Great Lakes Energy Cooperative Rate Selection Guide
Great Lakes Energy is Michigan's largest member-owned electric cooperative, serving 132,252 members across 26 counties. As a member-owned cooperative without retail choice, GLE sets board-approved rates filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission and delivers billing and usage data through the NISC SmartHub portal.
Great Lakes Energy Cooperative Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule GS | Commercial general service | Fixed monthly + per-kWh energy + PSCR + EO surcharge (see rate book) | Smaller commercial accounts |
| Schedule LP | Large power (demand-metered) | Fixed monthly + per-kW demand (15-min) + per-kWh energy (see rate book) | Larger commercial/industrial loads |
| Schedule F-INT-APM | Interruptible C&I | Reduced demand/energy for curtailable load (see rate book) | C&I able to curtail during peaks |
| Schedule PSDS | Primary service | Primary-voltage demand/energy (see rate book) | Members taking primary voltage |
Market Overview
GLE is a member-owned cooperative without retail electric choice for its members. It provides bundled distribution and energy at board-approved rates filed with the MPSC. Rate and tariff changes are adopted under Michigan Public Act 167 of 2008.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Great Lakes Energy Cooperative Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
Great Lakes Energy's rates are board-approved and filed with the MPSC in its full tariff rate book. C&I members take Schedule GS (General Service) or Schedule LP (Large Power Service), with specialized Automated Power Monitoring schedules (D-APM, interruptible F-INT-APM, and on-site-generation GS-APM) and Primary Service (PSDS) options. LP and demand schedules bill a per-kW demand charge based on the highest 15-minute average demand each month, plus a per-kWh energy charge, a fixed monthly charge, a Power Supply Cost Recovery component, and a state Energy Optimization surcharge. Current per-kW and per-kWh figures are published in the rate book (current edition dated 2026-04); historically, GLE has illustrated its LP demand charge in member materials (e.g., $18.00/kW with $0.06182/kWh energy in a 2020 brochure) - C&I members should consult the current rate book for exact figures.
Effective: January 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule GS - General Service | commercial | Smaller commercial and industrial members not qualifying for Large Power. See rate book Sheet D-10.00. | Fixed monthly charge plus per-kWh energy charge, Power Supply Cost Recovery, and Energy Optimization surcharge. Per-kWh figures set in the current tariff rate book. | — |
| Schedule LP - Large Power Service | industrial | Larger commercial and industrial loads. See rate book Sheet D-11.00. | Fixed monthly charge, per-kW demand charge based on highest 15-minute average demand, per-kWh energy charge, Power Supply Cost Recovery, and Energy Optimization surcharge. Demand and energy figures set in the current tariff rate book (demand charges increased effective late 2025/Jan 2026). | — |
| Schedule D-APM - Commercial & Industrial (Automated Power Monitoring) | industrial | Commercial and industrial loads with automated power monitoring. See rate book Sheet D-13.00. | Demand and energy charges with automated monitoring provisions; figures in the current tariff rate book. | — |
| Schedule F-INT-APM - Interruptible C&I (Automated Power Monitoring) | industrial | Interruptible commercial and industrial loads with automated power monitoring. See rate book Sheet D-14.00. | Interruptible demand and energy pricing in exchange for curtailment commitments; figures in the current tariff rate book. | — |
| Schedule GS-APM - C&I On-Site Generation (Supplemental & Standby) | industrial | Commercial and industrial members with on-site generation needing supplemental and standby service. See rate book Sheet D-15.00. | Supplemental and standby demand/energy charges; figures in the current tariff rate book. | — |
| Schedule PSDS - Primary Service Rate | industrial | Qualifying members taking primary-voltage service (PSDS, PSDS-1, PSDS-2). See rate book Sheets D-16.00 to D-16.08. | Primary-service demand and energy charges; figures in the current tariff rate book. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Small/mid commercial facility
Retail, office, or small commercial loads on Schedule GS.
GS bills on a fixed monthly plus per-kWh energy with PSCR and EO surcharge; reducing kWh and using rebates offsets the 2026 energy/EO increases.
- Track monthly kWh in SmartHub
- Apply Energy Wise rebates
- Use Consumer Analytics to find high-use end uses
Larger commercial / industrial with demand
Demand-metered loads on Schedule LP.
LP adds a per-kW demand charge on the highest 15-minute average demand, which the 2025/2026 changes increased; peak management is the main lever.
