Cumberland Valley Electric

What Cumberland Valley Electric does

Cumberland Valley Electric is a member-owned electric cooperative founded in 1940 to provide electricity distribution to rural areas of eastern Kentucky. It serves approximately 24,052 member-owners across 9 Kentucky counties (Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Laurel, Leslie, Letcher, McCreary, and Whitley) and 2 Tennessee counties (Claiborne and Campbell) through 2,710 miles of distribution lines. The cooperative is regulated by the Kentucky Public Service Commission and operates on a non-profit, member-owned basis, with governance through an elected board.

The cooperative's core technology infrastructure consists of electric distribution assets supported by SmartHub, a digital platform from NISC (National Information Solutions Cooperative) that provides account management, bill payment, usage monitoring, and outage reporting via web and mobile applications. Advanced metering infrastructure enables detailed usage tracking, and an interactive outage mapping system provides real-time service status. Supporting programs include net metering for member-owned renewable generation, energy efficiency incentives (BYOT thermostat rewards, Button-Up Weatherization, Heat Pump Retrofit rebates), Co-op Connections member discounts, and pole attachment services for telecommunications providers. CEO Ted Hampton leads the organization.

Revenue is generated primarily through usage-based monthly billing for residential and commercial electric service, including customer charges, kWh consumption charges, demand charges for commercial accounts, fuel charges, and environmental surcharges. Additional revenue streams include security light subscriptions, a $25 one-time membership fee, pole attachment fees from communications companies, and participation-based affiliate revenue from the Co-op Connections discount program. Tariff rates are filed with the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

Name

Cumberland Valley Electric

Legal name

Cumberland Valley Electric, Inc.

Website

https://cumberlandvalley.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cumberland Valley Electric is a member-owned rural electric cooperative founded in 1940 that distributes electricity to approximately 24,052 member-owners across 11 counties in eastern Kentucky and Tennessee via 2,710 miles of distribution lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI)

Keywords

• Rural electric distribution
• Electric cooperative services
• Residential electricity supply
• Commercial electric power
• Energy efficiency programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Gray

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electricity Distribution: Monthly charges for electric service including customer charge, KWH consumption charges, demand charges for commercial accounts, fuel charges, and environmental surcharges. Revenue based on electricity consumption volume.
2. Security Light Services: Monthly charges for security lighting installations and services
3. Membership Fees: $25 one-time membership fee for new members joining the cooperative
4. Pole Attachments: Fees charged to communications companies for attaching equipment to cooperative poles
5. Co-op Connections Program: Discount program offering member savings on prescriptions, dental, vision, hotels, and retail; revenue generated through participation fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cumberland Valley Electric is a member-owned electric cooperative distributing electricity to residential and commercial accounts across 9 Kentucky counties and 2 Tennessee counties through 2,710 miles of distribution infrastructure. Its core offering combines regulated electric distribution service with member-facing digital account management via the SmartHub platform and supporting programs including energy efficiency incentives, net metering, security lighting, and pole attachment services.

Product overview

Cumberland Valley Electric is a rural electric cooperative providing residential and commercial electricity distribution across 11 counties in Kentucky and Tennessee. The company's product portfolio centers on SmartHub, a unified online and mobile platform for account management, bill payment, and outage reporting. Supporting this core platform are energy efficiency programs (Bring Your Own Thermostat, Button-Up Weatherization, CARES, Heat Pump Retrofit), member benefits through Co-op Connections, net metering for renewable energy systems, pole attachment services for communications companies, and detailed rate information. The cooperative also offers levelized budget billing and multi-channel outage reporting with an interactive map.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SmartHub Online and mobile platform for member account management, bill payment via credit/debit card or electronic check, usage tracking, and power outage reporting via the web portal and mobile app.
• Residential Electric Service Monthly electricity distribution service for residential members, billed through customer charges, KWH consumption charges, fuel charges, environmental surcharges, and school tax, with rates subject to Kentucky PSC regulation.
• Commercial Electric Service Electricity distribution service for business customers billed under commercial rate schedules including customer charge, demand charges based on kW capacity, KWH charges, power factor penalties, and KVA minimum charges.
• Levelized Budget Plan Monthly budget billing program that levels out seasonal high and low bills by calculating payments based on the most recent 12-month average usage, with July as the catch-up settlement month.
• Energy Efficiency Programs Suite of energy-saving programs including Bring Your Own Thermostat (BYOT) smart thermostat incentives, Button-Up Weatherization for home insulation and windows, CARES for income-qualified weatherization, and Heat Pump Retrofit incentives for replacing electric resistance heating.
• Co-op Connections Savings Member benefits program offering prescription discounts, dental/vision/hearing/lab work discounts, hotel savings up to 20% at 400,000+ locations, cash back shopping at 2,000+ online retailers, and event and insurance discounts through the Touchstone Energy cooperative network.
• Net Metering Program for members with eligible renewable energy systems to receive credit for excess electricity generated back to the grid, available at Level One and Level Two with separate application requirements.
• Pole Attachments Service allowing communications companies to attach equipment to cooperative utility poles, including an application process, make-ready work coordination with pre-approved contractors like 5 Star Electric, and tariff-based fees.
• Outage Reporting System Multi-channel system for reporting power outages via SmartHub website, SmartHub mobile app, or dedicated outage phone line (1-800-513-2677, option #1), supported by an interactive outage map for real-time status tracking.
• Security Light Services Monthly rental of security lighting installations and ongoing service for members across the cooperative's service territory.

