Montana Electricity Rates
Rate data for Montana is being refreshed. The regulator and market facts below are current; figures return with the next data load.
Can you choose your electricity supplier in Montana?
No. Montana has not opened its residential electricity market to competition, so the utility that delivers your power also sells it. Its prices are set in rate cases before the Montana Public Service Commission, and the rate you pay depends on which utility serves your address, your rate schedule, and the season.
Grid operator: No RTO west of the Divide (WECC); SPP/MISO in the east. Wholesale power costs flow through to retail bills on the regulator's schedule rather than month to month, which is why regulated-state rates move more slowly than the market-based states listed below.
Want to shop for a supplier? Retail choice is open on this site in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington DC.
Montana is the state that deregulated electricity in 1997 and then re-regulated it in 2007, so a mover gets no supplier choice and a very different rulebook depending on the address: NorthWestern or Montana-Dakota customers get PSC deposit caps (one-sixth of annual billing, 6% interest) and the November 1 to April 1 winter shutoff review, while the 25 co-ops that serve more than 400,000 Montanans sit outside PSC jurisdiction and set their own deposits and winter policies.
Who will deliver your power in Montana
The utility is fixed by your address. These are the largest in the state, with what each says it needs from a new customer.
NorthWestern Energyinvestor-owned
Electric and natural gas service across western and central Montana (the western two-thirds of the state), plus Yellowstone National Park; rates are set by the Montana Public Service Commission. About 850,300 customers served across Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Yellowstone National Park (electric and gas combined, per NorthWestern); a Montana-only electric count is not stated on a verifiable page.
New residential customers use the online Start Service form (have account-holder information and the address ready) or call 888-467-2669 in Montana; the form states the meter will be read within 3 business days of the start date. Existing customers start, transfer or stop service in My Energy Account under Service Requests, and the service address must match the bill exactly.
Start service with NorthWestern Energy →Sources: northwesternenergy.com, myaccount.northwesternenergy.com, northwesternenergy.com, northwesternenergy.com, northwesternenergy.com, northwesternenergy.com, northwesternenergy.com, northwesternenergy.com, psc.mt.gov
Flathead Electric Cooperativecooperative
Northwest Montana around Kalispell, Whitefish and Libby (offices in Kalispell and Libby), plus the border properties of Cooke City and Elk Basin; power comes mainly from Bonneville Power Administration hydropower. About 60,000+ members and 77,000+ meters (per the co-op's home page).
You must become a member to activate service: apply online, walk in (2510 US Highway 2 East, Kalispell, or 120 West 5th Street, Suite 6, Libby) or call (800) 735-8489. An SSN or FEIN is required for a soft utility credit check; a deposit may be required based on credit risk and is refunded after one full year of on-time payments, and residential members who enroll in Flex Pay (prepaid) pay no deposit.
Start service with Flathead Electric Cooperative →Sources: flatheadelectric.com, flatheadelectric.com, flatheadelectric.com, flatheadelectric.com, flatheadelectric.com, flatheadelectric.com
Montana-Dakota Utilitiesinvestor-owned
Eastern Montana (its 'Badlands Region'), including Glendive, Miles City, Sidney, Wolf Point, Baker, Forsyth, Plentywood, Scobey, Culbertson, Poplar, Terry and Wibaux; district offices in Glendive, Miles City and Wolf Point. About nearly 144,000 electric customers in 185 communities across Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming (company-wide; Montana-only count not stated on a verifiable page).
New customers must call 800-638-3278 (7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday) to start service; existing customers can request start, stop or transfer online. MDU says not to use the online forms if you need service within the next two business days or were disconnected for nonpayment.
Start service with Montana-Dakota Utilities →Sources: montana-dakota.com, montana-dakota.com, montana-dakota.com, montana-dakota.com, montana-dakota.com, montana-dakota.com, psc.mt.gov
Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperativecooperative
Yellowstone, Stillwater, Carbon, Big Horn, Musselshell and Treasure counties around Billings, headquartered in Huntley; about 10,000 square miles of territory. About 23,458 meters (per YVEC's About page).
Each new member completes a membership application for electric service (online New Member/Service Transfer Application); YVEC says a security deposit may be required depending on credit history. New construction starts with a call or the New Construction Service Application, and YVEC asks you to begin as early as possible.
