Cherryland Electric Cooperative Rate Selection Guide
Cherryland Electric Cooperative is a member-regulated Michigan cooperative serving roughly 38,000 customers across the northwestern Lower Peninsula. Members download Green Button ESPI XML interval data (up to 14 months) through SmartHub, and the cooperative's Informed Member Consent process provides a documented — if manual — path for third-party data access. A Sensus wireless AMI upgrade (2024-2026) is improving data frequency, but there is no EDI, API, or Connect My Data.
Market Overview
As a member-regulated utility under Michigan PA 167, Cherryland's rates are governed by its member-elected board rather than full MPSC regulation, and the cooperative provides monopoly distribution service with no retail choice. Rate books are published through the Michigan PSC site.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Cherryland Electric Cooperative Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
Cherryland Electric Cooperative serves the Traverse City region with wholesale power from Wolverine Power Cooperative, with rates filed in the MPSC member-regulated rate book. Rate classes include Residential, Residential Time of Use, Large Power Time of Day, Large Commercial & Industrial, and Primary Service Distribution Substation. The board approved a two-phase rate change: April 2025 usage added $2.50 to the availability charge and $0.005/kWh to energy, and January 2026 usage added another $2.00 and $0.005/kWh. Commercial demand and energy figures are published in the MPSC rate book — see tariff for current rates.
Effective: January 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large Commercial & Industrial | commercial | Demand-metered commercial and industrial members — typically loads of 50 kW and above in the Traverse City area. | Monthly availability charge, per-kW demand charge on maximum 15-minute demand, and per-kWh energy charges; the 2025/2026 phased increases added $0.01/kWh total to energy charges across classes. See the MPSC rate book for current figures. | —+ Per-kW on maximum demand — see rate book |
| Large Power Time of Day | industrial | Large power members able to shift consumption away from Cherryland's peak windows. | Time-differentiated demand and energy charges aligned to Wolverine peak power supply hours (summer 2-6 p.m. May-September; winter 5-9 p.m. October-April). See the MPSC rate book for current figures. | — |
| Primary Service Distribution Substation | industrial | Very large loads taking delivery at primary/substation voltage and owning their transformation equipment. | Reduced delivery charges reflecting primary-voltage service, with demand and energy components per the rate book; member provides and maintains transforming and protective equipment. See tariff for current rates. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Resort, hotel, or large hospitality property
Northern Michigan's tourism economy puts resorts and hotels on Large Commercial & Industrial or even custom service agreements (Cherryland has filed special schedules for major resort loads).
Hospitality load peaks in summer afternoons — exactly Cherryland's 2-6 p.m. on-peak window when Wolverine power supply costs spike. Time-of-day service rewards shifting pool, laundry, and water-heating load out of that window; very large properties should discuss custom service agreements.
- Pre-cool common areas before 2 p.m. in summer to ride through the peak window.
- Run laundry and pool heating overnight or morning hours.
- Properties with large, steady loads should ask Cherryland about primary-voltage or negotiated service options.
Food processing or agricultural operation
Cherry processing, wineries, and agribusiness around Grand Traverse take demand-metered Large C&I service where refrigeration-driven peaks set the bill.
Seasonal processing campaigns concentrate demand in late summer. Demand charges bill the maximum 15-minute interval, so compressor sequencing and thermal storage flatten peaks; Time of Day service pays off when chilling can run off-peak.
- Sequence compressor and chiller starts at the beginning of processing shifts.
- Consider chilled water/ice storage to move cooling load out of the 2-6 p.m. summer peak.
- Pull interval data from SmartHub to verify peak timing before committing to the time-of-day schedule.
Small commercial — retail, office, restaurant
Smaller businesses below demand-metering thresholds take standard general service rates, where the 2025/2026 phased increases raised both the availability charge and energy rate.
With $0.01/kWh of cumulative energy increases phased in by January 2026, efficiency paybacks improved. Cherryland offers free energy assessments that identify the fastest wins for small members.
- Book Cherryland's free energy assessment — it's the cheapest audit you'll get.
- Confirm your rate class on the back of your bill under 'Rate' and ask member services if usage has changed materially.
- Watch demand growth: crossing into demand-metered service changes your optimization playbook.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Cherryland members cut costs by analyzing Green Button interval data, setting SmartHub usage budgets, and capturing the cooperative's business rebates of up to $15,000 per project.
Capture business efficiency rebates
For: Business / C&I members
Custom rebates up to $15,000 per project for qualifying business efficiency upgrades — contact Shannon Beery at (231) 486-9218 to scope eligible measures before investing.
Analyze interval data via Green Button
For: All members with SmartHub access
Export up to 14 months of ESPI XML and analyze load shape against weather-adjusted comparisons to find scheduling and base-load savings.
Set SmartHub usage budgets and alerts
For: Residential and commercial members
Usage budgets with alerts flag overconsumption mid-cycle, letting facilities correct equipment schedules before the bill lands.
Plan around the AMI upgrade
For: All members
The Sensus wireless AMI rollout (complete by 2026) increases data frequency in SmartHub — revisit data-driven energy management once the new meters reach your accounts.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Cherryland Electric Cooperative interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get interval data from Cherryland Electric Cooperative?▾
Log into SmartHub at https://cecelec.smarthub.coop/, open the My Usage tab, and click Green Button Download My Data. Select up to 14 months of history and download a ZIP containing ESPI-compliant XML that loads into any Green Button-compatible analysis tool.
How does a consultant get authorized access to a member's Cherryland data?▾
Through the Informed Member Consent process — Cherryland's documented third-party path. The member completes a written consent form (account number, third-party name, data scope, duration, purpose), signs it, and submits it to info@cherrylandelectric.coop or PO Box 298, Grawn, MI 49637. Cherryland then transfers the data as PDF, CSV/Excel, or Green Button XML, typically within 5-10 business days. Transfers are one-time; renew consent for ongoing access.
Does Cherryland support EDI or an API?▾
No. There is no EDI trading partner program (no 814/820/867 transactions), no public API or OAuth framework, and no aggregator integrations. As a member-regulated cooperative with no retail choice and wholesale supply through Wolverine Power Cooperative, EDI isn't part of its market model. Large C&I customers can discuss custom interchange case-by-case at (231) 486-9200.
What metering technology does Cherryland use?▾
Cherryland is deploying Sensus (Xylem) wireless two-way RF smart meters from 2024 through 2026, replacing a 2008 power-line communication system. The new FlexNet platform uses end-to-end encryption and delivers more frequent SmartHub updates plus remote disconnect/reconnect for nearly all members.
What efficiency incentives are available for Cherryland business members?▾
Business members can access custom rebates up to $15,000 per project, energy efficiency programs, renewable energy options, and economic development loans. Contact Shannon Beery at (231) 486-9218 or sbeery@cherrylandelectric.coop to scope eligible measures.
What does Nectar's roadmap support level mean for Cherryland?▾
Cherryland is on Nectar's roadmap: automated ingestion is planned but not yet productized. Today, Nectar can ingest member-downloaded Green Button XML, billing PDFs from SmartHub, or data delivered through the Informed Member Consent process while native support is built.
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