Quantifiable outcome

• $10 per smart thermostat enrolled in BYOT program, $20 per season participation reward, up to $100 bonus for thermostats purchased after March 2, 2019
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kentucky811coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKentucky811 is the state's 811 one-call center for underground utility damage prevention. Cumberland Valley Electric requires members to contact Kentucky811 at least two working days before any digging to prevent damage to underground power lines and ensure safety.
• Touchstone Energy CooperativescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational branding partnership for electric cooperatives. Provides access to cooperative network resources, shared marketing materials, Co-op Connections program, and Touchstone Energy branding for Cumberland Valley Electric.
• SmartHub (NISC)coreTechnology or IntegrationSmartHub is a digital platform provided by NISC (National Information Solutions Cooperative) for utility bill payment, account management, usage monitoring, and outage reporting. Available as web portal and mobile applications.
• Kentucky Community Action Agency NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local CAA organizations including KCEOC, Bell-Whitley CAA, Daniel Boone CAA, Harlan County CAA, Lake Cumberland CAA, Letcher County CAA, and Leslie County CAA for the CARES (Community Assistance Resources for Energy Savings) program providing weatherization services to qualifying members.
• Kentucky Public Service CommissioncoreOthersRegulatory body overseeing utility rates, tariffs, and service standards for Cumberland Valley Electric in Kentucky. The cooperative files tariffs and rate adjustments with the KPSC.
• Communications Companies (Pole Attachers)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTelecommunications and internet service providers that attach equipment to Cumberland Valley Electric poles. Pre-approved contractors include 5 Star Electric for make-ready work. Partnerships governed by pole attachment tariff and applications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Jackson Energy Cooperative: Member-owned electric cooperative serving rural eastern Kentucky under the same Touchstone Energy network and Kentucky PSC oversight. Directly comparable in customer scale, service profile, and regulatory framework to Cumberland Valley Electric.
• Tri-County Electric Cooperative (Tennessee): Tennessee-based electric distribution cooperative serving rural members in the same adjacent state as Cumberland Valley's Tennessee counties. Comparable member-owner structure and Touchstone Energy affiliation.
• Licking Valley Rural Electric Cooperative: Rural electric distribution cooperative in Kentucky operating in adjacent eastern Kentucky counties with similar member-owner structure, PSC oversight, and Touchstone Energy affiliation. Directly comparable in scale, services, and customer profile.
• Plateau Electric Cooperative: Rural electric distribution cooperative serving eastern Kentucky with similar Appalachian geography, member-owner structure, and PSC oversight. Directly comparable in service profile and customer base.
• East Kentucky Power Cooperative: Generation-and-transmission cooperative that is Cumberland Valley's wholesale power supplier and partner. Operates across the same eastern Kentucky service area with analogous cooperative governance and is the upstream counterpart for the wires-only business model.
• Big Sandy Rural Electric Cooperative: Member-owned electric cooperative serving eastern Kentucky with similar mountainous rural terrain, coal-region exposure, and member-owner governance. Directly comparable in scale, geography, and operational challenges.
• South Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative: Kentucky electric distribution cooperative serving rural southern and eastern Kentucky counties with analogous member-owned structure, residential/commercial mix, and KPSC-regulated tariffs. Closely comparable business model and service territory characteristics.

Others

• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: National network and brand for member-owned electric cooperatives of which Cumberland Valley is a participating member. Not a direct competitor but a strategic ecosystem partner providing shared branding, marketing, and Co-op Connections program benefits.

Broad incumbents

• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): Federal corporation providing wholesale and retail electric service across Tennessee and adjacent states. Overlaps Cumberland Valley's Tennessee service counties and operates comparable generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure at vastly greater scale.
• Kentucky Utilities (PPL Corporation): Investor-owned electric utility serving Kentucky under the same KPSC regulator but operating at far greater scale across a broader urban/rural footprint. Comparable in regulatory framework but much larger and vertically integrated rather than cooperative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CVECoop
• Facebookfacebook.com/CumberlandValleyElectric

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Cumberland Valley Electric