Together We Save

What Together We Save does

Together We Save (legal name: Together We Save; doing business as "Together We Save Kentucky" and "Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives") is the joint marketing, communications, and program-information platform for a network of 16 member-owned electric distribution cooperatives operating across Kentucky, with a small spillover into Claiborne County, Tennessee. The underlying cooperative infrastructure is a regulated electric distribution business that purchases wholesale power from East Kentucky Power Cooperative and delivers it to member-owners through owned power lines, substations, and metering assets deployed under exclusive service territories. Most member cooperatives were formed between 1935 and 1942 under the federal Rural Electrification Administration, and the network is part of the national Touchstone Energy alliance of more than 750 local electric cooperatives serving 32 million member-owners across 46 states.

The product portfolio spans four functional layers. At the infrastructure layer, Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters replace legacy mechanical meters and enable remote reads, while GPS-mapped system data supports operations. At the supply layer, a cooperative-owned 60-acre solar farm delivers up to 8.5 MW through the Cooperative Solar community-solar program, and the Envirowatts green-power label (launched 2001) sources from five landfill-gas plants generating 15 MW. At the demand-management layer, the SimpleSaver direct load control program enrolls smart thermostats (Ecobee, Nest, Sensi, Honeywell) and central air conditioners, the EV Pilot Program uses the ev.energy platform to incentivize off-peak charging, and the CARES program funds weatherization through Kentucky Community Action Agencies. At the member-economics layer, the network offers heat-pump and water-heater rebates, weatherization incentives, renewable energy credits, and commercial/industrial products such as interruptible rates, an Economic Development Rider, and large renewable contracts up to 25 years.

The business model is the cooperative not-for-profit model: members are owners, rates are usage-based and set under Kentucky Public Service Commission oversight, fuel-adjustment and environmental surcharges pass through wholesale cost volatility, and excess revenues are returned to members as capital credits rather than paid as dividends. Revenue is generated at the individual member-cooperative level (e.g., Shelby Energy reported annual sales exceeding $44 million in 2016), but no consolidated Kentucky-network revenue is disclosed. Distribution occurs through 16 local cooperative offices, online self-serve portals, dedicated C&I key-account representatives, third-party software integrations, and energy-audit self-serve tools, supported by a broad content-marketing presence on a shared website, social channels, and community sponsorships.

Name

Together We Save

Legal name

Together We Save

Website

https://togetherwesaveky.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Together We Save is the joint marketing and information platform for Kentucky's 16 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives — member-owned electric distribution utilities serving residential, commercial, and industrial members across rural and suburban Kentucky with renewable energy, EV, and energy-efficiency programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cooperative Electric Distribution

NAICS

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

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ), Demand Response & Load Flexibility Services (EUAMAJAF), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)

Keywords

• Electric distribution cooperatives
• Community solar programs
• Energy efficiency rebates
• EV off-peak charging
• Rural electric utility

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Together We Save is the unified consumer-facing platform for Kentucky's 16 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, which distribute electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial members across Kentucky. The platform aggregates and markets electricity service, community solar subscriptions (Cooperative Solar), EV off-peak charging incentives, smart thermostat and AC load control (SimpleSaver), residential energy efficiency rebates, commercial programs (interruptible rates, Economic Development Rider, renewable energy credits), and online energy audit tools delivered through 16 member-owned nonprofit cooperatives.

Product overview

Together We Save is a unified consumer-facing platform for Kentucky's 16 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, representing a network of nonprofit electric cooperatives serving 32 million member-owners across 46 states. The platform aggregates energy products and programs including Cooperative Solar (60-acre community solar farm), EV Pilot Program (off-peak charging incentives), SimpleSaver (smart thermostat and AC load control), Energy Audit tools, business energy programs (interruptible rates, Economic Development Rider, renewable energy credits), and residential rebates (heat pumps, water heaters, weatherization). The portfolio is organized around energy cost management, renewable energy adoption, and demand-side efficiency, with programs delivered through 16 member cooperatives rather than a single product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Envirowatts: Green power program launched by Owen Electric in 2001 - the first electric utility in Kentucky to promote and sell green power. Five landfill gas power plants generate 15 megawatts of electricity through this program.
• Cooperative Solar
• Simple Saver
• CARES (Community Assistance Resources for Energy Savings)
• EV Pilot Program
• Economic Development Rider (EDR)

