Union Power Cooperative Rate Selection Guide
Union Power Cooperative (legally Union Electric Membership Corp) is a member-owned electric cooperative serving roughly 90,000 accounts across five south-central North Carolina counties. Data access is self-service via the customer portal and mobile app; there is no Green Button, EDI, or formal third-party API, so C&I data sharing is handled through manual authorized requests.
Union Power Cooperative Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule GS | Commercial (small) | $0.105776/kWh summer; $35-$55/mo BFC | Small businesses, single-meter facilities without significant demand |
| Schedule CS | Commercial demand | $8.90/kW (>25kW) + tiered energy $0.110002->$0.057652 | Mid-size three-phase commercial loads |
| Schedule CTS | Commercial TOU | $15.75/kW on-peak demand; energy $0.038329-$0.053329 | Commercial loads that can shift consumption off-peak |
| Schedule TS | Transmission | $14.00/kW + $0.033189/kWh | Large industrial customers at 100 kV+ |
Market Overview
Union Power is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative. Retail rates are set by its Board and filed with the North Carolina Utilities Commission under Docket EC-39. Members cannot choose a competitive supplier.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Union Power Cooperative Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
Union Power's retail rate schedules are filed under NCUC Docket EC-39 Sub 56, effective for bills rendered on or after April 1, 2024. All schedules are subject to a Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment (WPCA) and applicable sales tax. Commercial customers most commonly take Schedule CS; time-of-use and transmission-level options are also available.
Effective: April 1, 2024 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule GS - General Service | commercial | Farms, residences, small businesses, schools, churches, and public buildings served through one meter. | Basic Facilities Charge $35.00/mo single-phase (=400A) or $55.00/mo (>400A or 3-phase residential). Energy: summer all kWh $0.105776; winter first 1,000 kWh $0.105776, over 1,000 kWh $0.100776. Plus WPCA. | — |
| Schedule CS - Commercial Service | commercial | Commercial members located on or near the cooperative's three-phase lines (three-phase service). | Basic Facilities Charge $75.00/mo. Demand: first 25 kW $0.00/kW, all kW over 25 kW $8.90/kW. Energy: first 3,000 kWh $0.110002, next 7,000 kWh $0.084252, over 10,000 kWh $0.057652. Billing demand = max 15-minute demand. Plus WPCA. | — |
| Schedule CTS - Commercial Time-of-Day Service | commercial | Members who would otherwise take Schedule CS and opt into time-of-day pricing (voluntary, metering permitting). | Basic Facilities Charge $150.00/mo. Demand: On-Peak $15.75/kW, Max Monthly $3.65/kW. Energy: On-Peak $0.053329, Off-Peak $0.045829, Super Off-Peak $0.038329. Plus WPCA. | — |
| Schedule TS - Transmission Service | industrial | Members taking service at transmission voltage of 100 kV or greater at a single delivery point. | Basic Facilities Charge $75.00/mo. Demand: all kW $14.00/kW. Energy: all kWh $0.033189. Billing demand = max 15-minute demand. Plus WPCA. | — |
| Schedule GTS - General Time-of-Day Service | commercial | Single-phase non-residential members who would otherwise take Schedule GS and opt into time-of-day pricing. | Basic Facilities Charge $47.50/mo (=400A) or $83.50/mo (>400A). Demand: On-Peak $15.20/kW, Max Monthly $5.50/kW. Energy: On-Peak $0.057545, Off-Peak $0.050045, Super Off-Peak $0.042545. Plus WPCA. | — |
| Schedule PCSS - Public Charging Station Service | ev | Energy provided to charge an EV at a cooperative-owned public charging station. | Energy: Level 2 all kWh $0.260600; Level 3 (DC Fast) all kWh $0.521200. Idle charges vary by location. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Mid-size three-phase commercial facility
A typical office, retail, or light-commercial site on three-phase service should default to Schedule CS and manage demand above 25 kW.
CS is the standard commercial schedule; its $8.90/kW demand charge applies only above 25 kW, and declining-block energy rewards steady utilization.
- Track the monthly maximum 15-minute kW
- Stagger HVAC and equipment startups to shave peaks
- Pull monthly usage from the portal for benchmarking
Flexible commercial load that can shift off-peak
Facilities that can move consumption out of the 2-6 PM (summer) or 6-9 AM (winter) on-peak windows should evaluate Schedule CTS.
