Big Rivers

What Big Rivers does

Big Rivers Electric Corporation is a member-owned, not-for-profit generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative founded in 1961, headquartered in Owensboro, Kentucky following a 2023 relocation from Henderson. The company provides wholesale electric power, transmission services, and shared services to three distribution cooperative Member-Owners — Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative, Kenergy Corp, and Meade County Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation — which collectively distribute retail electricity to more than 120,000 homes, farms, businesses, and industries across 22 counties in western Kentucky. Big Rivers also contracts directly with large industrial and municipal customers including Nucor (200 MW), Owensboro Municipal Utilities (~180 MW), Pratt Paper, Blockware, and Nebraska municipal entities.

The company's core assets include 936 net MW of owned generating capacity across three stations: D.B. Wilson (417 MW coal-fired with a new 98% efficient FGD scrubber), Robert D. Green (454 MW converted from coal to natural gas in 2022), and Robert Reid CT (65 MW natural gas combustion turbine), plus 178 MW of contracted hydroelectric capacity from the Southeastern Power Administration for a total portfolio of 1,114 MW. Generation technology includes coal, natural gas, and hydropower, with new solar procurement via PPAs with Community Energy and Geronimo Energy. Transmission infrastructure comprises 1,353 miles of high-voltage lines across 22 counties with 29 substations, 27 interconnections, and advanced automation including Remote Controlled Switching and Automatic Restoration and Sectionalization. The company also participates in the MISO regional energy market for transactions and capacity sales.

Big Rivers generates revenue through wholesale power supply to its three distribution cooperative Member-Owners (recurring subscription-style), long-term full-requirements industrial power contracts (Nucor 20-year, Owensboro Municipal Utilities through 2026, Blockware 20-year), MISO market participation (transaction-based), and Open Access Transmission Tariff services to third parties. As a not-for-profit cooperative, margins are returned to members through bill credits rather than paid to outside shareholders. The company is governed by a six-member board (two directors per member cooperative), does not raise external equity, and is regulated by the Kentucky Public Service Commission on rates and environmental compliance.

Name

Big Rivers

Legal name

Big Rivers Electric Corporation

Website

https://bigrivers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Big Rivers Electric Corporation is a member-owned, not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative providing wholesale electric power, transmission, and shared services to three distribution cooperatives serving 120,000+ homes, farms, and industries across 22 western Kentucky counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Electric Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control (221121), Electric Power Generation (22111), Utilities (22), Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI), Transmission Interconnection & Line Works (Gen-Tie Lines, Overhead/Underground Lines) (EUAMAFAF), Substations, Transformers & Grid Step-Up Facilities (EHV Substations, GSU Transformers) (EUAMAFAE)

Keywords

• Wholesale electric power
• Generation transmission cooperative
• Electric power generation
• High voltage transmission services
• Cooperative electric utility

Headquarters

HQ city

Henderson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Electric Power to Member Cooperatives: Not-for-profit wholesale electricity sales to three distribution cooperative members: Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative, Kenergy Corp, and Meade County Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation. These members distribute retail power to 120,000+ homes, farms, businesses, and industries.
2. Industrial Power Supply Contracts: Long-term power supply agreements with large industrial customers including Nucor Steel (200 MW full-requirements), Blockware (cryptocurrency mining), and Pratt Paper. Revenue from municipal utilities including Owensboro Municipal Utilities and Nebraska entities.
3. MISO Market Participation: Participation in Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) market for energy transactions, capacity sales, and market-based power sales. Coordinates daily power supply and power market transactions.
4. Transmission Services: Transmission of power to member-owners and third-party entities under Open Access Transmission Tariff. Provides transmission services to Owensboro Municipal Utilities and other entities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Big Rivers Electric Corporation is a member-owned, not-for-profit generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative that generates and transmits wholesale electric power to three distribution cooperative Member-Owners (Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative, Kenergy Corp, and Meade County Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation) serving 120,000+ homes, farms, businesses, and industries across 22 western Kentucky counties. The cooperative owns 936 net MW of generation capacity from coal, natural gas, and hydropower resources and operates a 1,353-mile high-voltage transmission system, while participating in MISO markets and contracting with large industrial and municipal customers.

