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2026 Rate Adjustment: The Power of Choice
A majority of MVEA’s costs are tied to purchasing power from Tri-State. Those costs are influenced not only by how much electricity is used, but also when it is used and the demand placed on the system. Much of our cost as an electric cooperative is now driven by our peak demand, not our total energy use. Aligning rates with those costs helps keep rates fair and more stable for all members.
What’s Changing?
- Effective with October use on November bills, MVEA Residential and Small Power members will have three rate options to choose from, allowing them to select the option that best fits their lifestyle and energy use habits. Open enrollment runs August 1 through October 15. Other rate classes are also changing. Please see specific rates below for more information.
- Residential and Small Power members can choose from the default Demand Rate, the Time-of-Day Rate, or the Flat Rate. All Residential and Small Power accounts will default to the Demand Rate effective with October use on November bills.
- Approximately 80% of residential members are expected to see little or no change under the Demand Rate. Residential members who regularly use several large appliances at the same time may see higher bills, while those who shift and stagger use throughout the day may see savings.
Rate Comparison Tool
Use the Rate Comparison Tool to see how your bill may have looked under each new rate based on your recent energy use. Compare your options and choose the best rate that fits your lifestyle. This tool helps you make an informed decision based on your actual use history (April 2025 – April 2026).
Resources
Member Resources
- SmartHub is MVEA’s bill payment and account management tool that makes it easy for members to monitor and manage electric use by the day and hour. Members can also find an overview of this information on their bill.
- Enroll in bank draft Auto-Pay or Paperless Billing. Enroll in both to save $1.00 per month.
- Check out our Energy Resource Center webpage. We offer rebates and incentives, energy-efficiency tips, tools, and calculators.
- Save today with an energy audit by upgrading to high-efficiency energy products through our On-Bill Repayment program.
Member Assistance
Member Communications
MVEA has been discussing rate pressures and possible changes since early 2023 in Colorado Country Life Magazine, community events, member meetings, and more. Below are recent communications about MVEA’s 2026 rate changes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
General Rate Change FAQ’s
How and when will the change affect my bill?
- Effective with October use on November bills, Residential and Small Power members will have the power of choice to select the rate plan that works best for their lifestyle. Open enrollment begins August 1.
- Unlike past rate adjustments that focused solely on the energy charge, this amendment introduces rate elements that begin to more accurately reflect our rising infrastructure and transmission costs, such as a monthly Demand charge and peak use windows. Members will now have more ability to control their energy use and potentially lower their electric bill.
What are my rate choices?
Residential members may select from three rate options to the best fit for their lifestyle: the default Demand Rate, the Time-of-Day Rate, and the Flat Rate.
- Residential Demand Rate (default rate).
- On this rate, members will pay a Demand charge each month based on their single highest one-hour period of electricity use during the month, Monday – Friday, excluding select holidays. (Holidays include New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day).They will see an Energy Charge (kWh) and a Demand Charge (kW) on their monthly bill. This will become the default rate for all Residential members.
- Time-Of-Day Rate.
- This rate allows members to save by using electricity during Off-Peak hours. On-Peak hours are from 5 – 9 p.m., Monday – Friday. Off-Peak hours are before 5 p.m. and after 9 p.m., Monday – Friday. Weekends and holidays* are also Off-Peak hours. (*Holidays include: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day).
- Flat Rate.
- A simple rate with a higher energy charge.
- This rate does not include a Demand charge or a difference in On-Peak or Off-Peak charges.
How do I enroll in my selection?
Members may change their rate selection anytime, once every 12 months after first enrollment, beginning August 1, 2026.
Members can request the change in SmartHub or by calling our Member Services department at (800) 388-9881.
To request the change in SmartHub:
- On the homepage of SmartHub in the left navigation menu, select Submit an Inquiry.
- From the drop-down menu, select Rate Selection Form.
What if I want to change rates more than once per year?
To provide billing consistency and help members accurately evaluate how a rate fits their household over time, rate selections remain in effect for 12 months after first enrollment before another change can be made.
Why is this change necessary?
- MVEA wants to provide our members with control over their energy costs and rate choices that align with how they use power.
- Like many everyday expenses, the cost of building, maintaining, and upgrading our electric grid (things like poles, wires, transformers, and substations) has risen significantly in recent years.
- MVEA is also facing significantly higher charges for the transmission services and power we purchase from Tri-State.
- Much of our cost as an electric cooperative is now driven by our Peak Demand, not our total energy use.
- To account for these changes, our new rate structure begins to separate the cost of the energy from the cost it takes to support the Demand.
- The new structure begins to more closely align our billing with how our expenses occur.
Are other Colorado utilities doing this too?
Yes. Most Colorado co-ops and municipals already have demand charges, Time-of-Day pricing, or both.
Is the Demand charge applied more than once per month?
No. The charge is tied to one peak interval each billing cycle.
Does my Demand reset every month?
Yes. A new billing cycle creates a new peak demand measurement window.