CTS offers super off-peak energy at $0.038329/kWh, well below the CS first block, in exchange for a higher on-peak demand charge.
- Confirm appropriate metering is available
- Model on-peak demand impact before switching
- Automate load shifting to super off-peak (10 PM-5 AM)
Large industrial customer at transmission voltage
Customers able to take service at 100 kV or greater should evaluate Schedule TS for its low energy rate.
TS energy is just $0.033189/kWh with a $14.00/kW demand charge, favorable for high-load-factor industrial operations that own downstream equipment.
- Verify ability to take and own equipment at 100 kV+
- Maintain a high load factor to dilute the demand charge
- Negotiate contract minimum demand carefully
Consultant needing customer data for an energy audit
With no API or Green Button, plan for a manual authorized-request workflow when ingesting Union Power data.
Union Power only releases data via signed customer authorization, delivered manually as PDF/email, so automation is not possible.
- Collect a signed authorization letter up front
- Submit to member.inquiry@union-power.com with exact data/period
- Allow 2-4 weeks and request a defined format
Historical Rate Trends
Union Power conducted a cost-of-service and rate study leading to revised rate schedules approved by the NCUC under Docket EC-39 Sub 56, effective April 1, 2024. The prior schedules were EC-39 Sub 54 (effective April 1, 2023).
April 1, 2024
Revised retail rate schedules effective under Docket EC-39 Sub 56 following a cost-of-service and rate study.
Not disclosedApril 1, 2023
Prior rate schedules effective under Docket EC-39 Sub 54.
Not disclosedOverall trend: Rates have risen with wholesale power costs; a WPCA mechanism passes through purchased-power cost changes monthly.
Next expected change: Tied to future NCUC filings under Docket EC-39 and the monthly WPCA; no specific date published.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because Union Power is a regulated cooperative with no supplier choice, C&I cost optimization focuses on rate-schedule selection, demand management, and load shifting rather than shopping.
Manage maximum 15-minute demand
For: CS, TS, CTS, GTS demand-metered customers
On Schedules CS and TS, the demand charge is set by the single highest 15-minute kW interval. Staggering equipment startups and peak shaving reduces this charge.
Shift load with time-of-day schedules
For: Commercial members with shiftable load
Switching from CS to CTS (or GS to GTS) and moving consumption to off-peak/super off-peak windows can lower energy costs where the load is flexible.
Optimize Schedule CS declining blocks
For: Higher-volume commercial loads
Schedule CS energy declines from $0.110002 to $0.057652/kWh above 10,000 kWh, so higher-utilization loads benefit from consolidating onto fewer, larger meters where feasible.
Monitor the WPCA
For: All C&I customers
The Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment fluctuates monthly around a $0.076009/kWh base. Tracking it helps forecast bills and time discretionary load.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Union Power Cooperative interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a third-party energy manager pull our Union Power interval or billing data via API?▾
No. Union Power has no API, Green Button, or aggregator program. A consultant must submit a signed customer authorization letter to member.inquiry@union-power.com (or the Manager of Billing) and receive data manually, typically as PDF/email within an estimated 2-4 weeks.
Is 15-minute interval data available for our commercial facility?▾
Not through any self-service channel. C&I schedules CS, CTS, and TS bill on the maximum 15-minute demand registered by a demand meter, but the underlying interval data is not exposed to customers or third parties. Only prepaid customers see daily (not interval) usage.
Which rate schedule applies to a commercial site on three-phase service?▾
Most commercial members on or near three-phase lines take Schedule CS (Commercial Service), which adds a demand charge for load above 25 kW. Time-of-use-capable sites can opt into Schedule CTS. Members at 100 kV+ take Schedule TS (Transmission Service).
Can we shop for a competitive electricity supplier?▾
No. North Carolina is a regulated market with no retail choice, and as a member-owned cooperative Union Power is the sole provider in its territory. Cost optimization is achieved through rate-schedule selection and demand management, not supplier switching.
How do we get more than 12 months of billing history?▾
The portal shows 12+ months. For longer histories, contact the Manager of Billing (Ashley Terrell) at 704-289-3145 or member.inquiry@union-power.com with the account number and the period needed.
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