Inter-County Energy Cooperative

What Inter-County Energy Cooperative does

Inter-County Energy Cooperative Corporation is a member-owned, non-profit electric distribution cooperative founded on June 14, 1937, in Danville, Kentucky. The cooperative distributes electricity to over 28,000 member-owners across 11+ counties in central Kentucky (Boyle, Casey, Garrard, Larue, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nelson, Rockcastle, Taylor, and Washington), maintaining more than 3,800 miles of power lines and 45,000+ poles. Wholesale power is purchased from East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC), a generation and transmission cooperative, and redistributed to members under Kentucky Public Service Commission-approved rate schedules ranging from residential (Schedule 1) through industrial tiers (Schedule IND-G for contract demands above 15,000 kW). Governance is one-member-one-vote through a six-member elected Board of Directors.

The cooperative's technology stack centers on the SmartHub member portal, delivered via web and mobile app, for account management, bill payment, usage monitoring, prepay, and outage reporting. This is complemented by Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployed since July 2024 in partnership with Luthan Electric Meter and approved by the Kentucky PSC, providing 60-minute interval usage data, outage and blink history, and voltage information. Supporting tools include a Virtual Energy Advisor, GenerLink portable generator connection device, real-time Outage Center map, prepay metering, levelized billing, auto bank draft, and net metering for distributed renewable systems up to 45 kW.

Revenue is generated primarily through PSC-tariffed electricity sales across residential, small commercial (Schedule 2), large power (Schedule 4), industrial (B-1, C-1 through C-3, IND-G), outdoor lighting, and educational rate classes. Supplementary streams include the Generac Home Standby Generator Program (through United Utility Supply), Envirowatts voluntary renewable contributions, Cooperative Solar Farm One panel licensing ($460 one-time), and emerging initiatives such as the Data Center Tariff (Rate DCP, PSC-approved 6/5/2026) and Cooperative Solar Farm Two (40 MW, Fayette County) and Three (96 MW, Marion County) under EKPC membership. Members pay a one-time $50 membership fee, and net margins are returned as Capital Credits patronage refunds proportional to electricity usage rather than distributed as profit.

Name

Inter-County Energy Cooperative

Legal name

Inter-County Energy Cooperative

Website

https://intercountyenergy.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Inter-County Energy Cooperative is a member-owned, non-profit electric distribution cooperative serving over 28,000 members across 11+ central Kentucky counties via PSC-tariffed rates, AMI smart metering, SmartHub digital services, and expanding community solar generation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD), Demand Response & Load Flexibility Services (EUAMAJAF), Interconnection, Permitting & Grid Services for DERs (EUAMAJAH), Community Choice Aggregators with Distribution Operations (CCA + Wires, where applicable) (EUADABAK)

Keywords

• Electric distribution services
• Rural electric cooperative
• Energy efficiency programs
• Member-owned utility
• Renewable energy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Danville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Residential Electricity Sales: Revenue from residential electricity sales under Schedule 1: Farm and Home Service. Members pay a customer/facilities charge plus energy charge per kWh. Average residential consumption is approximately 1,185 kWh per month.
2. Commercial Electricity Sales: Revenue from small commercial and small power customers under Schedule 2, including customer charge, energy charge per kWh, and demand charges for usage above 10kW.
3. Industrial Electricity Sales: Revenue from large industrial customers under various schedules (B-1, C-1 through C-3, IND-G) with demand charges, energy charges, and customer facility charges based on contract capacity.
4. Outdoor Lighting Service: Monthly charges for security lights, decorative colonial lights, directional floodlights, and cobra head lights at various wattages.
5. Prepay Service: Prepaid electricity service with monthly customer charge and prepay service fee, allowing members to purchase electricity before use.
6. Generac Generator Sales: Sale of Generac home standby generators with automatic transfer switches through partnership with United Utility Supply. Members purchase from cooperative after contacting for program details.
7. Renewable Energy Program (Envirowatts): Voluntary monthly contributions in $2.75 increments for renewable energy certificates from solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and landfill gas sources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Inter-County Energy Cooperative distributes electricity to over 28,000 member-owners across 13 central Kentucky counties through PSC-approved rate schedules for residential, commercial, large power, and industrial customers. It supplements distribution with member-facing digital services (SmartHub portal), Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), energy efficiency rebates, demand response programs, renewable energy options (net metering, community solar, Envirowatts), and community programs including scholarships, youth tours, and a 501(c)(3) charity.

Product overview

Inter-County Energy Cooperative operates as a not-for-profit electric utility serving over 28,000 member-owners across 13 Kentucky counties. The cooperative's core offering is electricity distribution through multiple rate schedules (Residential Schedule 1, Commercial Schedule 2, Large Power Schedule 4, and Industrial schedules B-1 through C-3 and IND-G), supplemented by member-facing digital services including SmartHub portal for account management and payments, and Advanced Metering Infrastructure providing hourly usage data. The cooperative offers demand-side management programs including energy efficiency rebates (weatherization, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters), Demand Load Control/BYOT for peak management, and prepaid/budget billing options. Renewable energy options include net metering, Envirowatts voluntary program, and Cooperative Solar Farm One. Business services encompass commercial lighting rebates, thermostat programs, power quality analysis, and economic development incentives. Additional member benefits include scholarships, youth tours, Co-op Connections discounts, and Christmas Blessings community charity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SmartHub: Mobile and web application for members to manage their account, pay bills, view usage, and access energy management tools.

Products and services

• Residential Electric Service (Schedule 1) Standard residential electricity service for homes, farms, and households who become member-owners through a $50 one-time membership fee. Average residential consumption is approximately 1,185 kWh per month.
• Small Commercial Service (Schedule 2)

Quantifiable outcome

• Average residential usage of approximately 1,185 kWh per month
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and peripheral.

