Nueces Electric Cooperative Data Access 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.
How to Get Your Nueces Electric Cooperative Data: All Access Methods
| Method | 1st Party | 3rd Party | Customer Types | Data Types | Latency | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SmartHub Portal & App | ✓ | — | Residential & Commercial | Bills, usage, daily/hourly consumption, alerts | Daily/hourly | Web / PDF / app |
| Green Button Download My Data | ✓ | — | All members | Interval consumption | On demand | XML (ESPI) |
| Letter of Authorization (LOA) | ✓ | ✓ | All (3rd party with signed LOA) | Summary + interval usage (12 mo) | 1-2 weeks | Excel |
| Competitive Retailer EDI (TX SET) | — | ✓ | ERCOT-certified REPs only | Meter, billing, enrollment | Per ERCOT timelines | X12 / TX SET |
| Power Usage Alerts | ✓ | — | All members | Usage threshold notifications | Near real-time | |
| Developer API / Green Button CMD | — | — | None (not documented) | Not available | N/A | N/A |
Billing Data Access
Billing data is accessed through SmartHub (NISC platform) as both a web portal and iOS/Android app. Members can view current and historical bills, payment history, usage and consumption trends, daily/hourly metrics, and set power-usage alerts. Bills are available as PDF; limited CSV/Excel export exists. For C&I members, the most reliable structured export is via a Letter of Authorization request returning data in Excel.
What Data Is on Your Nueces Electric Cooperative Bill
- Current and historical bills (PDF)
- Payment history
- Usage and consumption trends
- Daily and hourly energy consumption metrics
- Power-usage alerts
- kWh and kW/kVA consumption (via LOA)
How to Download Nueces Electric Cooperative Bills (Business & Commercial)
- 01Register the commercial account in SmartHub at https://nueceselectric.smarthub.coop/
- 02Review monthly bills, demand, and usage trends under My Usage
- 03Set power-usage alerts (web browser required to configure) to monitor demand
- 04For structured interval/demand exports, submit a Letter of Authorization to receive Excel data for up to 12 months
How to Download Nueces Electric Cooperative Bills (Residential)
- 01Go to https://nueceselectric.smarthub.coop/ and start new-customer registration
- 02Enter your NEC account number (from your bill) and account-holder last name
- 03Provide an email address and create a password to complete registration
- 04Log in and open My Bills / Billing to view current and historical bills; enable paperless billing for PDF delivery
Third-Party Access to Nueces Electric Cooperative Billing Data
Letter of Authorization (LOA) usage request
- 01Member completes the NEC/TDSP Letter of Authorization for historical usage (summary, interval, or both)
- 02Form includes service address and ESI ID, the authorized recipient, and an expiration date
- 03Third party submits the signed LOA to NEC or the appropriate TDU
- 04NEC returns data in Excel (kWh, kVA/kW, 15-minute or hourly interval) for up to the most recent 12 months, typically within 1-2 weeks
Competitive Retailer EDI integration
- 01Register as an ERCOT-certified Retail Electric Provider (REP) and obtain NEC CR approval
- 02Complete TX SET / EDI system testing with NEC CR Relations
- 03Exchange 814/820/867/810 transactions for enrollment, meter data, and billing
Want to understand the charges on your bill?
See the Nueces Electric Cooperative Rate Schedules & Tariff Guide →Interval Data & Smart Meters
NEC has deployed AMI metering across its ~19,000 meters, read remotely on a monthly basis with periodic manual verification. Members can view daily and hourly consumption in SmartHub and likely download Green Button data (XML) under My Usage, consistent with the NISC SmartHub platform. For consultants/aggregators, interval data is obtained via Letter of Authorization in Excel (15-minute or hourly).
How to Download Nueces Electric Cooperative Interval Data via Green Button
- 01Log into SmartHub at https://nueceselectric.smarthub.coop/
- 02Open the My Usage / Usage section
- 03Look for a Green Button Download My Data button (standard NISC SmartHub feature)
- 04Select the time period and download the XML (ESPI) file, typically zipped
- 05For consultants, request interval data via Letter of Authorization to receive Excel instead
Interval data is essential for rate comparison and TOU analysis.
See which Nueces Electric Cooperative rate schedule is best for your usage pattern →Third-Party API Access
NEC does not publish a formal developer API or OAuth portal. Programmatic access is limited: the SmartHub (NISC) platform has been unofficially scripted by third-party developers to download 15-minute interval data using member credentials, and certified Retail Electric Providers exchange data via TX SET / EDI. For most C&I consultants, the Letter of Authorization (Excel return) is the practical structured-data path.