Product overview

Big Rivers Electric Corporation operates as a member-owned, not-for-profit generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative that provides wholesale electric power and transmission services across 22 counties in western Kentucky. The company owns and operates 936 net MW of generating capacity from three power stations: Robert D. Green (454 MW natural gas), Robert Reid CT (65 MW natural gas), and D.B. Wilson (417 MW coal). Total power capacity is 1,114 MW including contracted capacity from the Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA). The company also participates in MISO markets and offers transmission services through its 1,353-mile transmission system. Big Rivers serves three distribution cooperative Member-Owners (Jackson Purchase Energy, Kenergy Corp, and Meade County Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation) that collectively serve more than 120,000 members. Additional services include demand-side management programs, economic development support, and solar power purchase agreements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wholesale Electric Power Supply Core wholesale electricity service generating and transmitting bulk electric power from Big Rivers' owned generation fleet to three distribution cooperative Member-Owners (Jackson Purchase Energy, Kenergy Corp, Meade County RECC), which collectively serve 120,000+ homes, farms, businesses, and industries across 22 western Kentucky counties.
• Power Generation (Coal) Coal-fired baseload power generation from D.B. Wilson Station (417 MW), with $100 million in scrubber improvements completed in 2022 to achieve 98% sulfur dioxide removal rate. Provides baseload energy to the cooperative's wholesale power supply portfolio.
• Power Generation (Natural Gas) Natural gas-fired power generation from Robert D. Green Station (454 MW, converted from coal in 2022) and Robert Reid CT (65 MW), providing flexible and reliable generation with lower emissions and reduced operations and maintenance costs compared to coal.
• Power Generation (Hydropower) Contracted hydropower capacity of 178 MW through the Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA) from the Cumberland River System, providing diversified low-cost renewable energy supply to the cooperative's generation portfolio.
• Transmission Services Operation and maintenance of a 1,353-mile high-voltage transmission system delivering power to Member-Owners and third-party entities under the Open Access Transmission Tariff, with 99.999% availability and advanced features including Remote Controlled Switching and Automatic Restoration and Sectionalization.
• MISO Market Participation Participation in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) market for energy transactions, capacity sales, and market-based power sales. Coordinates daily power supply and power market transactions for the cooperative's Energy Services team.
• Solar Power Purchase Agreements Long-term power purchase agreements for solar energy with Community Energy and Geronimo Energy (a National Grid company), who build, own and operate solar facilities in western Kentucky to supply renewable power to the cooperative's generation portfolio.
• Demand Side Management and Energy Efficiency Programs Management of demand-side management (DSM) and energy efficiency programs for Member-Owners, including biannual long-term load forecasting and triannual Integrated Resource Planning to optimize power supply and meet member needs.
• Economic Development Services Support for new and existing industry in western Kentucky through competitive power rates, reliable energy service, and coordination with local and state agencies to encourage industrial and business growth across the 22-county service territory.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.999% system reliability with 2023 SAIDI score of 1.404 minutes - top quartile for utilities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Community EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2020Solar developer contracted to build, own and operate solar facility in western Kentucky as part of Big Rivers' power purchase agreements for renewable energy.
• Geronimo Energy (National Grid)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2020Solar developer (a National Grid company) contracted to build, own and operate solar facility in western Kentucky as part of Big Rivers' renewable energy portfolio.
• Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)coreTechnology or IntegrationMISO is the regional grid operator managing generation and transmission of high-voltage electricity across 15 U.S. states and a Canadian province. Big Rivers participates in the MISO market for energy transactions, capacity sales, and market-based power sales to maximize margins and hedge exposure.
• Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracted capacity of 178 MW from the Cumberland River System hydroelectric power. Provides diversified generation portfolio with low-cost, renewable energy supply.
• Kentucky Association of Electric CooperativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide affiliate providing economies and synergies of scale in legislative efforts, training programs, and power line supplies for Kentucky's electric cooperatives.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliate providing cooperative network support, advocacy, and resources for electric cooperatives across the United States.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• East Kentucky Power Cooperative: Kentucky-based generation and transmission cooperative serving 17 member distribution cooperatives across 87 counties. Most directly comparable peer as the other major G&T cooperative in Kentucky, with similar coal-to-gas transition underway and overlapping MISO market exposure.
• Seminole Electric Cooperative: Florida-based G&T cooperative serving 9 member distribution cooperatives. Comparable member-owned generation and transmission business model, with diversified fuel mix and similar wholesale electricity supply function to Big Rivers' three distribution members.
• Associated Electric Cooperative: Missouri-based G&T cooperative serving six member distribution systems across Missouri, Iowa, and Oklahoma. Comparable cooperative structure, generation portfolio diversification, and member-owned wholesale power supply model to Big Rivers.
• PowerSouth Energy Cooperative: Alabama-based G&T cooperative serving 22 distribution members across Alabama and northwest Florida. Similar member-owned structure, diversified generation portfolio, and focus on industrial customer attraction within service territory.
• Southern Illinois Power Cooperative: Southern Illinois G&T cooperative where Big Rivers' new CEO Don Gulley previously served as President/CEO for 10 years. Smaller-scale but structurally identical G&T cooperative with member distribution cooperatives, providing direct operational and governance parallels.
• Hoosier Energy: Indiana-based G&T cooperative serving 27 member distribution systems. Comparable member-owned wholesale generation and transmission model with MISO market participation, providing peer benchmarks for operational performance and member services.
• Oglethorpe Power Corporation: Georgia-based G&T cooperative serving 38 member EMCs. One of the largest cooperatives in the U.S. with diversified generation including nuclear, gas, and renewables, providing comparable scale benchmark for Big Rivers' growth trajectory.

Broad incumbents

• Owensboro Municipal Utilities: Kentucky municipal utility and direct Big Rivers customer under ~180 MW full-requirements contract through 2026. Comparable regional utility operations with overlapping service territory but distinct ownership structure (municipal vs. cooperative).
• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): Federal generation and transmission utility serving Tennessee, Kentucky, and surrounding states. Operates adjacent territory with comparable generation, transmission, and MISO/wholesale market activities but at much larger scale.
• Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities (LG&E and KU): Investor-owned utility serving Kentucky with combined generation, transmission, and distribution. Comparable diversified generation portfolio and Kentucky service area but distinct for-profit structure and broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BRElectricCorp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Rivers