• Osmose Utility ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2026Contracted for system-wide pole attachment assessment beginning May 4, 2026. Assessment will last throughout the remainder of the year with properly identified employees and marked contractor vehicles throughout service territory.
• Luthan Electric MetercoreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2024Partnership for AMI meter exchange project. Luthan Electric Meter conducts meter exchange on behalf of the cooperative, upgrading to advanced meters providing 60-minute interval usage data. Project approved by Kentucky Public Service Commission. Contractor vehicles are clearly marked with appropriate identification.
• East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEKPC is the generation and transmission cooperative that provides power to Inter-County Energy, which then distributes it to members. EKPC works with 16 owner-member cooperatives across Kentucky on economic development, generation, and environmental programs. Inter-County Energy is one of 16 owner-member cooperatives.
• Touchstone EnergycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational cooperative branding and marketing network for electric cooperatives. Provides shared brand identity, marketing resources, and cooperative-to-cooperative collaboration across the network.
• United Utility SupplyperipheralChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership through which Inter-County Energy offers discounted Generac Home Standby Generators with automatic transfer switches to members. Cooperative stocks generators and accessories for member purchase.
• Envision Energy ServicesperipheralTechnology or IntegrationInter-County Energy is a member of Envision Energy Services through EKPC membership, providing commercial and industrial services including compressed air audits, lighting audits, infrared surveys, and power quality surveys.
• WA KendallperipheralImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTree trimming service contractor for right-of-way vegetation management in Marion County areas including Danville Rd and Bradfordsville.
• Steel RockperipheralImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTree trimming contractor for right-of-way maintenance in Boyle County along Harberson, Tuggle, and Webster Roads, Perryville to Mitchellsburg areas, and along Highways 49 and 52.
• Asplundh Tree ServiceperipheralImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTree trimming contractor for right-of-way clearing in Garrard County (Wells Landing, Highway 34), Boyle County (Highway 68, Quirks Run, Lower Salt River), and Mercer County (Mackville Road, Dixville Roads).
• Central Kentucky Community Action CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity action organization that Inter-County Energy partners with to provide assistance to members. CARES Program coordinates weatherization and energy efficiency services through local CAA offices in Lincoln, Garrard, Mercer, Casey, Boyle, and Marion counties.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization representing America's electric cooperatives. Provides advocacy, education, and resources for electric cooperatives including Inter-County Energy.
• Kentucky Electric CooperativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState association of 26 electric cooperatives in Kentucky working together to advocate for electric consumers and protect residential energy bill tax exemptions.
• Kentucky Cabinet for Economic DevelopmentperipheralStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development agency that Inter-County Energy works with through EKPC membership to enhance communities through job creation.
• Cooperative Solar Farm Program (EKPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEKPC and 16 owner-member cooperatives including Inter-County Energy license solar panels to co-op members. Cooperative Solar Farm One active, with Farm Two (Fayette County, 40 MW) and Farm Three (Marion County, 96 MW) under development for mid-2026 construction and mid-2027 commissioning.
• 5-Star Electric, LLCperipheralImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerApproved electrical contractor for self-help surveys, simple make-ready, self-help complex make-ready, and above the communications space make-ready pole attachment work.
• Davis H Elliot Construction CoperipheralImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerApproved electrical contractor for pole attachment surveys and make-ready work on Inter-County Energy poles.
• McLean Engineering Company, Inc.peripheralImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerApproved surveying and engineering service contractor for pole attachment surveys and make-ready work.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Blue Grass Energy Cooperative: Kentucky distribution electric cooperative serving central Kentucky. Comparable member-owned structure, Touchstone Energy affiliation, and similar AMI and demand-response programs.
• Shelby Energy Cooperative: Kentucky distribution electric cooperative in central Kentucky with similar residential/commercial/industrial mix and member-service digital platform approach.
• South Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative: Kentucky distribution electric cooperative serving south-central Kentucky. Same cooperative model, PSC oversight, and AMI/digital member-service strategy as Inter-County Energy.
• Nolin Rural Electric Cooperative: Kentucky distribution electric cooperative serving a multi-county rural territory. Same regulatory framework and Touchstone Energy affiliation, comparable member-owned electric distribution model.
• Salt River Electric Cooperative: Kentucky distribution electric cooperative serving members in central Kentucky. Same Touchstone Energy network, same PSC oversight, similar mix of residential, commercial, and industrial members.
• Owen Electric Cooperative: Kentucky distribution electric cooperative serving northern Kentucky counties under the same Touchstone Energy network and PSC regulatory framework as Inter-County Energy.

Broad incumbents

• East Kentucky Power Cooperative: Generation and transmission cooperative that supplies all of Inter-County Energy's wholesale power and serves as its partner in the Cooperative Solar Farm program. Most directly comparable upstream counterparty.
• Kentucky Utilities (LG&E and KU): Investor-owned electric utility serving much of Kentucky. Comparable electricity distribution business under the same PSC oversight but a profit-maximizing, much larger incumbent.

Regional players

• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): Federally owned wholesale power provider and distributor serving parts of the U.S. Southeast. Relevant as a regional comparison for cooperative-era utility economics and rural electrification mission, though outside ICE's direct territory.

Others

• Touchstone Energy Cooperative Network: National brand and GTM network for member-owned electric cooperatives including Inter-County Energy. Comparable as the cooperative-to-cooperative enablement, marketing, and benchmarking organization.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ice_cooperative
• Facebookfacebook.com/Intercountyenergy
• Instagraminstagram.com/ice_cooperative?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=18s93ylb2h89
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inter-county-energy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Inter-County Energy Cooperative