Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative Rate Selection Guide
Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC) is a member-owned electric cooperative serving over 100,000 meters across 13 counties in South Central Texas. As a cooperative that opted out of ERCOT retail competition, GVEC provides bundled electric service with customer billing and usage data delivered through the NISC-powered MyGVEC portal and a commercial WattWatch portal offering 15-minute interval data.
Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-3 Three Phase | Commercial | $62 SAC + $0.006/kWh delivery + $0.085/kWh G&T + tiered demand | Three-phase C&I under 250 kW |
| G-4 Large Power | Industrial | $150 SAC + $0.0035/kWh delivery + $4.20/$3.70 per kW demand + wholesale G&T | 250 kW - 1,000 kW loads |
| G-5 Large Power | Industrial | $500 SAC + $0.0035/kWh delivery + $3.70/$3.45 per kW demand + wholesale G&T | Loads over 1,000 kW |
Market Overview
As a Texas electric cooperative that opted out of retail competition, GVEC is not part of the ERCOT competitive retail market. Members receive bundled service at cooperative rates approved by the GVEC board of directors. There is no competitive supplier choice and no community choice aggregation.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
GVEC's published commercial and industrial rates (general information, subject to change) bundle a Service Availability Charge, a per-kWh Delivery Charge, a tiered Demand Charge based on the maximum 15-minute kW in the billing cycle, and a Generation & Transmission charge. Smaller C&I loads pay a fixed $0.085/kWh G&T charge; large-power classes (G-4, G-5) pay G&T as a direct pass-through of wholesale cost.
Effective: January 1, 2025 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-3 Three Phase (Under 250 kW) | commercial | Three-phase commercial/industrial accounts with demand under 250 kW. | Service Availability Charge $62.00/mo; Delivery Charge $0.00600/kWh; Demand Charge first 10 kW $2.00, next 90 kW $5.50, over 100 kW $4.00 per kW; Generation & Transmission $0.085/kWh. | $0.085/kWh G&T + $0.00600/kWh delivery+ $2.00/$5.50/$4.00 per kW (tiered) |
| G-4 Large Power (250 kW - 1,000 kW) | industrial | Large-power commercial/industrial accounts with demand between 250 kW and 1,000 kW. | Service Availability Charge $150.00/mo; Delivery Charge $0.00350/kWh; Demand Charge first 250 kW $4.20, over 250 kW $3.70 per kW; Generation & Transmission direct pass-through of wholesale cost. | $0.00350/kWh delivery + G&T pass-through+ $4.20 / $3.70 per kW (tiered) |
| G-5 Large Power (Over 1,000 kW) | industrial | Large-power industrial accounts with demand over 1,000 kW. | Service Availability Charge $500.00/mo; Delivery Charge $0.00350/kWh; Demand Charge first 2,000 kW $3.70, over 2,000 kW $3.45 per kW; Generation & Transmission direct pass-through of wholesale cost. | $0.00350/kWh delivery + G&T pass-through+ $3.70 / $3.45 per kW (tiered) |
| Commercial Time-of-Use | commercial | Members electing time-of-use billing; rate class assigned by GVEC based on monthly kW demand. | Time-differentiated energy pricing. Specific rates assigned at service setup; contact Commercial Accounts. See GVEC tariff for current values. | Varies by period+ Per assigned class |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Small commercial / three-phase facility (under 250 kW)
Three-phase shops, retail and light-industrial sites under 250 kW fall in the G-3 class with a $0.085/kWh G&T component and tiered demand charges.
G-3 fits sub-250 kW demand. The steep $5.50/kW middle demand tier (10-100 kW) makes peak control the biggest savings lever.
- Use WattWatch/Usage Explorer to find the 15-minute peak driving the demand tier
- Stagger startup of large motors/HVAC to avoid coincident peaks
- Target the 10-100 kW tier where demand costs the most
Mid-size industrial plant (250 kW - 1,000 kW)
Manufacturers and large facilities between 250 kW and 1,000 kW take G-4, where generation is a direct wholesale pass-through and demand runs $4.20/$3.70 per kW.
G-4's $0.00350/kWh delivery and wholesale G&T pass-through reward load-factor improvement and demand management.
