Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) Rate Selection Guide
Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) is Alaska's second-largest member-owned electric cooperative, serving roughly 71,000 members across the Mat-Su region. MEA uses the NISC SmartHub platform with native Green Button Download My Data, giving customers and authorized third parties machine-readable interval usage data, and is economically regulated by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA).
Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-Phase Service | Commercial | $0.10302/kWh + $9.29/kW demand + $30/mo (plus $0.07879/kWh COPA) | Most mid-to-large commercial businesses. |
| Single-Phase Service | Commercial | $0.15025/$0.13511 per kWh + $13/mo (plus $0.07879/kWh COPA) | Small single-phase commercial accounts. |
| Large Power Contract Rate | Industrial | Negotiated; transmission $3.28/kW + $100/mo + generation per tariff | Large industrial loads. |
| EV Three-Phase Service | EV | $0.35771/kWh + $30/mo (plus $0.07879/kWh COPA) | Commercial EV charging stations. |
Market Overview
MEA is a vertically integrated, member-owned electric cooperative economically regulated by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) under CPCN No. 18. Rates are set by the Board and approved by the RCA and reviewed quarterly. There is no competitive retail supplier choice in MEA's territory.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
MEA's 2Q 2026 schedule of rates is effective April 1, 2026, approved by the RCA. Commercial and industrial members are served under Three-Phase Service plus a quarterly Cost of Power Adjustment (COPA) surcharge; large loads use the negotiated Large Power Contract Rate. The dollar figures below are verified from MEA's published 2Q 2026 Rate Sheet.
Effective: April 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three-Phase Service | commercial | Most mid-to-large commercial accounts taking three-phase service. | Facilities charge $30.00/mo; demand charge $9.29/kW; energy charge $0.10302/kWh. Add COPA surcharge $0.07879/kWh. | — |
| Single-Phase Service (small commercial) | commercial | Most residential and small commercial accounts on single-phase service. | Facilities charge $13.00/mo; energy $0.15025/kWh first 1,300 kWh, $0.13511/kWh over 1,300 kWh. Add COPA surcharge $0.07879/kWh. | — |
| Large Power Contract Rate Service | industrial | Large industrial loads served under a written agreement with MEA. | Generation service charges per MEA tariff; transmission $3.28/kW of monthly billing demand plus actual additional transmission costs; distribution case-by-case with a $100.00/mo billing charge. | — |
| Standby and Buyback Service | commercial | Customers with on-site generation requiring standby/buyback service. | Generation demand $14.59/kW of generation billing demand; generation energy $0.04129/kWh delivered; standby reservation demand $23.56/kW; facilities $13.00 (single-phase) or $30.00 (three-phase)/mo. | — |
| EV Charging Station Three-Phase Service | ev | Commercial three-phase electric vehicle charging stations. | Facilities charge $30.00/mo; energy charge $0.35771/kWh. Add COPA surcharge $0.07879/kWh. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Mid-to-large commercial business (three-phase)
Most MEA commercial members take Three-Phase Service, where the $9.29/kW demand charge and the $0.07879/kWh COPA surcharge dominate. Focus on demand management and total energy reduction.
Three-Phase Service is the standard mid-to-large commercial schedule; demand and COPA are the largest controllable cost drivers.
- Use Green Button interval data to find and shave demand peaks.
- Prioritize efficiency since COPA roughly doubles per-kWh savings.
- Track quarterly COPA changes to anticipate bill swings.
Small single-phase commercial account
Small businesses on Single-Phase Service pay tiered energy rates and the COPA surcharge with no demand charge. Reducing total kWh is the main lever.
Single-Phase Service has no demand charge, so total consumption (energy + COPA) drives the bill.
- Shift usage below the 1,300 kWh tier where practical ($0.13511 vs $0.15025/kWh).
- Invest in efficiency to cut both energy and COPA charges.
- Use SmartHub to monitor month-to-date usage.
Large industrial load
Large industrial members should pursue the negotiated Large Power Contract Rate Service, which separates generation, transmission, and case-by-case distribution charges.
For large loads, a negotiated contract rate can be more economical than standard three-phase and aligns transmission cost ($3.28/kW) with actual usage.
- Engage MEA Member/Business Services to negotiate contract terms.
- Manage monthly billing demand to control the $3.28/kW transmission charge.
