retail Electric Provider, including NEC Co-op Energy) while NEC owns and operates the regulated distribution wires. Delivery charges are board-set in the NEC tariff; transmission and distribution-substation charges pass through from wholesale supplier STEC. Note that native cooperative distribution members do not face the same mandatory retail-choice switch as ERCOT investor-owned-utility customers, so competitive shopping is contextual.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Nueces Electric Cooperative Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
NEC's published delivery (distribution) tariff schedules were approved 10/23/2018, effective 3/1/2019, with billing adjustments updated since (the T&D pass-through charge is $0.018500/kWh as of 01-2025). Energy supply is billed separately by the member's competitive retailer; the figures below are the verified NEC delivery/distribution charges from the NEC tariff. C&I members pick the delivery schedule by peak-demand tier: General Service (under 35 kW), Large Power Service (35 kW and above), and Large Power Over 2 Megawatts (contract primary service).
Effective: March 1, 2019 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large Power Service (203.2) | commercial | Commercial and industrial members with peak demand of 35 kW or greater in the most recent 12 months (multi-phase, primary or secondary voltage). | Customer charge $96.50/meter; demand charge $5.35 per billing kW; distribution charge $0.00000/kWh (energy supplied by competitive retailer). Billing demand = max 15-minute kW (power-factor adjusted below 95%), but not less than 85% of the highest adjusted demand in the prior 11 months, or 35 kW. Primary-voltage service reduces the demand charge by $0.15/kW. Verified from NEC tariff. | Delivery only; energy via REP+ $5.35/kW (less $0.15/kW at primary voltage) |
| General Service (203.1) | commercial | Single- and multi-phase members under 35 kW peak demand: farming, ranching, small commercial, schools, churches, and community halls (plus residential). | Customer charge $32.50/meter single-phase or $80.00/meter three-phase; distribution charge $0.0294/kWh on all usage. Energy supply billed separately by the competitive retailer. Verified from NEC tariff. | $0.0294/kWh distribution+ None (energy-only delivery) |
| Large Power Over 2 Megawatts (203.17) | industrial | By contract for primary-voltage (nominal 13.8 kV) commercial/industrial loads with peak demand over 2 MW. Distribution wires service only; no energy. | Distribution Line Service customer charge $303.00/month plus distribution demand charge $0.475/kW of monthly billing demand. Plus pass-through STEC transmission service ($/kW * billing demand) and distribution-substation charges, a facility charge, and STEC flow-through charges. Billing demand on a 15-minute NCP basis with a 30,000 kW floor and 97% power-factor requirement. Verified from NEC tariff. | Delivery only; pass-through transmission+ $0.475/kW distribution + STEC transmission pass-through |
| Oil Well Pumping Under 35 kW (203.3) | industrial | Single- or multi-phase oil-well pumping and associated uses under 35 kW peak demand, not exceeding 50 kVA installed capacity. | Customer charge $68.00/meter (availability charge, no energy); distribution charge $0.0294/kWh on all usage. Power factor adjusted below 95%. Verified from NEC tariff. | $0.0294/kWh distribution+ None |
| Transmission & Delivery (T&D) Adjustment | commercial | Monthly per-kWh adjustment applied to all NEC distribution-area bills to reconcile actual purchased-electricity cost. | T&D charge of $0.018500/kWh as of 01-2025 (verified from NEC Rates & Fees page). Adjusts up or down monthly. Former-AEP-boundary members also pay a 1.5 cents/kWh transitional charge collected on behalf of AEP per PUCT. | $0.018500/kWh (T&D, 01-2025)+ N/A (per-kWh adjustment) |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Commercial/industrial facility at or above 35 kW peak demand
C&I sites of 35 kW or more take Large Power Service and should treat the 15-minute demand peak and its 11-month ratchet as the primary cost lever.
Delivery is a $96.50 customer charge plus $5.35/kW demand, with billing demand floored at 85% of the highest adjusted demand over the prior 11 months. A single peak raises the floor for nearly a year, so peak management and power factor matter most.
