Trico Electric Cooperative Rate Selection Guide
Trico Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving roughly 54,860 accounts across Southern Arizona. Regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission, Trico delivers billing and usage data through the NISC SmartHub portal, with third-party access handled via a signed member authorization form rather than an API.
Trico Electric Cooperative Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS2 | Commercial | $0.159860/kWh energy; $1.00/$5.50 per kW demand | Small-to-mid commercial loads 10-200 kW |
| GS3 | Commercial/Industrial | $0.081360/kWh energy; $20.50/kW demand | Mid-to-large facilities with steady high demand up to ~12 MW |
| GS4 | Industrial | $1,000/mo + $2.00-$10.50/kW demand by delivery level | Very large industrial loads 2-20 MW |
Market Overview
Trico is a not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission. There is no retail competition; members take service under Trico's standard-offer tariffs. Rate changes are set through ACC dockets (e.g., Decision No. 81550).
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Trico Electric Cooperative Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
Trico's standard-offer tariffs took effect January 1, 2026, following ACC Decision No. 81550. The commercial and industrial schedules below carry verified customer, demand, and energy charges. A Wholesale Power Cost Adjustor flows through purchased-power costs above/below a base of $0.088874/kWh.
Effective: January 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS2 - General Service 10 kW to 200 kW | commercial | Three-phase/single-phase commercial service with monthly demand between 10 kW and 200 kW. | Customer charge $32.00 (single-phase) / $40.00 (three-phase) per month; Billing Demand Charge $1.00/kW for the first 10 kW and $5.50/kW for each kW over 10 kW (highest 15-min interval); total Energy Charge $0.159860/kWh. Plus Wholesale Power Cost Adjustor. | — |
| GS3 - General Service Less Than 12,000 kW | commercial | Commercial/industrial service with monthly billing demand between 10 kW and 11,999 kW at a single location. | Customer charge $32.00 (single-phase) / $40.00 (three-phase) per month; Billing Demand Charge $20.50/kW (highest 15-min interval); total Energy Charge $0.081360/kWh. Plus Wholesale Power Cost Adjustor. | — |
| GS4 - General Service Greater Than 2,000 kW and Less Than 20,000 kW | industrial | Large industrial peak loads greater than 2,000 kW and less than 20,000 kW supplied at one point of delivery through one meter. | Customer charge $1,000.00 per month; Distribution Demand Charge by delivery level: $2.00/kW (transmission), $4.00/kW (distribution substation), $10.00/kW (distribution primary), $10.50/kW (distribution secondary), plus facilities and power-supply charges. Plus Wholesale Power Cost Adjustor. | — |
| GSTOU - General Service Time-of-Use (Experimental, frozen) | commercial | Optional experimental TOU for customers otherwise eligible for GS1/GS2/GS3 (limited to first 100 customers; frozen). | Customer charge plus billing demand and coincident demand charges; total Energy Charge $0.078790/kWh with on-peak/off-peak periods. Plus Wholesale Power Cost Adjustor. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Mid-size commercial facility (50-200 kW)
Offices, retail, and light commercial with moderate demand.
GS2 fits the 10-200 kW band; the lower customer charge offsets the higher $0.159860/kWh energy rate for modest consumers.
- Track the highest 15-minute interval
- Consider GS3 if load factor is high
Large commercial / light industrial (200 kW-12 MW)
Manufacturing, cold storage, and large facilities with steady, high demand.
GS3's $0.081360/kWh energy rate is far below GS2; the $20.50/kW demand charge is recovered quickly at high load factor.
- Improve load factor to dilute demand charge
- Audit the 15-minute peak monthly
Very large industrial load (2-20 MW)
Heavy industrial single-site loads above 2,000 kW.
GS4 offers the lowest per-unit cost for large loads; taking delivery at transmission/primary voltage cuts the $/kW demand charge.
- Negotiate delivery voltage
- Model the $1,000 monthly customer charge into payback
C&I customer needing data for an energy program
Facilities engaging an ESCO, aggregator, or sustainability vendor.
Trico has no API; plan for manual data sharing via the Member Authorization form and SmartHub downloads.
- Pre-sign the authorization form
- Export usage from SmartHub for the consultant
Historical Rate Trends
Trico's most recent rate case concluded in ACC Decision No. 81550 (November 12, 2025), producing new standard-offer rates effective January 1, 2026. The residential monthly customer charge rose from $20.00 to $25.00 and the residential usage rate moved to $0.131760/kWh.
January 1, 2026
New standard-offer rates from ACC Decision No. 81550; residential customer charge increased to $25.00 and residential energy rate set at $0.131760/kWh; updated C&I schedules took effect.
n/aOverall trend: Upward, driven by rising wholesale power costs and the 2025 rate case.
Next expected change: Wholesale Power Cost Adjustor varies monthly; the next base-rate case timing has not been announced.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because Trico bills C&I demand on the single highest 15-minute interval, demand management is the largest lever for commercial and industrial members. Rate-schedule selection and load-factor improvement materially change the effective $/kWh.
Peak demand management
For: GS2, GS3, GS4
Stagger equipment starts and use controls to shave the highest 15-minute interval that sets the billing demand charge.
Rate-schedule optimization
For: All C&I
Compare GS2 vs GS3 (and GS4 for very large loads): higher-load-factor facilities usually pay less under GS3's low energy rate despite the $20.50/kW demand charge.
Optimize delivery voltage (GS4)
For: GS4 (2-20 MW)
GS4 demand pricing scales from $2.00/kW at transmission delivery to $10.50/kW at secondary; taking service at higher voltage lowers demand cost.
Monitor the Wholesale Power Cost Adjustor
For: All C&I
The WPCA flows purchased-power costs above the $0.088874/kWh base; track it to forecast bills and time discretionary load.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Trico Electric Cooperative interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a C&I energy consultant pull our Trico usage data via API?▾
No. Trico has no public API or aggregator partnership. A consultant must obtain a signed Member Authorization to Release Information form, then retrieve data manually through SmartHub or Member Services.
What interval granularity does Trico meter for commercial accounts?▾
Demand for GS2, GS3, and GS4 is billed on the customer's highest 15-minute interval demand, so 15-minute metering exists. Export of 15-minute interval data is not publicly documented; daily usage is available in SmartHub.
Which rate applies to a large commercial or industrial facility?▾
GS2 covers 10-200 kW, GS3 covers demand from 10 kW up to 11,999 kW, and GS4 applies to peak loads greater than 2,000 kW and less than 20,000 kW at a single delivery point.
Does Trico support Green Button Connect or EDI for C&I data exchange?▾
No. Trico does not implement Green Button Connect My Data/ESPI or EDI. Large C&I customers needing B2B data should contact Commercial Services at (520) 744-2944 ext. 2731.
How far back does Trico billing history go online?▾
SmartHub typically retains roughly 11-12 months of billing history; older records require a request to Member Services.
Automate Trico Electric Cooperative Rate Analysis with Nectar
Nectar continuously monitors your Trico Electric Cooperative rate options and alerts you when a better schedule is available. Save 10-30% on energy costs.
Nectar for Energy & Sustainability Teams
Managing utility costs for commercial or industrial buildings? Nectar offers a free rate analysis — we'll review your current rate schedules and identify where switching tariffs or shifting load can save 10-30%.
Get a Free Rate AnalysisNectar for Energy Brokers & Consultants
Advising clients on rate optimization? Nectar works with energy consultants who need reliable interval data and automated rate comparison tools.
Partner with Us