Products and services

• Cooperative Solar Community solar subscription program where the cooperatives own and operate a 60-acre solar farm in Kentucky generating up to 8.5 MW of electricity. Members can license solar panels for 25 years and receive bill credits for the market value of electricity produced, along with resource capacity and renewable energy credits. No upfront capital investment required from members; panels maintained by the cooperative.
• EV Pilot Program Demand-response program for residential EV owners providing monthly bill credits of $0.02 per kWh for charging between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Eastern prevailing time. Uses third-party ev.energy software to collect charging data; participating EVs must be on the compatibility list.
• SimpleSaver Program Direct load control program with two components: Smart Thermostat Program offering credits for enrolling qualifying Wi-Fi thermostats (Ecobee, Nest, Sensi, Honeywell Home), and Central Air Conditioner Program paying up to $20 annually per enrolled AC unit plus sign-up bonuses ($10 per thermostat up to 2; additional $100 per thermostat if purchased on or after March 2, 2019; $20 yearly summer season credits).
• Online Energy Audit No-cost online home energy analysis accessible through each member cooperative via the Apogee.net platform. Identifies opportunities to save on energy bills, helps members budget expenses, and informs decisions about energy-efficient appliances.
• EV Information Portal Educational resource covering plug-in hybrids (25-50 mile electric range), battery electric vehicles (200-300 mile range), charging times by charger type (Level 1/2/3), pricing ranges ($20k-$110k), and includes a downloadable EV Charging Book for members researching EV ownership.
• Electric Vehicle Calculator Online tool that lets members compare EV operating costs against gasoline vehicles. Estimates Battery Electric Vehicles save approximately 75% on annual fuel costs and roughly $100 per month compared to gas-powered cars.
• Commercial and Industrial Programs Suite of business energy solutions for commercial and industrial members, including interruptible rates with demand-response discounts (with buy-through option), Economic Development Rider for new and expanding businesses, large renewable program (up to 25-year contracts), and renewable energy credit purchasing options. Programs are administered by dedicated Key Accounts Representatives and subject to Kentucky Public Service Commission approval.
• Heat Pump Retrofit Rebate Rebate program offering $500 for upgrading to ENERGY STAR certified heat pumps, $1,000 for ENERGY STAR certified cold-climate heat pumps, and up to $1,000 for replacing electric furnaces or baseboard heat with high-efficiency heat pumps (14.3 SEER2/7.5 HSPF2 or higher).
• Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate $250 rebate for installing ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters (hybrid water heaters), among the highest-efficiency methods for producing hot water in residential settings.
• Button-Up Weatherization Program Home weatherization program offering up to $1,875 rebate for improvements such as air sealing and insulation upgrades. Requires home energy review before and after work; qualifying homes must be at least two years old and electrically heated.
• Touchstone Energy Home Certification Home certification program qualifying homes meeting energy-efficiency standards as Touchstone Energy Homes, which typically use 30% less energy than homes built to typical construction standards.
• CARES Program Community Assistance Resources for Energy Savings program providing incentives to enhance weatherization and energy-efficiency services through the Kentucky Community Action Agencies network. Maximum incentive per household is $3,000 for qualifying members.
• Commercial Advanced Lighting Program Small business lighting retrofit program offering up to $5,000 rebate for upgrading to high-efficiency LEDs. Available to facilities open at least 50 hours per week using less than 3,000,000 kWh annually; pre and post inspections required.
• Commercial and Industrial Thermostat Program Business energy efficiency program offering $100 rebate per thermostat for upgrading to qualifying learning thermostats that evaluate temperature patterns and occupant habits to optimize heating system operation.
• Envirowatts Green power program first launched by Owen Electric in 2001 as Kentucky's first utility green-power label. Five landfill gas power plants generate 15 MW of electricity, enough to power about 9,000 homes.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Duke Energy Kentucky: Investor-owned utility serving Kentucky with overlapping electricity distribution territory. Comparable as a regulated electric utility in the same state with overlapping AMI and demand response programs.
• Kentucky Utilities (LG&E and KU): Large investor-owned utility providing regulated electricity service across Kentucky. Comparable as a peer utility operating in the same service geography with rate-regulated distribution and renewable programs.
• Touchstone Energy Cooperative (national alliance): National alliance of 750+ local electric cooperatives across 46 states. The Kentucky network operates under the Touchstone Energy brand; comparable as the broader cooperative network umbrella and shared services provider.

Direct peers

• East Kentucky Power Cooperative: Wholesale electricity supplier for the Together We Save network of 16 cooperatives. Operates generation and transmission assets supplying member distribution co-ops across Kentucky; the most directly comparable counterparty and operational partner.
• Big Rivers Electric Corporation: Kentucky-based Generation and Transmission cooperative serving member distribution co-ops in western Kentucky. Closely comparable business model as a wholesale power supplier to rural electric cooperatives in the same state.
• Shelby Energy Cooperative: Member cooperative in the Together We Save network serving central Kentucky with reported annual sales exceeding $44 million. Direct peer for distribution utility operations and member programs.
• Owen Electric Cooperative: One of the 16 member cooperatives in the Together We Save network and a pioneer in green power (Envirowatts), AMI deployment, and SimpleSaver load control. Direct peer within the same network.

Regional players

• Pedernales Electric Cooperative: Largest electric distribution cooperative in the US, serving central Texas. Comparable as a similarly structured member-owned electric cooperative with community solar, EV programs, and energy efficiency offerings.
• Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative: Generation and Transmission cooperative serving member distribution co-ops in Indiana and Illinois. Comparable as a Touchstone Energy-aligned G&T cooperative with similar renewable and demand response programs.

Emerging players

• ev.energy: Third-party EV managed charging platform integrated with the network's EV Pilot Program. Comparable as an enabling technology vendor powering the cooperative's EV demand response offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kytouchstone
• Facebookfacebook.com/KyTouchstone

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries16 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 Together We Save