- Use SmartHub power-usage alerts to catch demand peaks
- Hold power factor at or above 95% with capacitors
- Pursue the $0.15/kW primary-voltage discount where feasible
- Shop the competitive energy supply separately
Small commercial or agricultural load under 35 kW
Members under 35 kW use General Service, which is energy-only delivery with no demand charge.
General Service has a $32.50 (single-phase) or $80.00 (three-phase) customer charge plus $0.0294/kWh distribution and no demand charge, so total cost is driven by the competitive energy rate and usage volume.
- Stay below 35 kW peak to remain eligible
- Shop REP energy offers to lower the supply rate
- Track the monthly T&D adjustment ($0.018500/kWh in 01-2025)
Large primary-voltage industrial load over 2 MW
Loads over 2 MW take the contract Large Power Over 2 MW schedule and must plan for STEC transmission and distribution-substation pass-throughs.
Distribution Line Service is $303.00/month plus $0.475/kW distribution demand, on top of STEC transmission ($/kW * billing demand) and distribution-substation pass-throughs, a facility charge, and STEC flow-through charges, with a 30,000 kW demand floor and 97% PF requirement.
- Model the 30,000 kW NCP demand floor into cost projections
- Maintain power factor at 97% or higher to avoid uplift
- Coordinate transmission coincident-peak (4CP) avoidance with STEC billing windows
- Negotiate the facility charge amortization in the service contract
Consultant/aggregator needing structured usage data
Because NEC has no official API or Green Button CMD, route data access through the Letter of Authorization (Excel) or, for ongoing access, REP EDI.
The LOA returns summary and/or interval usage in Excel for up to 12 months within 1-2 weeks. Automated ongoing access requires ERCOT REP certification and NEC CR EDI onboarding; member Green Button XML covers self-service interval needs.
- Collect a signed LOA with ESI ID early
- Request both summary and interval data to cover demand analysis
- For recurring feeds, evaluate REP EDI certification
- Have members export Green Button XML from SmartHub for quick pulls
Historical Rate Trends
The published NEC delivery tariff schedules were approved 10/23/2018 and effective 3/1/2019. Since then, the principal month-to-month change for members is the Transmission & Delivery (T&D) per-kWh adjustment, which reconciles purchased-power cost and stood at $0.018500/kWh as of January 2025. Energy supply rates are set by competitive retailers and vary by contract. A documented base-rate percentage-change series was not available from a primary source at research time.
March 1, 2019
Current NEC delivery tariff schedules (General Service, Large Power, Large Power Over 2 MW, Oil Well Pumping) approved 10/23/2018, effective this date.
N/A (tariff effective date)January 1, 2025
Transmission & Delivery (T&D) per-kWh adjustment set at $0.018500/kWh as of January 2025.
N/A (monthly adjustment level)Overall trend: Delivery (distribution) base charges are stable board-set tariffs; bill variation comes from the monthly T&D adjustment, STEC transmission pass-throughs for large loads, and the competitive energy contract.
Next expected change: T&D adjustment updates monthly; STEC transmission/distribution-substation rates reset annually. Next base-tariff revision is at board discretion (date not published).
Cost Optimization Strategies
NEC C&I cost has two levers: the NEC delivery schedule (demand-driven on Large Power) and the competitive energy contract. The highest-value moves are managing the 15-minute demand peak (which ratchets for 11 months), taking the primary-voltage discount where feasible, holding power factor at or above 95%, and shopping the competitive energy supply.
Manage the demand ratchet (Large Power)
For: Large Power Service (35 kW+)
Large Power billing demand is the max 15-minute kW but never less than 85% of the highest adjusted demand over the prior 11 months. A single high peak inflates the floor for nearly a year, so peak avoidance compounds.
Take the primary-voltage discount
For: Large Power Service at primary voltage
Large Power Service reduces the demand charge by $0.15/kW when service is delivered at primary distribution voltage. Facilities able to own transformation can capture this discount.
