Side by side (MO, EIA-861)
| Metric | Union Electric Co | Cuivre River Electric Coop Inc |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 12.56 | 11.07 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 12.29 | 10.58 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,357 | $1,196 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 1,095,619 | 72,974 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Co-op |
| Counties served in MO | 65 | 5 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Union Electric Co · Cuivre River Electric Coop Inc · Missouri overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Lincoln · Montgomery · Pike · St Charles · Warren counties (MO, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Union Electric Co and Cuivre River Electric Coop Inc do not compete for the same meters. Missouri is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (psc.mo.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Union Electric Co cheaper than Cuivre River Electric Coop Inc?
- No — in 2024 Union Electric Co customers averaged 12.56 cents/kWh versus 11.07 for Cuivre River Electric Coop Inc (EIA-861). Cuivre River Electric Coop Inc was cheaper by 1.49 cents, about $161 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Union Electric Co to Cuivre River Electric Coop Inc?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Missouri has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Union Electric Co more expensive than Cuivre River Electric Coop Inc?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Union Electric and Cuivre River Electric Coop territory all feed the 1.49-cent gap.