- Request WattWatch 15-minute data to model demand
- Shift flexible load off coincident peaks to cut the $4.20/kW first tier
- Evaluate Peak-Time Payback enrollment for demand response revenue
Large industrial load (over 1,000 kW)
Very large loads over 1,000 kW take G-5, the lowest demand tiers ($3.70/$3.45 per kW) with a $500/mo service availability charge and wholesale G&T pass-through.
G-5 offers the lowest per-kW demand pricing, so improving load factor and shaving the 15-minute peak yields the largest absolute savings.
- Continuously monitor WattWatch 15-minute demand
- Consider battery storage (GVEC X Base Power) for peak shaving
- Coordinate maintenance to avoid setting a new monthly demand peak
Facility pursuing demand response revenue
C&I members with curtailable load can stack Peak-Time Payback and the battery program on top of any G-class rate to offset demand charges.
Because demand charges are set by a single 15-minute peak, even occasional curtailment during called events reduces both demand cost and exposure.
- Enroll eligible meters in Peak-Time Payback
- Pair battery storage to automate peak shaving
- Use interval data to verify event performance
Historical Rate Trends
GVEC's C&I rate schedules (G-3, G-4, G-5) were updated effective January 1, 2025, with the broader tariff effective November 1, 2025. As a cooperative, generation/transmission cost changes flow to members through the G&T charge (fixed for G-3) or direct wholesale pass-through (G-4/G-5).
January 1, 2025
Updated G-4 and G-5 large-power rate schedules took effect.
VariesNovember 1, 2025
GVEC Tariff for Electric Service effective date.
N/AOverall trend: Cooperative rates have remained relatively stable, supported by GVEC's A-/A+ credit ratings and diversified wholesale power procurement; G&T cost is the main variable for large-power members.
Next expected change: Subject to board approval; G&T pass-through for G-4/G-5 varies with wholesale market cost
Cost Optimization Strategies
For GVEC C&I members the dominant levers are the tiered demand charge (set by the single highest 15-minute kW each cycle) and, for G-4/G-5, exposure to wholesale generation cost. Peak management, load-factor improvement and demand-response participation drive the most savings.
15-minute peak management
For: G-3, G-4, G-5
Use WattWatch interval data to identify and flatten the maximum 15-minute kW that sets the monthly demand charge.
Demand response (Peak-Time Payback)
For: Curtailable C&I load
Curtail load during called peak events to earn credits and avoid setting new demand peaks.
Battery peak shaving
For: Facilities with predictable peaks
Deploy storage via the GVEC X Base Power program to discharge during peaks and shave demand.
Load-factor improvement
For: G-4, G-5
Spread production/HVAC load more evenly to raise load factor and dilute fixed and demand costs per kWh.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a C&I customer get 15-minute interval data from GVEC?▾
Commercial and large-power members request access to the WattWatch portal from a GVEC Commercial Accounts Representative at 800-223-4832. WattWatch displays 15-minute interval readings and demand profiles; export availability depends on the portal version. There is no Green Button or automated API.
Does GVEC support Green Button or a data API for third parties?▾
No. GVEC has no Green Button Download My Data, Connect My Data / ESPI, or official public API. A consultant or aggregator obtains data through a manual letter of authorization: the member authorizes access by phone, the third party submits a written request, and GVEC delivers data (PDF/email) in about 5-10 business days.
How are GVEC commercial demand charges calculated?▾
Demand charges for G-3, G-4 and G-5 accounts are based on the maximum kilowatts metered during any single 15-minute interval in the billing cycle, then priced in tiers (for example G-3 charges $2.00/kW for the first 10 kW, $5.50/kW for the next 90 kW, and $4.00/kW over 100 kW). Managing that 15-minute peak is the main way to lower the bill.
Which GVEC rate class applies to my business?▾
GVEC assigns the rate class based on your overall monthly kilowatt demand: G-3 for three-phase loads under 250 kW, G-4 for 250-1,000 kW, and G-5 for loads over 1,000 kW. GVEC meets with new C&I members to select the class; contact Commercial Accounts at 800-223-4832.
Can my business shop for a competitive electricity supplier on GVEC?▾
No. GVEC is a member-owned cooperative that opted out of ERCOT retail competition, so there is no competitive retail provider choice. Members receive bundled service at cooperative rates approved by the GVEC board.
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