Volunteer Energy Cooperative Data Access Guide
Volunteer Energy Cooperative (VEC) is a non-profit electric cooperative and TVA distributor serving about 128,500 members across 17 southeastern Tennessee counties. It runs the NISC SmartHub platform for billing and usage data, supports Green Button downloads, and offers commercial service under TVA's General Power (GSA) rate schedule.
How to Get Your Volunteer Energy Cooperative Data: All Access Methods
| Method | 1st Party | 3rd Party | Customer Types | Data Types | Latency | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SmartHub Portal | ✓ | — | Residential, C&I | Billing, usage | Real-time/daily | PDF, Web UI |
| Green Button Download My Data | ✓ | ✓ | All (third party via customer) | Interval & billing | Daily | XML (ESPI) |
| SmartHub API (undocumented) | ✓ | ✓ | Technical users | 15-min interval, cost | Daily | JSON |
| Written data request | ✓ | ✓ | All (with authorization) | Billing, usage | 5-10 business days | CSV, PDF |
Billing Data Access
VEC provides billing data through the NISC SmartHub web portal and mobile apps. Customers can view current and historical bills, download PDF statements, and review payment history. There is no formal third-party authorization program; third-party access is handled via Green Button or written data requests.
What Data Is on Your Volunteer Energy Cooperative Bill
- Current bill amount and due date
- Service period dates
- Meter readings
- Rate calculation breakdown
- Billing and payment history
How to Download Volunteer Energy Cooperative Bills (Business & Commercial)
- 01Register the commercial account in SmartHub using the account number
- 02Log in and open Billing History
- 03Select billing periods and download PDF statements
- 04For bulk/machine-readable data use the Green Button export or submit a written data request to Customer Service
How to Download Volunteer Energy Cooperative Bills (Residential)
- 01Visit vec.org and click My VEC Account
- 02Register a new SmartHub user with your VEC account number
- 03Log in at volunteer.smarthub.coop
- 04Open the Billing / My Account section to view and download bills
Third-Party Access to Volunteer Energy Cooperative Billing Data
Customer-shared PDF/CSV export
- 01Customer downloads bills/usage from SmartHub
- 02Customer sends the export to the consultant
Written data request to VEC
- 01Obtain signed customer authorization letter
- 02Submit request to Customer Service (855-940-3927) with account number and date range
- 03VEC verifies and returns data, typically within 5-10 business days
Want to understand the charges on your bill?
See the Volunteer Energy Cooperative Rate Schedules & Tariff Guide →Interval Data & Smart Meters
VEC uses advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) across its territory. Interval usage is viewable in the SmartHub Usage Explorer and exportable via Green Button. Programmatic 15-minute access is possible through the undocumented SmartHub API used by open-source tools.
How to Download Volunteer Energy Cooperative Interval Data via Green Button
- 01Log in at volunteer.smarthub.coop
- 02Open My Usage / Usage Explorer
- 03Click Green Button Download My Data
- 04Select start/end dates (up to ~14 months) and meter
- 05Download the ZIP containing ESPI XML
Interval data is essential for rate comparison and TOU analysis.
See which Volunteer Energy Cooperative rate schedule is best for your usage pattern →Third-Party API Access
VEC has no published official API. Interval data can be retrieved through the reverse-engineered NISC SmartHub usage-polling endpoint, or via Green Button. Formal API/aggregator access requires coordination with VEC IT.
