Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation (TN) Rate Selection Guide
Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation (TCEMC) is a rural electric cooperative serving ~57,000 members across Tennessee and Kentucky, with wholesale power from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). It offers a self-service billing portal and mobile app but no formal programmatic third-party data access (no Green Button, API, or EDI) as of 2026.
Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation (TN) Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSA-1 | Commercial | $38.00 min + $0.12041/kWh | Small commercial loads under 50 kW / 15,000 kWh. |
| GSA-2 | Commercial | $160.00 min + $15.90/kW (>50 kW) + $0.12634/$0.07646 per kWh | Medium commercial/light industrial with demand 51-1,000 kW. |
| GSA-3 | Industrial | $400.00 min + $14.83-$17.34/kW + $0.07753/kWh | Large industrial loads above 1,000 kW. |
Market Overview
TCEMC is a member-owned electric cooperative and TVA distributor. Tennessee and Kentucky do not offer retail electric choice, so C&I members buy bundled service on TCEMC's GSA schedules. Retail rates move monthly with TVA's wholesale cost of power; the cooperative is governed by its TVA contract rather than a state PUC.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation (TN) Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
TCEMC commercial service uses TVA's General Power Schedule GSA, published monthly on the cooperative's Commercial Rates page. The values below are the verified June 2026 charges. GSA tiers are set by demand (kW) and usage (kWh), with declining-block energy pricing and per-kW demand charges above 50 kW.
Effective: June 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSA-1 (Small General Power) | commercial | Demand 0-50 kW and usage under 15,000 kWh. | Minimum bill $38.00/meter; energy charge $0.12041/kWh. No demand charge. | — |
| GSA-2 (Medium General Power) | commercial | Demand 51-1,000 kW or usage greater than 15,000 kWh. | Minimum bill $160.00/meter; first 50 kW no charge, additional kW $15.90/kW; energy $0.12634/kWh for first 15,000 kWh then $0.07646/kWh for additional kWh. | — |
| GSA-3 (Large General Power) | industrial | Demand greater than 1,000 kW (usage or contract demand). | Minimum bill $400.00/meter; demand $14.83/kW for first 1,000 kW then $17.34/kW over 1,000 kW; energy charge $0.07753/kWh. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Small commercial (under 50 kW)
A small shop or office under 50 kW and 15,000 kWh should confirm it is billed on GSA-1 to avoid GSA-2's higher minimum and demand charge.
GSA-1 has a $38 minimum and a flat $0.12041/kWh with no demand charge, far cheaper than GSA-2's $160 minimum for low-usage accounts.
- Confirm demand stays under 50 kW and usage under 15,000 kWh
- Watch for tier creep that would push you onto GSA-2
- Use the portal to track monthly kWh
Medium commercial / light industrial (51-1,000 kW)
A facility on GSA-2 should focus on peak demand reduction and capturing the declining-block energy rate.
At $15.90/kW above 50 kW, every avoided peak kW saves real money, and usage beyond 15,000 kWh drops to $0.07646/kWh, rewarding high load factor.
- Stagger equipment to flatten the monthly demand peak
- Consolidate load to capture the lower energy block
- Consider battery storage for peak shaving
Large industrial plant (over 1,000 kW)
A large plant on GSA-3 should prioritize demand-charge management since the per-kW charge rises to $17.34/kW above 1,000 kW.
GSA-3 demand is $14.83/kW for the first 1,000 kW and $17.34/kW above it; controlling coincident peak yields the largest savings, while energy is a flat $0.07753/kWh.
- Manage coincident peak to limit kW above 1,000
- Evaluate on-site generation or storage for peak events
- Track TVA monthly energy charge changes in budgeting
C&I member needing granular usage data
Since TCEMC offers no API or Green Button, plan an energy program around portal data plus manually requested interval reads.
Daily/monthly portal data is the default; 15-minute reads exist but require a Member Services request (10-20 business days, possible fee).
- Obtain customer authorization early for any third-party request
- Request interval reads in writing to mwoodard@tcemc.org
- Consider Demand Response enrollment for closer-to-real-time load data
Historical Rate Trends
TCEMC's GSA energy charge fluctuates monthly with TVA's wholesale cost of power, while the demand-charge structure and minimum bills stay relatively stable. The cooperative publishes updated GSA charges each month rather than filing periodic rate cases.
June 1, 2026
June 2026 GSA charges published: GSA-1 energy $0.12041/kWh; GSA-2 demand $15.90/kW with energy $0.12634/$0.07646 per kWh; GSA-3 demand $14.83-$17.34/kW with energy $0.07753/kWh.
varies monthlyOverall trend: Energy charge fluctuates month to month with TVA wholesale cost; demand and minimum-bill structure stable.
Next expected change: Monthly: TCEMC posts revised GSA charges each month on its Commercial Rates page.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because GSA energy pricing is set by TVA each month, member-controlled savings come from demand management, load-factor improvement, and ensuring the account sits on the correct GSA tier and metering arrangement.
Peak Demand Management
For: GSA-2 and GSA-3 accounts
GSA-2 bills $15.90/kW above 50 kW and GSA-3 up to $17.34/kW. Shaving peak demand with staggered startups or battery storage directly cuts the demand charge.
Maximize Declining-Block Energy
For: GSA-2 accounts with high usage
GSA-2 bills only $0.07646/kWh beyond the first 15,000 kWh versus $0.12634/kWh below it. Consolidating load onto fewer high-volume meters captures the lower marginal block.
Demand Response Enrollment
For: Members with controllable HVAC/water heating
Enrolling water heater/HVAC load in TCEMC's Demand Response Program (waived $1,500 install) reduces coincident peak demand and supports load control.
Verify Correct GSA Tier
For: All commercial accounts near tier thresholds
An account near a tier boundary (e.g., ~50 kW or 15,000 kWh) can be on a costlier schedule. Reviewing the demand/usage profile against GSA-1/2/3 thresholds avoids overpaying the minimum bill or demand charge.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation (TN) interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a consultant pull a TCEMC commercial member's usage data through an API?▾
No. TCEMC has no public API, Green Button Connect, or Share My Data program. All third-party access is manual and customer-authorized: submit a signed authorization to Member Services (mwoodard@tcemc.org) and expect PDF/email delivery in 10-20 business days, possibly with a copying fee.
What interval granularity can a C&I member get?▾
The portal shows daily/monthly kWh only. AMI meters are interval-capable and 15-minute data is used for demand response, but granular interval reads must be requested manually from Member Services (10-20 business days) and may carry a fee.
Which rate schedule applies to a commercial or industrial facility?▾
TCEMC uses TVA's General Power Schedule GSA, split by demand: GSA-1 (0-50 kW, <15,000 kWh), GSA-2 (51-1,000 kW or >15,000 kWh), and GSA-3 (>1,000 kW). GSA-2 and GSA-3 add per-kW demand charges with declining-block energy pricing.
Why do TCEMC commercial rates change every month?▾
TCEMC is a TVA distributor, so retail rates fluctuate monthly with TVA's wholesale cost of power. The cooperative publishes the current month's GSA charges on its Commercial Rates page; the values shown here are for June 2026.
Is TCEMC rate-regulated by a state public utility commission?▾
No. As a member-owned cooperative in Tennessee/Kentucky, TCEMC is not regulated by a state PUC. Wholesale power and rate structure are governed by its TVA power contract, and the board sets local rate adders.
Automate Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation (TN) Rate Analysis with Nectar
Nectar continuously monitors your Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation (TN) 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