How to Register as a Nueces Electric Cooperative API Vendor
- 01For one-off data, obtain a member LOA and request Excel interval/summary data
- 02For ongoing automated access, pursue ERCOT REP certification and NEC CR EDI onboarding
- 03Inquire with NEC CR Relations about any current aggregator partnerships or official API plans
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
Because NEC operates in ERCOT's competitive market, it maintains a robust EDI framework for Competitive Retailers (REPs) under its Tariff for Competitive Retailer Access. NEC uses Texas Standard Electronic Transactions (TX SET) developed by ERCOT for meter data, billing, and move-in/move-out. EDI is available only to ERCOT-certified REPs that complete NEC CR onboarding and system testing; it is not a member-facing data channel.
Supported Nueces Electric Cooperative EDI Transaction Sets
| Code | Name | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 814 | Enrollment / Move-In / Switch | Customer enrollment, move-in/move-out, and switch transactions between REP and NEC. |
| 867 | Meter Usage Data | Transmission of meter reading / consumption data records from NEC to the REP. |
| 810 | Invoice | Invoice submission and validation between NEC and the competitive retailer. |
| 820 | Payment / Remittance | Payment and remittance advice between trading partners. |
How to Enroll in Nueces Electric Cooperative EDI
- 01Register as an ERCOT REP and meet PUCT requirements for retail electric service
- 02Obtain NEC written approval to serve NEC distribution-area members and request the CR Relations guidance package
- 03Complete TX SET / EDI system testing with NEC (move-in, meter data, bill submission, payment)
- 04Use NEC-issued Member IDs for all SET transactions (new move-ins get a unique Member ID; existing switches use the NEC account number with the last two digits removed)
- 05Go live with encrypted EDI over VAN or SFTP per PUCT conduct rules
Rate Schedules & Tariff Analysis
NEC bills separate delivery (distribution) from energy supply. The figures here are the verified NEC delivery tariff: General Service is energy-only delivery at $0.0294/kWh with no demand charge; Large Power Service (35 kW+) shifts to a $5.35/kW demand-based delivery charge (with a $0.15/kW primary-voltage discount and an 85%-of-prior-11-months demand ratchet); and Large Power Over 2 MW adds STEC transmission and distribution-substation pass-throughs on top of a $303/month customer and $0.475/kW distribution demand charge. Energy supply is competitive and billed by the member's REP, so total cost depends on both the NEC delivery schedule and the chosen retail energy contract.
Nueces Electric Cooperative Rate Schedule List
| Schedule | Applicability |
|---|---|
| Large Power Service (203.2) | C&I, peak demand 35 kW or greater |
| General Service (203.1) | Under 35 kW peak demand |
| Large Power Over 2 Megawatts (203.17) | Contract primary-voltage over 2 MW |
| Oil Well Pumping Under 35 kW (203.3) | Oil-well pumping under 35 kW |
Nueces Electric Cooperative Rate Features & TOU Details
- Delivery and energy are unbundled; energy is competitive (ERCOT)
- Demand charges on Large Power use 15-minute peak with an 85% ratchet over 11 months
- Primary-voltage discount of $0.15/kW on Large Power Service
- Power-factor penalty below 95% (97% on the 2 MW schedule)
- T&D per-kWh adjustment $0.018500 (01-2025) plus STEC transmission pass-through for large loads
- Former-AEP-boundary 1.5 cents/kWh transitional charge
For a deeper analysis including cost optimization strategies and historical rate trends:
Read the full Nueces Electric Cooperative Rate Optimization Guide →Other Data Access Programs
Power Usage Alerts
Email notifications when usage crosses configured thresholds, useful for C&I demand monitoring. Configuration requires the web browser version of SmartHub.
- 01Log into SmartHub on the web
- 02Open Power Usage Alerts settings
- 03Set usage thresholds and notification email
Choose a Power Provider (Competitive Supply)
Because NEC operates in ERCOT, members can take energy supply from a competitive Retail Electric Provider, including NEC's own NEC Co-op Energy affiliate. Delivery (distribution) service remains with NEC.
- 01Review available providers at the Choose a Power Provider page
- 02Compare energy supply offers (REPs) separately from NEC delivery charges
- 03Enroll with the chosen REP; NEC continues to deliver power and own the meter
Distributed Generation / Solar Interconnection
NEC maintains an interconnection and net-metering process for member-owned solar and distributed generation.
- 01Review distributed-resources requirements and forms
- 02Submit an interconnection request
- 03Complete approval before energizing the system
Limitations & Considerations
- ⚠No official public developer API or OAuth portal for third-party apps.
- ⚠Green Button Connect My Data (automated OAuth third-party access) is not documented.
- ⚠EDI is restricted to ERCOT-certified Retail Electric Providers, not general consultants.
- ⚠LOA usage requests are limited to the most recent 12 months and returned manually in Excel (1-2 weeks).
- ⚠Native interval granularity (15-minute vs hourly) is not explicitly published.
- ⚠Unofficial SmartHub scripting relies on member credentials and is not a supported integration.
- ⚠For programmatic access, Nectar provides API access to billing and interval data — see docs.nectarclimate.com.
Nueces Electric Cooperative Data Access FAQ
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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