Nashville Electric Service Rate Selection Guide
Nashville Electric Service (NES) is one of the largest public power utilities in the United States, serving Nashville and Davidson County. As a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) distributor, NES has no retail choice; rates derive from TVA wholesale schedules plus local distribution charges, and the utility has deployed AMI smart meters across its territory.
Nashville Electric Service Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSA-1 | commercial | Demand $5.34/kW first 50 kW + TVA energy + FCA | Small commercial sites under 50 kW |
| GSA-2 | commercial | Demand + energy per GSA-2 tariff (50-1,000 kW) | Mid-size commercial/light industrial |
| GSA-3 | industrial | Per GSA-3 tariff; Small Mfg Credit for SIC 2000-3999 | Large commercial / smaller manufacturers (1,000-5,000 kW) |
| LGS / LMS | industrial | Large-load energy + demand per published PDFs | Industrial and manufacturing loads above 5,000 kW |
| TGSA | commercial | Time-of-day energy/demand | Customers able to shift load off-peak |
Market Overview
NES operates in a fully regulated, vertically integrated market with no retail choice. NES is a municipal distributor of power purchased wholesale from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Retail rates are set by the NES Board within the framework of TVA's wholesale rate structure and seasonal/time-of-use pricing; there are no competitive retail electric suppliers in the service territory.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Nashville Electric Service Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
NES commercial and industrial customers are served under TVA-derived General Power (GSA-1/2/3), Large General Service (LGS-1/2/3), Large Manufacturing Service (LMS), and Time-of-Day (TGSA) schedules, tiered by demand. Verified figures: the demand charge for GSA-1 and GSA-2 customers is $5.34 per kW for the first 50 kW (demand above 50 kW priced per GSA-2/GSA-3 tariffs); a Small Manufacturing Credit for GSA-3 customers with SIC codes 2000-3999 applies $0.01076/kWh, $1.38/kW for the first 1,000 kW, and $1.63/kW above 1,000 kW. Energy charges include a monthly TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA), which was 2.997 cents/kWh for May 2026. Specific per-kWh energy and per-kW demand figures by schedule are published in the NES rate schedule PDFs.
Effective: May 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSA-1 General Power | commercial | Commercial customers with demand less than or equal to 50 kW. | Customer/service charge plus TVA-based energy charge; demand charge of $5.34 per kW for the first 50 kW. Seasonal pricing (summer, winter, transitional) plus monthly Fuel Cost Adjustment. | — |
| GSA-2 General Power | commercial | Commercial customers with demand greater than 50 kW and up to 1,000 kW. | Energy plus demand charges; $5.34 per kW for the first 50 kW with demand above 50 kW priced per GSA-2 tariff. Seasonal and Fuel Cost Adjustment components apply. | — |
| GSA-3 General Power | commercial | Commercial/industrial customers with demand greater than 1,000 kW and up to 5,000 kW. | Energy and demand charges per GSA-3 tariff. Eligible manufacturers (SIC 2000-3999) receive the Small Manufacturing Credit ($0.01076/kWh, $1.38/kW first 1,000 kW, $1.63/kW above). | — |
| LGS-1/2/3 Large General Service | industrial | Large customers with demand greater than 5,000 kW (tiered: 5,000-15,000 kW, 15,000-25,000 kW, and above 25,000 kW). | TVA-based energy and demand charges for large loads; figures published in the NES LGS rate schedule PDF. | — |
| LMS-1/2/3 Large Manufacturing Service | industrial | Large manufacturers above 5,000 kW (tiered as with LGS). | Manufacturing-specific energy and demand pricing; figures published in the NES manufacturing rate schedule PDF. | — |
| TGSA Time-of-Day General Power | commercial | Commercial customers electing time-of-day pricing (tiered by demand up to 5,000 kW). | Time-differentiated energy/demand charges to reward off-peak usage; figures in the NES TGSA rate schedule PDF. | — |
| EVC Electric Vehicle Charging | ev | Commercial EV charging loads greater than 50 kW but not more than 5,000 kW. | Optional commercial rate designed for EV charging stations; figures in the NES EVC rate schedule PDF. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Mid-size commercial office or retail (50-1,000 kW)
Standard GSA-2 service with active demand management.
GSA-2 fits the 50-1,000 kW band; demand charges (highest 30-minute interval) are the main lever, so peak control yields the biggest savings.
- Use MyAccount usage data to find peak periods
- Stagger HVAC and large equipment startup
- Confirm interval data via Nectar's API (docs.nectarclimate.com) for load analysis
Manufacturer 1,000-5,000 kW (SIC 2000-3999)
GSA-3 service with the Small Manufacturing Credit applied.
