Rates
Your co-op's approach to keeping power affordable
Your electric bill is made up of a few clear parts: a fixed charge to connect and serve your home, a charge for the energy you use, additional services, account fees, and TVA’s monthly fuel cost. As a not-for-profit cooperative, MTE sets rates to cover the costs of buying and delivering power — not to earn a profit. Most of every dollar you pay goes straight to TVA for wholesale power, and MTE operates the cooperative on the remainder. This page explains each part of your bill, what causes it to change from month to month, and where to go when you have a question about a charge.
This is a fixed monthly charge. It covers the cost of connecting and serving your home or business — things like your meter, billing, equipment, and maintaining the local grid. You pay the same basic service charge regardless of your energy use.
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This is the part of your bill based on how much electricity you use. It is billed per kilowatt-hour (kWh), the unit that measures the energy your home uses over time. Use more energy in a month, and this part of your bill goes up. Use less, and it goes down.
Part of your consumption costs is impacted by TVA's Fuel Cost Adjustment. The Fuel Cost Adjustment is set by TVA, not by MTE. It reflects TVA’s costs to fuel the power plants that generate your electricity, and it changes every month. MTE passes this cost straight through to you with no markup added.
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Members may also incur costs for services performed outside of our basic electric services agreement or fees associated with the account. These are used to maintain our approach as a not-for-profit by passing additional costs directly to the affected members instead of the entire co-op.
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About 78 cents of every dollar you pay goes to TVA for wholesale power. MTE runs the local system — poles, lines, crews, service, and technology — on the remaining 22 cents. Because MTE is a not-for-profit cooperative, there are no shareholder profits built into your rate. Any margins are reinvested to provide the best service for members.
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Your plan affects how you pay
The charges on your bill are only part of the picture. myEnergyPlan lets you choose how those charges are applied. Some plans smooth out seasonal swings by averaging your use over the past 12 months. Others reward you for using energy overnight, support renewable energy, or let you pay as you go. Some plans can be combined, and you can change your plan as needed. If your bill feels too unpredictable, your plan may be the easiest thing to adjust.
Common questions about your rate
Two items most frequently drive changes in your bill. First, the energy you use changes with the weather and your daily habits. Second, TVA’s Fuel Cost Adjustment changes every month. Your fixed basic service charge stays the same.
MTE sets rates to recover the costs of buying wholesale power from TVA and delivering reliably to you. There is no profit built in. As a not-for-profit cooperative, MTE returns value to our members rather than paying shareholders.
In 2026, MTE’s average residential cost was 12.45 cents per kWh — about 28% below the U.S. average and 5.48% below the state average. Over the past 10 years, MTE’s residential cost per kWh has risen by 2.59%.
Have additional questions about rates?
Visit our frequently asked questions page to find answers about rates, fees, and the charges on your monthly bill.
Helpful Resources
Track your daily energy use in myMTE
Get insights into how you use electricity to make better energy-saving choices.
Find ways to use less
Explore energy-saving tips and programs that help you reduce your energy use.
Contact MTE's Member Support Team
We understand our members expect more than just affordable, reliable, and safe electricity. You also expect outstanding member service, which includes helping you find answers and solutions to your concerns.
From myMTE app issues to billing questions and everything in between, our member support team is always here to provide you with the help you need. We've put together some useful information for you, but feel free to contact us directly to discuss any additional concerns you have.
Email: info@mte.com
Phone: 877-777-9020
Online: mte.com/Contact