Available Volunteer Energy Cooperative API Endpoints
| Function | Endpoint | Method | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poll interval usage | https://volunteer.smarthub.coop/services/secured/utility-usage/poll | GET | JSON |
How to Register as a Volunteer Energy Cooperative API Vendor
- 01Contact VEC IT (VP of IT, 423-334-7080) to discuss Green Button CMD or API access
- 02Register the application and obtain credentials if supported
- 03Implement OAuth/ESPI or use the reverse-engineered SmartHub endpoint
- 04Pull usage data and store securely
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
How to Enroll in Volunteer Energy Cooperative EDI
Sources
Rate Schedules & Tariff Analysis
VEC C&I bills are governed entirely by TVA's General Power Schedule GSA. The key cost drivers for larger accounts are the demand charge (billed on the highest 30-minute average demand) and the TVA monthly Fuel Cost rider applied to all energy. Demand crosses thresholds at 50 kW and 1,000 kW, moving customers between Parts 1, 2, and 3. Power factor below 0.98 triggers kVA billing, and manufacturers (SIC 20-39) over 1,000 kW receive demand and energy credits.
Volunteer Energy Cooperative Rate Schedule List
| Schedule | Applicability |
|---|---|
| General Power GSA - Part 1 | Demand <=50 kW and <=15,000 kWh/month. |
| General Power GSA - Part 2 | Demand >50-1,000 kW. |
| General Power GSA - Part 3 | Demand >1,000 kW (contract demand <=5,000 kW). |
Volunteer Energy Cooperative Rate Features & TOU Details
- Three demand-based tiers (Parts 1/2/3)
- Seasonal energy pricing (summer/winter/transition)
- Demand billed on highest 30-minute average
- kVA billing penalty when power factor < 0.98
- TVA monthly Fuel Cost added to all energy
- Manufacturing credits for SIC 20-39 over 1,000 kW
For a deeper analysis including cost optimization strategies and historical rate trends:
Read the full Volunteer Energy Cooperative Rate Optimization Guide →Other Data Access Programs
EnergyRight (TVA) C&I Programs
TVA-sponsored energy efficiency and incentive programs available through VEC for commercial and industrial members.
- 01Review VEC Commercial & Industrial energy efficiency page
- 02Contact VEC for program eligibility and incentives
VEC Solar / TVA Solar
Solar program information and TVA solar calculator for members considering distributed generation.
- 01Visit the VEC Solar page
- 02Use the TVA solar calculator to size a system
Limitations & Considerations
- ⚠No formal third-party authorization portal in SmartHub.
- ⚠SmartHub API is undocumented/reverse-engineered, not officially supported.
- ⚠Green Button Connect My Data availability is unconfirmed at VEC.
- ⚠No EDI program.
- ⚠Interval history limited to roughly 12-14 months online.
Volunteer Energy Cooperative Data Access FAQ
How can a C&I customer get interval (15-minute) data from VEC?▾
VEC's AMI meters capture 15-minute interval data. The most reliable self-service route is the Green Button Download My Data export in SmartHub (ESPI XML). For automated 15-minute pulls, technical teams use the undocumented SmartHub usage-polling endpoint (see the open-source electric-usage-downloader). For ongoing programmatic access, contact VEC IT about Green Button Connect My Data.
Does VEC support EDI for billing or meter data?▾
No. As a TVA distribution cooperative with no retail choice, VEC does not operate an ANSI X12 EDI trading-partner program. Structured data exchange is handled through Green Button (ESPI XML), the SmartHub API, or written data requests.
Which rate applies to commercial and industrial accounts?▾
VEC bills C&I accounts under TVA's General Power rate, Schedule GSA. The schedule has three tiers based on demand: Part 1 (50 kW or less and under 15,000 kWh/month), Part 2 (50-1,000 kW), and Part 3 (over 1,000 kW), each with its own customer charge, demand charge, and energy charge. All energy charges are then adjusted by TVA's monthly Fuel Cost.
Can an energy consultant access a member's data on their behalf?▾
VEC's SmartHub does not expose a formal authorized-user feature. Practical options are: the member shares a Green Button export, the member authorizes a Green Button Connect My Data app (if enabled), or you submit a written data request with a signed authorization letter to VEC Customer Service.
How far back does usage and billing history go?▾
Billing history in SmartHub is typically 12-24 months; Green Button usage exports typically cover about 12-14 months. Older data requires a written request to VEC.
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