Qualifying manufacturers receive a meaningful per-kWh and per-kW credit; verifying SIC eligibility and credit application directly reduces cost.
- Confirm SIC code 2000-3999 eligibility with NES
- Ensure the Small Manufacturing Credit appears on bills
- File tax exemption certificate per location
Large industrial load above 5,000 kW
LGS or LMS large-load service with TVA-coordinated demand strategy.
Loads above 5,000 kW move to LGS/LMS tiers; engaging TVA EnergyRight and demand response can offset high demand charges.
- Engage NES commercial team (615-747-3775)
- Evaluate TVA demand response and efficiency incentives
- Negotiate standby service terms if self-generating
Fleet / commercial EV charging operator
EVC schedule for dedicated charging loads 50-5,000 kW.
The EVC optional rate is purpose-built for EV charging demand profiles and may be more favorable than standard GSA for high-variability charging loads.
- Compare EVC vs. GSA-2/3 for your load profile
- Schedule charging off-peak where possible
- Review the EVC rate schedule PDF for current charges
Historical Rate Trends
NES retail rates track TVA wholesale rate changes plus periodic local adjustments. The monthly Fuel Cost Adjustment varies with TVA fuel costs and season. NES leadership has publicly forecast a base rate increase in fiscal year 2028.
October 1, 2024
Residential base rate set at 8.664 cents per kWh effective October 2024 (commercial schedules adjusted in parallel under TVA framework).
n/aJanuary 1, 2028
NES forecasts a rate increase in fiscal year 2028 to fund system investment (date approximate).
n/aOverall trend: Stable base rates with monthly fuel adjustment variability; a local base rate increase forecast for FY2028.
Next expected change: Rate increase forecast for fiscal year 2028 (per NES, March 2026).
Cost Optimization Strategies
C&I customers at NES can lower bills by managing demand, choosing the right schedule, and capturing manufacturing credits.
Demand peak management
For: All GSA/LGS commercial and industrial customers
Stagger operation of large equipment (air handlers, AC compressors, pumps) to avoid simultaneous peaks, since demand is billed on the highest 30-minute interval at $5.34/kW for the first 50 kW.
Small Manufacturing Credit
For: GSA-3 manufacturers with SIC codes 2000-3999
Qualifying GSA-3 manufacturers (SIC 2000-3999) should ensure the Small Manufacturing Credit is applied ($0.01076/kWh, $1.38/kW first 1,000 kW, $1.63/kW above).
Time-of-Day schedule election
For: Commercial customers with flexible load up to 5,000 kW
Operations able to shift load to off-peak periods may benefit from the TGSA time-of-day schedule.
Tax exemption certification
For: Non-profit and qualifying manufacturing customers
Non-profit and reduced-rate manufacturing customers should file a certificate of exemption for each location to avoid overpaying tax line items.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Nashville Electric Service interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my energy consultant access our NES commercial usage data?▾
Yes. The simplest route is MyAccount guest access, where the account holder grants a third party read-only or full access. For automated, multi-account access, consultants typically use Nectar's API with customer authorization, which provides standardized billing and interval data — see docs.nectarclimate.com.
Does NES offer 15-minute interval data for commercial accounts?▾
NES AMI meters capture interval data, but the customer portal primarily displays daily and monthly summaries. 15-minute interval availability depends on meter type and should be confirmed with the NES commercial team at 615-747-3775; Nectar's API reports 15-minute data where available (docs.nectarclimate.com).
How are NES commercial rates structured if there is no retail choice?▾
NES is a TVA distributor, so there is no competitive supplier market. Commercial and industrial customers are billed under NES General Power (GSA) and Large General Service (LGS) schedules, which combine TVA wholesale energy and demand pricing with NES local distribution charges. Rates vary seasonally (summer, winter, transitional).
How can a C&I customer reduce demand charges at NES?▾
NES demand charges are based on the highest 30-minute period in the billing cycle. GSA-1 and GSA-2 customers pay $5.34 per kW for the first 50 kW. Staggering operation of large equipment (air handlers, compressors) to avoid simultaneous peaks reduces the metered demand and lowers demand charges.
Is there a manufacturing rate discount at NES?▾
Yes. A Small Manufacturing Credit is available to GSA-3 customers with SIC codes 2000-3999, applied as $0.01076 per kWh, $1.38 per kW for the first 1,000 kW of metered demand, and $1.63 per kW for demand above 1,000 kW. Large manufacturers above 5,000 kW are served under LMS schedules.
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