Mountain View Electric Association Rate Selection Guide
Mountain View Electric Association (MVEA) is a member-owned electric cooperative serving roughly 64,000 members across 5,000 square miles of Colorado. Member usage and interval data are available through the NISC SmartHub portal with Green Button download support, and the cooperative is transitioning to demand-based and time-of-day rate options in 2026.
Mountain View Electric Association Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Power Rate (18.60) | commercial | $114.35/mo grid access + $0.05437/kWh + $19.33/kVA demand | Commercial/industrial loads >= 25 kVA |
| Commercial Demand Rate | commercial | Energy + demand charge on peak hour (rates pending) | Members with steady, manageable demand |
| Time-of-Day Rate | commercial | On-peak 5-9 p.m. M-F vs off-peak (rates pending) | Members able to shift load off-peak |
Market Overview
MVEA is a not-for-profit electric cooperative governed by a member-elected board, not the Colorado PUC. It purchases roughly 60% of its wholesale power from Tri-State Generation & Transmission. There is no competitive retail supplier choice; all C&I members take service under board-approved tariffs.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Mountain View Electric Association Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
MVEA's Board approved an 8.5% rate increase across all classes effective with January 2026 usage (bills due February 2026). Commercial and industrial members with loads at or above 25 kVA take service under the Large Power Rate. Beginning with October 2026 usage (billed November), MVEA is introducing member-selectable Demand, Time-of-Day, and Flat rate plans, with the Demand Rate as default.
Effective: January 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large Power Rate (18.60) | commercial | Members whose load requirements meet or exceed 25 kVA; single- and three-phase service. | Grid Access $114.35/month; Energy $0.05437/kWh; Demand $19.33 per kVA (max 15-minute integrated kVA demand). Effective Jan 1, 2026. | — |
| Commercial Demand Rate (default, 2026) | commercial | Default rate plan for commercial members beginning with October 2026 usage. | Separates energy cost from a demand charge based on the highest one-hour period of use, Monday-Friday. Specific per-unit charges to be published by MVEA. | — |
| Time-of-Day Rate (optional, 2026) | commercial | Optional plan for members who can shift load off-peak. | On-peak hours 5-9 p.m. Monday-Friday; weekends and holidays off-peak. Per-unit on/off-peak pricing to be published by MVEA. | — |
| Flat Rate (optional, 2026) | commercial | Optional plan with no demand charge or time-of-use pricing. | Single higher energy rate with no demand or on/off-peak differentiation; simpler but higher cost. Per-unit charge to be published by MVEA. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Mid-size commercial facility (>= 25 kVA)
Take service under the Large Power Rate and actively manage the 15-minute demand peak that drives the $19.33/kVA charge.
With a low $0.05437/kWh energy charge, demand is the dominant cost component, so peak management yields the largest savings.
- Pull Green Button 15-minute data monthly to find peak intervals.
- Stagger HVAC and large-motor start-up.
- Evaluate power factor correction.
C&I member exploring 2026 rate options
Compare the default Demand Rate against the optional Time-of-Day and Flat plans before October 2026 using historical interval data.
The right plan depends on load shape; members able to shift load off the 5-9 p.m. window may benefit from Time-of-Day.
- Export SmartHub interval data to model each plan.
- Identify load that can move off-peak.
- Default Demand Rate applies if no election is made.
Large building owner / portfolio
Use the Building Energy Use Benchmarking program for HB21-1286 reporting and engage Key Accounts for custom data delivery.
Whole-building data and benchmarking support compliance and identify efficiency opportunities across a portfolio.
- Email benchmarking@mvea.coop with authorization.
- Use a 4+ tenant building for whole-building aggregation.
- Submit via ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
Energy consultant / aggregator
Onboard MVEA members via Green Button Connect My Data or a national aggregator for automated ESPI data.
MVEA lacks a proprietary API and EDI, so Green Button CMD / aggregators are the supported programmatic path.
- Register for Green Button CMD with NISC SmartHub.
- Use Nectar's API for programmatic coverage — see docs.nectarclimate.com.
- Plan for annual member re-authorization.
Historical Rate Trends
MVEA adjusts rates through its member-elected board. The most recent change is an 8.5% increase across all rate classes effective with January 2026 usage, driven by rising wholesale power costs from Tri-State G&T.
January 1, 2026
Board-approved 8.5% increase across all rate classes, effective with January 2026 usage (bills due February 2026).
+8.5%Overall trend: Upward, reflecting wholesale power-cost pressure and a 2026 shift toward demand-based rate design.
Next expected change: Rate-plan restructuring (Demand / Time-of-Day / Flat) effective with October 2026 usage, billed November 2026.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because MVEA commercial bills are dominated by a per-kVA demand charge, C&I members save most by flattening their load profile and managing peak demand. SmartHub interval data and the 2026 time-of-day option create additional optimization levers.
Demand (kVA) management
For: Large Power Rate members (>= 25 kVA)
Stagger equipment start-up and avoid coincident peaks to lower the maximum 15-minute integrated kVA demand that sets the $19.33/kVA charge.
Power factor correction
For: Facilities with inductive load / low power factor
Improve power factor so billed kVA approaches actual kW, reducing demand charges billed on kVA.
Load shifting to off-peak
For: Members able to shift load
Under the optional 2026 Time-of-Day Rate, move discretionary load out of the 5-9 p.m. weekday on-peak window using SmartHub interval data to verify results.
Interval-data-driven monitoring
For: All C&I members
Use Green Button 15-minute data and SmartHub Usage Explorer to identify demand spikes and verify efficiency measures.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Mountain View Electric Association interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a C&I member get 15-minute interval data from MVEA?▾
Use Green Button Download My Data in SmartHub for 15-minute ESPI XML (up to 14 months), or authorize a third party through Green Button Connect My Data for automated ESPI access. The SmartHub Usage Explorer CSV export provides hourly resolution only.
Does MVEA support a third-party API for energy consultants?▾
MVEA has no proprietary public API. Consultants access member data via Green Button Connect My Data (OAuth/ESPI) through NISC SmartHub after member authorization, or via Nectar, which provides API access to this utility's billing and interval data — see docs.nectarclimate.com.
Does MVEA offer EDI billing for commercial accounts?▾
No. MVEA does not maintain a published EDI trading partner program. Commercial customers needing automated billing exchange should contact Business Services at (719) 775-2861 and use Green Button / SmartHub API or Nectar's API (docs.nectarclimate.com) as the EDI alternative.
How does a large building owner get benchmarking data for Colorado HB21-1286?▾
Email benchmarking@mvea.coop with the account number, property address, and authorization. MVEA applies a 4-tenant aggregation threshold and delivers monthly or annual kWh (15-minute on request) within 14 days for ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager submission.
What rate applies to a commercial member with demand over 25 kVA?▾
Loads at or above 25 kVA take service under the Large Power Rate, which separates a fixed grid-access charge, a per-kWh energy charge, and a per-kVA demand charge based on the maximum 15-minute integrated demand during the billing period.
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