Power-factor correction
For: Demand-metered C&I (Large Power / 2 MW)
Demand is increased 1% for each 1% the average power factor falls below 95% lagging (97% on the 2 MW schedule). Capacitor banks avoid the uplift on billed demand.
Shop the competitive energy supply
For: All C&I members
Because energy is unbundled in ERCOT, members can choose a Retail Electric Provider (including NEC Co-op Energy). Competitive energy procurement is independent of the fixed NEC delivery charges.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Nueces Electric Cooperative interval data →
Deregulated Market Shopping
NEC sits in the ERCOT competitive market: energy supply is unbundled from delivery. Members can select a Retail Electric Provider (REP) for energy while NEC provides regulated delivery (wires) service. NEC's own affiliate, NEC Co-op Energy, is one option among ERCOT-certified providers. Note that native cooperative distribution members do not experience the same mandatory retail-choice switch as ERCOT investor-owned-utility customers; shopping is available but contextual.
How to Compare Nueces Electric Cooperative Suppliers
- 01Compare REP energy offers separately from NEC delivery charges
- 02Confirm the offer's term, energy rate, and any fees
- 03Enroll with the chosen REP; NEC continues delivery and metering
Contract Terms for Nueces Electric Cooperative Supply Agreements
- Energy rate ($/kWh) set by the REP contract
- Contract length and early-termination fees vary by REP
- NEC delivery charges (customer + demand/distribution) apply regardless of REP
Common Pitfalls When Shopping Nueces Electric Cooperative Rates
- Total bill = NEC delivery + REP energy + T&D adjustment + applicable transitional/transmission charges
- Demand charges and the 11-month ratchet are set by NEC delivery, not the REP
- Former-AEP-boundary accounts carry a 1.5 cents/kWh transitional charge
Frequently Asked Questions
Can C&I members in NEC's territory shop for a competitive energy supplier?▾
Yes, in context. NEC operates in ERCOT and was the first deregulated cooperative in Texas, so energy supply is unbundled from delivery and members can choose a Retail Electric Provider, including NEC's own NEC Co-op Energy. NEC continues to provide the regulated delivery (wires) service and owns the meter regardless of the chosen REP.
How are demand charges calculated on Large Power Service?▾
Billing demand is the maximum 15-minute kW during the period (power-factor adjusted below 95%), but never less than 85% of the highest adjusted demand established in the prior 11 months, or 35 kW. The demand charge is $5.35/kW, reduced by $0.15/kW for primary-voltage service. The 11-month ratchet means a single high peak elevates the billed demand floor for nearly a year.
How does an aggregator or consultant get C&I usage data from NEC?▾
The practical path is a Letter of Authorization (LOA): the member signs the NEC/TDSP historical-usage form (with ESI ID), and NEC returns summary and/or interval data in Excel for up to the most recent 12 months, typically within 1-2 weeks. For ongoing automated access, an entity must be an ERCOT-certified REP and complete NEC competitive-retailer EDI onboarding. There is no public developer API or Green Button Connect My Data.
What EDI transactions does NEC support and who can use them?▾
NEC uses ERCOT Texas Standard Electronic Transactions (TX SET) over ANSI X12 / NAESB, including 814 (enrollment/move-in/switch), 867 (meter usage), 810 (invoice), and 820 (payment). EDI is available only to ERCOT-certified Retail Electric Providers that obtain NEC CR approval and complete system testing; it is not a member- or consultant-facing channel.
What is the T&D charge and how does it affect a C&I bill?▾
The Transmission & Delivery (T&D) charge is a monthly per-kWh adjustment that reconciles actual purchased-power cost; it was $0.018500/kWh as of January 2025. For large loads over 2 MW, additional STEC transmission and distribution-substation charges pass through based on billing demand. Former-AEP-boundary accounts also carry a 1.5 cents/kWh transitional charge collected for AEP per the PUCT.
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