Economic Development Incentive
In partnership, The Tennessee Valley Authority and Dickson Electric Service offer a unique range of incentives designed to encourage economic growth in the Dickson Electric service area. The incentives will benefit your project from start-up to help ensure its long-term success. Both economic and power system metrics will be used to evaluate your project’s value to the area. These metrics will determine the funding levels available for your project.
Investment Credit:
- Performance-based on economic and energy criteria
- 5-year program for new or expanded operations
- About 8 to 12% annual savings credited to monthly power bill
Performance Grant:
- If a company is considering a new facility or expansion located in either Dickson County or outside of the TVA footprint, then the project (or new plant) could qualify for the Performance Grant
- Award based on the project’s 5-year economic impact
Loan Fund:
- Loan to bridge the gap in funding at a potentially lower interest rate
- Loan available if expanding jobs within the Dickson Electric service area
- Maximum loan $3 million
- Term 5 years to 20 years
For more information, visit the TVA Economic Development website.
Engineering Services
Engineering service is offered by experts at a fee at or below market value and may be free!
Contact Dickson Electric to discuss the following services, which may prevent downtime or even avoid a disaster! DES offers services that can save you money and increase your profit margin by saving energy:
Technical Services:
- HVAC evaluation/consulting for commercial and industrial
- Lighting Studies
- Studies of wiring and electric distribution equipment
Predictive Maintenance:
- Ultrasonic testing to identify compressed air leaks
- Infrared scans
Power Quality Analysis
Energy Use of Building and Equipment
Download our Comprehensive Services Brochure (PDF).
Business & Industrial Educational Opportunities
University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Service (UTCIS)
Successfully developing your people takes more than just an occasional training session. It takes a strategy. A thoughtfully designed workforce development strategy can reduce employee turnover; increase productivity; enhance your ability to leverage new technologies; improve customer service and lower costs. The right workforce development strategy can also improve safety and increase the potential of business expansion. Visit the Center for Industrial Services Institute for Public Services website for more information or to find out how to get started.
- Low-cost training, consulting services, and education
- Offering solutions to grow, succeed, and improve profitability
- Visit to learn more: Contact a Solutions Consultant.
Detailed Programs Available through UTCIS
Smart Talent System is an employer-based skills development system available exclusively through UTCIS: Download a Smart Talent System (PDF).
Workforce Status Review is a confidential, unbiased assessment of efforts to build a dependable team of workers to keep your business growing: Download a Workforce Status Review (PDF).
Business Energy Advisor (BEA) Portal
Free industry-specific energy information for Dickson Electric System’s business and industry customers.
- Energy information for every industry imaginable
- Fills the gap for businesses that don’t have an energy manager on staff
- Energy calculators
- Energy advice on buildings, equipment, and processes
- Maintenance advise for equipment optimal performance
- Visit the BEA portal.
Rates & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The right size is the most beneficial rate based on your electric needs.
There are several different rate structures, and Dickson Electric strives to right-size your rate based on your business’s electric needs. The General Power Rate Schedule (GSA) applies to the firm power requirements (where a customer’s contact demand is 5,000 kilowatts (kW) or less) for electric service to commercial, industrial, and government customers, and to institutional customers including, without limitation, churches, clubs, fraternities, orphanages, nursing homes, rooming/boarding houses, and similar customers. This rate shall apply to customers whose service is not available under any other resale rate schedule. All rates are evaluated on the previous 12 months kW demand and kW used.
GSA 1: Generally for small businesses and all non-residential buildings such as barns, workshops, and garages with demand <50 kW and <15,000 kWh. Charges are composed of an energy charge and a customer charge.
GSA 2: Customers with electric needs that exceed 50 kW demand but do not exceed 1,000 kW demand, or if the customer’s billing demand is less than 50 kW but the energy exceeds the GSA 1 energy of 15,000. Charges are composed of a demand charge and a customer charge.
GSA 3: Customers with demand (contact demand or the highest billing demand during the last 12-month period) that exceeds 1,000 kW but less than 5,000 kW. If the customer using this rate has a qualifying SIC code (generally manufacturing will qualify for SIC code 2000-3999) and a signed agreement, they will be qualified to participate in the General Manufacturing Credit (GMC). If the meter demand does not meet or exceed 1,000 kW, the credit will not be given for that month but will be given any month the customer meets the required 1,000 kW demand. Charges consist of a demand charge, an energy charge, and a customer charge. The GMC will appear on the power bill as a credit if all the terms of the GMC agreement are met.
General Manufacturers Credit (GMC)
The General Manufacturing Credit (GMC) offers significant power cost savings to qualifying manufacturers, which in turn helps retain manufacturing load in the Tennessee Valley. A strong manufacturing base helps keep rates low for all consumers. For each month* in which an eligible customer (power rate GSA 3 and a signed GMC contract), has a metered demand that exceeds 1,000 kW** a credit is applied to each kW of metered demand used in determining the firm billing demand, and each kWh of firm energy. For more information, download the General Manufacturing Credit (PDF).
Customers with demand exceeding 5,000 kW should contact Dickson Electric to discuss a large power rates contract.
Power Rates
To view Power Rates, visit our Power Rates page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are a couple of FAQs. To ask a question, email us.
In order to anticipate the amount of energy that is needed to meet the needs of our customers, DES uses the total of all customers based on the highest amount of power used in a 15-minute interval during the month. The demand charge is based on the maximum amount of power during the highest 15-minute interval that a customer uses within the month. The demand charge is calculated based on the kW used during the highest monthly interval multiplied by the demand amount.
The customer charge is a fixed monthly charge for the basic fee for your electric service. It does not fluctuate with usage and does not include any consumption. The customer charge is a fee that is used to cover DES’s costs to maintain the DES electric grid and for administration costs associated with activities to maintain the customer’s account.
Service Application & Deposit Policies
To apply for electrical service for business, download the Application for Electric Service (PDF).
Please note: Dickson Electric Service requires a deposit on all electrical service accounts for the full term of service, and we will advise the Customer of the deposit amount to be provided for each account prior to activating electric service.
Download and view DES Deposit Policies (PDF) and approved payment options.
Contact Us
Have questions regarding your business or industrial needs? Click here to contact us.