- Model COPA and generation charges against on-site generation options.
Multi-site energy manager / consultant
MEA's native Green Button support makes portfolio data access straightforward via SmartHub account sharing and ESPI XML exports.
Green Button DMD and SmartHub sharing provide standardized, repeatable data access without a custom API.
- Have each member grant SmartHub account-sharing access up front.
- Pull Green Button XML for hourly (or 15-min RF) interval analysis.
- For automated feeds, contact MEA about aggregator or custom integration.
Historical Rate Trends
MEA reviews rates quarterly. The COPA surcharge moves with fuel and purchased-power costs while base rate changes require Board and RCA approval. Recent quarters have alternated between small increases and decreases.
April 1, 2026
2Q 2026: no base rate change; COPA increased ~3.2%, raising a typical member's bill ~1.09% (about $1.57/mo).
+1.09%January 1, 2026
1Q 2026: 2% base rate increase offset by a 6% COPA decrease, for a small overall decrease (~0.82%, about $1.35/mo).
-0.82%October 1, 2025
4Q 2025: base rates unchanged; COPA decreased ~6%, lowering a typical bill ~2.1% (all-in rate from 25.62 to 25.07 cents/kWh).
-2.1%July 1, 2025
3Q 2025: 3% base rate increase and 12.2% COPA increase, raising a typical bill ~5.7% (about $8.87/mo).
+5.7%Overall trend: 2Q 2026 saw a small overall increase (about +1.09% for a typical member) driven by a 3.2% COPA increase with no base rate change; 1Q 2026 was a slight decrease as a 6% COPA drop more than offset a 2% base rate increase.
Next expected change: Rates are reviewed quarterly; the next COPA adjustment is expected for 3Q 2026 (July 1, 2026).
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because the COPA surcharge ($0.07879/kWh) and the Three-Phase demand charge ($9.29/kW) are the largest variable components of an MEA C&I bill, savings come from cutting total kWh, managing peak demand, and using interval data to target efficiency.
Reduce Total Energy (COPA Leverage)
For: All C&I accounts
Because COPA ($0.07879/kWh) is charged on every kWh, energy-efficiency measures cut both the base energy charge and the COPA surcharge, roughly doubling the effective per-kWh savings.
Peak Demand Management
For: Three-Phase Service accounts
Three-Phase Service bills a $9.29/kW demand charge; staggering startups, peak shaving, or storage lowers monthly billed demand.
Use Green Button Interval Data
For: All members with SmartHub
Export hourly (or 15-minute RF) Green Button data from SmartHub to identify load patterns, base-load waste, and demand spikes for targeted projects.
Net Metering / On-site Generation
For: Members with solar/wind capacity
Distributed generation up to 25 kW (net metering) or 25-100 kW (QF-1) can offset energy and COPA charges; evaluate against Standby/Buyback terms.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a third-party energy manager access my MEA commercial usage data?▾
Yes. The member grants access through SmartHub's account-sharing permissions, or downloads Green Button XML and shares it. MEA has no public developer API, but Green Button ESPI data covers hourly (or 15-minute on RF meters) interval usage. For formal aggregator integration, contact MEA Member Services directly.
What interval granularity does MEA provide for C&I accounts?▾
Standard digital meters provide hourly interval data via Green Button. The RF meter pilot (from Summer 2025) provides 15-minute resolution for participating members. Three-phase commercial accounts can export this data from SmartHub.
How are MEA commercial and industrial rates structured?▾
Most mid-to-large commercial accounts take Three-Phase Service: a $30/month facilities charge, a $9.29/kW demand charge, and a $0.10302/kWh energy charge, plus a Cost of Power Adjustment (COPA) surcharge of $0.07879/kWh (2Q 2026). Large loads can take the negotiated Large Power Contract Rate Service.
How often do MEA rates change?▾
MEA reviews rates quarterly. The Board of Directors and the RCA approve base rate changes, while the COPA surcharge is adjusted each quarter to reflect fuel and purchased-power costs. For 2Q 2026 (effective April 1, 2026), base rates were unchanged and COPA rose about 3.2%.
Is there retail supplier choice for MEA business customers?▾
No. MEA is a member-owned cooperative and the sole electric provider in its territory. There is no competitive retail supplier choice; all C&I customers are served on MEA's RCA-approved tariff.
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