Rates
Providing affordable electricity is part of our mission
As a not-for-profit organization, Middle Tennessee Electric strives to keep our rates as low as possible for our members. In fact, MTE’s residential rates rank among the lowest in the nation at about 25% below the national average.
Approximately 82 cents of every dollar received through member bill payments go directly to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to purchase power, meaning the cooperative operates on just 18 cents of every dollar. Though other costs may impact your bill, like TVA’s Fuel Cost Adjustment charge, MTE has not had a rate increase to benefit the cooperative’s revenues in more than 15 years. Our energy charge has remained virtually the same for the past ten years.
In addition to maintaining low rates, MTE aims to provide value to members by offering convenient options for billing and programs to increase energy efficiency. Billing options like Levelized Billing, Fixed Budget Billing, Prepay, the Pick A Due Date program and more are designed to fit any lifestyle and budget. Members can find helpful tips to reduce energy costs at mte.com/EnergyTips and schedule a free Home Energy Checkup at mte.com/HomeEnergyCheckups.
Night Time Rate
TVA's Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA)
MTE’s portion of the rate has remained steady for 15 years, but bills may be higher now due to an increase in the TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA) from the co-op’s power provider. TVA uses the FCA to help manage fluctuations in the costs of fuels it uses to generate electricity and those costs have risen dramatically in the last year. MTE has no control over the TVA’s FCA, and every penny collected for the FCA goes directly to TVA.
Supplemental Residential Rate
At Middle Tennessee Electric, our mission is to provide affordable, reliable, safe electricity and outstanding member service. One way we're fulfilling a mission cornerstone — affordability — is helping our members save on their energy costs.
Effective April 1, 2023, MTE launched a new Supplemental Residential Rate for members who have secondary meters at the same location as a residence.
MTE/MED Rate Transition Plan
When Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) and the Murfreesboro Electric Department (MED) merged in 2020, our regulator, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), stipulated that our two rate structures be exactly the same within five years. Although MTE’s and MED’s average monthly bills were virtually identical, the way we packaged rates differed.
Beginning April 2023, MTE took the first of three small steps to align these rates.