Start service with Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative →Missoula Electric Cooperativecooperative
Six Montana counties around Missoula (including Lolo, Frenchtown and Bonner) and one Idaho county; the co-op says its supply is about 95% carbon-free. About 17,149 meters and 13,800 members (stats reported Spring 2025).
Moving into an existing home means completing a Membership Application. MEC runs a credit check at sign-up; if a deposit is required, the residential deposit is $150 minimum or twice the highest bill at the place of service, whichever is greater, plus a one-time $5 processing fee per meter on the first statement.
Start service with Missoula Electric Cooperative →Sources: missoulaelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com
Deposits, ID, and supplier choice in Montana
Deposits. For PSC-regulated utilities (NorthWestern, Montana-Dakota), a residential deposit may be required unless you establish credit by one of: prior service with that utility in the last 12 months (at least 6 consecutive months, no disconnect for nonpayment, no more than one delinquency notice), a satisfactory record with another utility of the same type, 12 months of continuous full-time employment with no more than two employers, or a significant ownership interest in the premises; a deposit can still be required after a recent nonpayment disconnect, an unpaid balance, two or more delinquency notices in 12 months, a former customer with an unpaid bill at the address, or tampering within five years. The deposit is capped at one-sixth of estimated annual billing (twice the average monthly bill), earns 6% interest, is refunded after 12 months of satisfactory payment, and a qualified guarantor can be offered instead of cash; co-ops set their own rules (Missoula Electric: $150 minimum or twice the highest bill; Flathead: credit-risk policy, refunded after one year). (psc.mt.gov)
Choosing a supplier. No. Montana deregulated retail electricity supply in 1997 (Senate Bill 390) and reversed it in 2007 (House Bill 25); under MCA 69-8-201 a customer with average demand under 5,000 kW who buys electricity from a public utility may not choose another source after October 1, 2007, and the PSC FAQ says the electricity supply market 'is no longer open to choice' (NorthWestern customers do still have a choice of natural gas supplier).
Winter rules: from November 1 to April 1 a PSC-regulated utility must get Commission approval before a nonpayment shutoff, and approval is refused when the account holder is at or below the federal poverty guideline or on public assistance, or a household member is 62 or older or handicapped; you must tell the utility and may be asked for documentation. Shutoffs for nonpayment happen only between 8 a.m. and noon, landlords' tenants get 15 days' written notice, a medical certificate (ARM 38.5.1411) protects an account for 180 days, and the PSC (Consumer Assistance 1-800-646-6150) and the Office of Consumer Counsel (406-444-2771) have no jurisdiction over Montana's 25 electric cooperatives, which set their own deposit and winter-disconnect policies.
Sources: psc.mt.gov, psc.mt.gov, psc.mt.gov, psc.mt.gov, psc.mt.gov, psc.mt.gov, psc.mt.gov, psc.mt.gov, psc.mt.gov, mca.legmt.gov, legmt.gov, missoulaelectric.com, flatheadelectric.com, mtco-ops.com
Help paying an electric bill in Montana
LIHEAP (Montana Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, through local Human Resource Development Councils / Community Action agencies and Tribal LIHEAP offices
Homeowners and renters whose income is within the 2026-2027 limits (60% of state median income: $36,120 for one person, $69,463 for four) and whose countable resources are under $14,717 for one person (plus $1,502 per extra member, $31,524 maximum); households on SNAP, SSI or TANF may qualify automatically. LIHEAP pays part of winter bills for the October 1 to April 30 heating season (base benefit for an electrically heated two-bedroom single-family home is $1,219), the combined LIHEAP/Weatherization application must be printed and delivered or mailed to the local eligibility office with photo ID, SSNs, your most recent heat and electric bills and one month of income verification, and a decision letter should arrive within 45 days.
Sources: dphhs.mt.gov, dphhs.mt.gov, dphhs.mt.gov, liheapch.acf.gov, acf.gov, psc.mt.gov
Weatherization Assistance Program (Montana)
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, delivered by the same local eligibility offices
Households that qualify for LIHEAP are also eligible for weatherization and energy education, with applications ranked by need and priority to older adults and disabled individuals; the 2026-2027 weatherization income limit is 200% of poverty ($31,920 for one person, $66,000 for four). You can apply any time of year using the combined LIHEAP/Weatherization application, and an energy auditor visits to decide the most cost-effective measures (insulation, air sealing, furnace tune-ups, health and safety repairs).