- Flatten the 15-minute peak
- Stagger startups
- Validate billed demand against the current rate book
Flexible / curtailable industrial load
Loads able to interrupt or with on-site generation.
Interruptible (F-INT-APM), on-site-generation (GS-APM), and primary-service (PSDS) schedules can lower demand/energy cost for qualifying members.
- Assess curtailment capability
- Model interruptible vs firm cost
- Evaluate primary-service economics
Multi-site data integration
Energy managers consolidating GLE accounts where interval data is limited.
With AMR metering and no public API, data integration relies on member-authorized monthly exports and manual collection.
- Use member-authorized CSV exports
- Request hourly data where available
- Monitor Michigan PSC U-20959 for future data-sharing rules
Historical Rate Trends
GLE adjusts rates by board action filed with the MPSC, plus an ongoing Power Supply Cost Recovery clause. The most recent change was adopted Sept. 17, 2025.
November 1, 2025
Board-approved increase to per-kWh and monthly charges for all rate classes and increased demand charges for applicable C&I classes (adopted Sept. 17, 2025). Residential energy +$0.01040/kWh and fixed monthly +$6.88.
n/aJanuary 1, 2026
State-mandated Energy Optimization surcharge increase of $0.00118/kWh effective with bills rendered on or after Jan. 1, 2026.
+$0.00118/kWh (EO surcharge)Overall trend: Rising. The 2025 board action produced a net increase across all rate classes, driven by an estimated $155 million in ice-storm damage and rising supply, infrastructure, and operating costs.
Next expected change: No specific date published; future changes occur by board action filed with the MPSC. Michigan PSC Case U-20959 may also drive data-sharing requirements.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because GLE demand-metered schedules bill on the highest 15-minute average demand and energy/EO charges rose for 2026, C&I optimization centers on flattening peak demand, evaluating interruptible and primary-service options, and using efficiency rebates.
Reduce 15-minute peak demand
For: Schedule LP and APM demand-metered members
Stagger equipment startups and limit simultaneous large loads to lower the highest 15-minute average demand that sets the monthly demand charge.
Evaluate interruptible service (F-INT-APM)
For: C&I members with curtailable load
Loads that can curtail during peaks may qualify for reduced interruptible demand/energy pricing.
Consider primary service (PSDS)
For: Large members able to take primary service
Taking service at primary voltage may lower delivery costs for qualifying large members.
Use Energy Wise rebates and Consumer Analytics
For: All C&I members
Apply efficiency rebates and use disaggregation insights to cut kWh and offset rising energy and EO charges.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Great Lakes Energy Cooperative interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we get interval (15-minute) data for a commercial account at GLE?▾
Generally no. GLE uses Automatic Meter Reading (AMR), which records monthly usage rather than sub-hourly intervals. Hourly data may be available only by special request, and GLE may decline if its systems do not support it. Most analysis relies on monthly usage and the Consumer Analytics disaggregation tool.
How does a third-party consultant access our GLE billing and usage data?▾
There is no formal third-party data portal. The member must submit a written authorization to GLE (1-888-485-2537 or glenergy@glenergy.com) naming the consultant. GLE can then deliver a custom CSV/PDF export, typically within 5-10 business days. Sharing SmartHub login credentials is not recommended.
How are commercial demand charges calculated at GLE?▾
Commercial and Large Power schedules bill a demand charge per kW based on the member's highest 15-minute average demand recorded during the billing month, which resets each cycle. Demand charges recover transmission and distribution capacity costs. Current per-kW demand and energy rates are set in the GLE tariff rate book; the board increased demand charges for applicable rate classes effective with the November 2025 / January 2026 changes.
Which rate schedule applies to our facility?▾
Smaller commercial loads take Schedule GS (General Service); larger loads take Schedule LP (Large Power Service), with specialized Automated Power Monitoring schedules (D-APM, F-INT-APM interruptible, and GS-APM on-site generation) and Primary Service (PSDS) options for qualifying C&I members. Exact applicability and rates are in the tariff rate book.
Why did GLE rates increase for 2026?▾
On Sept. 17, 2025 the GLE Board approved a net increase across all rate classes to offset an estimated $155 million in ice-storm damage plus rising energy supply, infrastructure, and operating costs. Residential energy rates rose $0.01040/kWh, the fixed monthly charge rose $6.88, and the state-mandated Energy Optimization surcharge rose $0.00118/kWh (effective Jan. 1, 2026). Demand charges increased for applicable C&I rate classes.
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