Where will I see Demand on my bill?
It will appear as its own line item.
What can I do to keep my bill low?
- Simply shift your energy use. Using appliances throughout the day, instead of all at the same time, can make a huge difference.
- Avoid using multiple major appliances all at the same time.
- Use a toaster oven or crockpot to cook meals.
- Use the delay feature on your dishwasher and do laundry on the weekend.
- Put computers and televisions in low-power modes when not in use.
- Use smart power strips for small devices. (Avoid plugging in high-power equipment to prevent overloading.)
- Adjust your thermostat or consider investing in a programmable smart thermostat.
- SmartHub is MVEA’s bill payment and account management tool that makes it easy for members to monitor and manage electric use by the day and hour. Members can also find an overview of this information on their bill. Using the Usage Explorer tool, members can view energy consumption (kWh) and Demand (kW) for hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly analysis.
- Enroll in bank draft Auto Pay or Paperless Billing. Enroll in both to save $1.00 per month.
- Check out our Energy Resource Center page. We offer rebates and incentives, energy-efficient tips, tools , and calculators.
- Save today with an energy audit by upgrading to high-efficiency energy products through our On-Bill Repayment program.
Other Rate Class Changes FAQ’s
Residential AMI Opt-Out Rate
These members will only see a slight increase in the kWh charge.
Residential Prepaid Rate
These members will be enrolled in and remain on this rate while they utilize prepaid billing. Other rate options become available when standard billing is selected.
Small Power
- Small Power members will default to the Small Power Demand Rate and will see a Demand charge for their single highest one-hour period of use during the month, Monday – Friday. These members will have three rate options as well, including the Small Power Time-of-Day Rate and the Small Power Flat Rate.
- Members may change their rate selection anytime, once every 12 months after first enrollment, beginning August 1, 2026.
- Members can request the change in SmartHub or by calling our Member Services department at (800) 388-9881.
To request the change in SmartHub:
- On the homepage of SmartHub in the left navigation menu, select Submit an Inquiry.
- From the drop-down menu, select Rate Selection Form.
Large Power
Large Power members will see a Time-of-Day Demand charge added to their monthly bill. This charge will be for their highest 15-minute period of use during the month, Monday–Friday, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. The existing demand charge for the highest 15-minute period set at any time during the month will remain but will be reduced from the current amount.
Net Metering
Net Metering members will transition to a Net Metering Demand Rate. During daylight hours, solar production can reduce the amount of electricity you draw from the grid, lowering your demand. However, demand at other times – such as evenings or when solar is not producing – will be based on your usage during those periods and is not offset by earlier solar generation.
Irrigation
Changes to the Irrigation rate include the introduction of an annual Grid Access charge and a Demand charge (highest 15-minute interval anytime Monday – Saturday), along with a three-year phase-out of the existing Horsepower charge. Members may pay the annual Grid Access fee up front or it will be automatically assessed on their monthly bill. There will no longer be a minimum annual charge based on horsepower.
Water Pumping
These accounts will now be billed a Time-of-Day Demand charge (highest 15-minute interval between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., Monday – Friday) in addition to a reduced version of the existing Demand charge (set at any time, Monday – Sunday).
Lighting
The new Member-Owned and Maintained Lighting Rate will allow municipalities, special districts, and homeowners’ associations to own and maintain their preferred outdoor lighting fixtures with MVEA providing power at a fixed monthly rate.
Net Metering FAQ’s
How does Net Metering work on this new rate?
You will still receive credit for the net energy you export back to the grid, but those credits will only apply to the kWh energy portion of your bill. These banked credits will not offset your demand charges. The final bill will include your net energy use and highest single one-hour demand for the month.
Can I select one of the other rate options such as Time-of-Use or the Flat Rate?
The Net Metering Demand Rate is the only option for Net Metering accounts. Due to the Net Metering structure and use of banked credits, the Net Metering Demand Rate is the framework that allows us to credit your banked kWh.
How can I manage my demand charge? What does shifting use look like for me?
Managing your demand charge is most effective when you shift your use. This can be done by staggering appliance use throughout the day instead of using several at the same time. Solar generation can provide more flexibility by using appliances during solar-producing hours and avoiding the need to run them at night. For example, running your dryer or charging your car with solar energy will reduce the demand for these loads on the grid at later times.
Learn More About Demand
- Demand, measured in kilowatts (kW), reflects how much electricity you’re using at a given moment. It indicates the level or intensity of your energy use.
- Peak demand occurs when you use the most electrical devices simultaneously. Like any product, when there is higher demand, there is a higher cost for that product.
- Billing based on a member’s highest demand during those hours helps align costs with the actual peak demand members place on the system.
- Peak demand puts stress on the grid, requiring more generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure. The Demand charge fairly charges all members for their contribution to the peak.
- Demand charges better align with the cost of providing reliable electric service and maintaining infrastructure.
You can help lessen our costs and reduce peak demand by spreading your use of electricity throughout the day, as opposed to using energy all at once.