Sources: dphhs.mt.gov, dphhs.mt.gov, liheapch.acf.gov
Energy Share of Montana, a private nonprofit; applications through your local Human Resource Development Council (HRDC)
Montanans facing a home energy emergency; Energy Share looks at the whole situation rather than income alone, so it can help people who do not qualify for LIHEAP, and it says it helps about 2,500-3,000 families a year. The PSC lists a toll-free line (888-779-7589), Flathead Electric says applicants must first apply for LIHEAP during the season and have a delinquent bill, and a local committee decides awards.
Sources: energysharemt.com, psc.mt.gov, flatheadelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com
Utility discounts for LIHEAP/LIEAP recipients
NorthWestern Energy, Montana-Dakota Utilities, Flathead Electric Cooperative, Missoula Electric Cooperative and other utilities (funded in part by the Universal System Benefits charge)
Customers approved for LIHEAP: NorthWestern applies an automatic discount to electric and gas bills, Montana-Dakota's Montana residential electric tariff gives a 30% discount at 0-60% of poverty, 25% at 61-90% and 20% above that (MDU describes it as up to 30%), Flathead Electric credits half the basic charge each month for members at LIHEAP's income level, and Missoula Electric offers discounts to LIEAP recipients with electric heat.
Sources: liheapch.acf.gov, montana-dakota.com, montana-dakota.com, flatheadelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com, psc.mt.gov
NorthWestern Energy payment arrangements
NorthWestern Energy (888-467-2669 in Montana)
Any NorthWestern customer having trouble paying: the utility can set up a payment arrangement, extend a due date or point you to local assistance, and asks you to call before the bill's due date; it directs Montana customers to DPHHS energy, water and weatherization assistance.
Source: northwesternenergy.com
Programs that change what you pay
- Rooftop solar (net metering)available
- Montana law (MCA 69-8-103, 69-8-602, 69-8-603) covers solar, wind or hydro systems up to 50 kW on the customer's premises: excess kWh roll to the next bill and any credit left at the end of a customer-chosen 12-month period (Jan 1, Apr 1, Jul 1 or Oct 1) is granted to the utility without compensation; Montana-Dakota's Rate 92 follows the same pattern, Missoula Electric allows systems up to 50 kW sized to 100% of annual use and banks excess kWh for future use, and Yellowstone Valley banks excess kWh for 12 months, keeps any leftover without compensation, and adds a $2.00/kW demand charge on net-metered homes. EIA counted 9,927 net-metering customers in Montana in 2024 (9,151 residential, 79.78 MW of PV).
Sources: mca.legmt.gov, mca.legmt.gov, mca.legmt.gov, montana-dakota.com, missoulaelectric.com, yvec.com, yvec.com, eia.gov
- Community solarlimited
- Community solar in Montana is run by individual co-ops rather than a statewide program: Flathead Electric has three phases (2015, 2018 and a 2025/2026 Whitefish array paired with a battery), Missoula Electric's Solarshare runs three arrays that are all sold out, and Yellowstone Valley's five phases ($630 per panel) are sold out; no NorthWestern Energy community solar offering appears on the pages verified here.
Sources: flatheadelectric.com, flatheadelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com, yvec.com
- Time-of-use rateslimited
- Montana-Dakota offers an Optional Time-of-Day Residential rate (Rate 16: on-peak noon to 8 p.m. weekdays at 7.112 cents Oct-May / 10.481 cents Jun-Sep, off-peak 6.514 cents, one-year minimum), while NorthWestern's Montana tariff list shows only a 2012 'Residential Smart Grid Time-of-Use Demo' schedule. Western co-ops price timing through peak-demand charges instead: Flathead charges $4.93/kW for your highest weekday use 7-10 a.m. and 5-8 p.m., and Missoula Electric $3.00/kW for 7-10 a.m. and 6-9 p.m.
Sources: montana-dakota.com, northwesternenergy.com, flatheadelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com
Questions people ask before moving to Montana
How far ahead should I set up electricity before moving to Montana?
NorthWestern Energy's online start form says the meter will be read within 3 business days of your start date, and Montana-Dakota tells new customers to call 800-638-3278 rather than use online forms if they need service within the next two business days, so a week's notice is comfortable for an existing home. Co-ops (Flathead, Missoula, Yellowstone Valley) require a membership application first, and the PSC says bringing power to a newly built home can take several weeks, so call the utility's new-construction department as early as possible.
Sources: myaccount.northwesternenergy.com, northwesternenergy.com, montana-dakota.com, flatheadelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com, yvec.com, psc.mt.gov
Will I have to pay a deposit for electric service in Montana?
With NorthWestern or Montana-Dakota, PSC rules let the utility require a deposit only if you cannot show credit through prior utility service, 12 months of steady employment or home ownership (or have recent disconnects, unpaid balances or tampering); it is capped at one-sixth of estimated annual billing, earns 6% interest and is refunded after 12 months of good payment, and a guarantor can substitute. Co-ops run their own credit checks: Missoula Electric's residential deposit is $150 minimum or twice the highest bill at the address, and Flathead waives the deposit for members on its Flex Pay prepaid program.
Sources: psc.mt.gov, psc.mt.gov, missoulaelectric.com, flatheadelectric.com, yvec.com
Can I choose my electricity supplier in Montana?
No. Montana opened retail supply to competition in 1997 and effectively closed it for small customers in 2007; MCA 69-8-201 bars a customer under 5,000 kW who buys from a public utility from choosing another source after October 1, 2007, and the PSC says the electricity supply market 'is no longer open to choice.' Your utility is fixed by your address: NorthWestern or Montana-Dakota (PSC-regulated) or one of 25 member-owned co-ops.
Sources: psc.mt.gov, mca.legmt.gov, psc.mt.gov, mtco-ops.com
How much does electricity cost in Montana?
EIA's 2024 profile puts Montana's average residential price at 12.66 cents per kWh (10.83 cents across all sectors, 37th among states), and the PSC's October 2026 summary shows a 750 kWh NorthWestern bill at $121.60 (15.65 cents/kWh plus a $4.20 monthly charge) versus $96.11 at Montana-Dakota, whose rates include a 22.008% interim increase since April 1, 2026. Co-op rates differ again: Flathead's residential rate averages 9.66 cents/kWh with a $26.66 basic charge and peak-demand charge, Missoula Electric charges $32 plus 7.12 cents/kWh and a $3/kW peak charge, and Yellowstone Valley charges $27 plus 11.68 cents/kWh.
Sources: eia.gov, eia.gov, psc.mt.gov, montana-dakota.com, northwesternenergy.com, northwesternenergy.com, flatheadelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com, yvec.com
Can my power be shut off in a Montana winter?
Possibly: from November 1 to April 1, NorthWestern, Montana-Dakota and other PSC-regulated utilities must get PSC approval before a nonpayment disconnect, and the PSC will not approve it if the account holder is at or below the poverty guideline or on public assistance, or a household member is 62 or older or handicapped; having children in the home is not by itself a protection, and you must notify the utility. Co-ops and propane dealers are not covered by the moratorium and follow their own policies, and a licensed health professional's medical certificate protects a regulated account for 180 days.
Sources: psc.mt.gov, psc.mt.gov, psc.mt.gov, psc.mt.gov
Where does Montana's electricity come from, and is my utility hydro-powered?
EIA's 2024 data show Montana generated 26.9 million MWh, with coal the largest single source (about 9.8 million MWh), hydroelectric close behind (about 9.2 million MWh, roughly a third) and wind about 5.8 million MWh; the PSC notes hydropower was the dominant source in 2020 after Colstrip Units 1 and 2 closed. What reaches your home depends on the utility: NorthWestern's 10 Montana dams supplied 30% of its Montana generation in 2025 (more than 55% carbon-free), Flathead Electric's 2025 mix was about 76% large hydro from BPA, Missoula Electric is about 95% carbon-free, and Yellowstone Valley buys from WAPA and Basin Electric.
Sources: eia.gov, eia.gov, psc.mt.gov, northwesternenergy.com, northwesternenergy.com, flatheadelectric.com, missoulaelectric.com, yvec.com
Researched 2026-10-16 from utility, regulator, and agency pages; every statement links to where it was read. Rules change: confirm deposits and program dates with the utility or agency before you rely on them.
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