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Electricity In Montana

  • Population1,068,778
  • Total Consumption14,476,589 MWh / 13.54 MWh per capita
  • CO2 Equivalent Emissions6,767,418,528 kg
  • Total Production23,345,319 MWh / 21.84 MWh per capita
state-map

Residential Electricity Bills & Rates in Montana

Montana residential electric rates are highest in January and the highest average bill is in September.

Historical Pricing:
Price Per kWHAverage Bill$0.121/kWh$0.105/kWh$141.76/mo.$72.60/mo.
14th11.33¢Average residential price per kWh in the state of Montana
9th$97.28Average residential monthly electricity bill for Montana Residents

Energy Profile of Montana

Montana's Electricity Prices and Usage

The average electricity rate in Montana in 2021 is 11.33 cents per kilowatt hour, which is 15.01% lower than the national average of 13.33 cents. The state has a regulated electricity market, meaning consumers may have only a few provider options to choose from when shopping for their electricity. Montana has accomplished a 5.44% rise in the use of renewable fuel sources for electricity production in the past year. The state is the 43rd highest electricity consuming state with consumption totaling over 14,400,000 megawatt hours. Electricity providers operating in the state increased their production of electricity from wind turbines by 10.45%. The state has total emissions of 6,331.92 kilograms per person of carbon dioxide equivalent gases, which ranks it the 15th worst polluting state per capita.

Electricity Providers in Montana

ProviderArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Rate (¢)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Average Bill ($)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Residential Sales (MWh)Arrow DownBlue arrow pointing down.Residential Revenues ($)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.State Production (MWh)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.State Emissions (KG)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.
Flathead Electric Cooperative9.55111.42809,46177,276,00011,9941,345,502,929.48
Mission Valley Power6.8992.6245,00016,880,510No DataIcon representing missing value.181,116,912.24
Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative12.46119.64222,13527,667,553No DataIcon representing missing value.136,871,501.34
Montana Dakota Utilities 10.9083.53181,80319,815,000302,208806,222,064.09
Missoula Electric Coop9.96106.28176,99917,636,315No DataIcon representing missing value.114,441,665.94
Ravalli Electric9.95119.79140,70913,997,900No DataIcon representing missing value.76,616,533.05
Vigilante Electric Cooperative8.3795.04118,7829,938,000No DataIcon representing missing value.81,740,040.19
Lincoln Electric Cooperative10.19135.485,3508,693,000No DataIcon representing missing value.56,296,872.04
Park Electric Coop9.53112.7481,4197,757,400No DataIcon representing missing value.84,248,501.8
Glacier Electric Coop10.03103.2373,6497,385,700No DataIcon representing missing value.81,719,471.36
34 providers total

Power Plants in Montana

PlantArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Primary Fuel TypeArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Production (MWh)Arrow DownBlue arrow pointing down.Emission (KG)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Emissions per MWh (KG/MWh)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Toxic Chemical ReleaseArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Closing DateArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.
ColstripAvista Utilities (14.97%)Portland General Electric (19.96%)Puget Sound Energy (24.95%)NorthWestern Energy (12.34%)Talen Montana LLC (17.60%)PacifiCorp (9.98%)
Coal 8,013,770.998,491,678,088.641,059.64YesNo DataIcon representing missing value.
LibbyUSACE Northwestern Division (100.00%)
Conventional Hydroelectric 2,310,881142,495,414.4461.66No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
Noxon RapidsAvista Utilities (100.00%)
Conventional Hydroelectric 1,596,460.0198,442,216.2761.66No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
Fort PeckUSACE-Omaha (100.00%)
Conventional Hydroelectric 1,105,656.9968,177,905.9861.66No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
Selis Ksanka QlispeEnergy Keepers Inc (100.00%)
Conventional Hydroelectric 962,81959,370,105.9361.66No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
Hungry HorseUS Bureau of Reclamation (100.00%)
Conventional Hydroelectric 925,70957,081,810.3961.66No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
YellowtailUS Bureau of Reclamation (100.00%)
Conventional Hydroelectric 780,39148,121,099.2561.66No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
NaturEner Rim Rock EnergyNaturEner Rim Rock Energy LLC (100.00%)
Wind 663,55418,878,541.4428.45No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
Judith Gap Wind Energy CenterInvenergy (100.00%)
Wind 487,07813,859,395.3628.45No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
Thompson FallsNorthWestern Energy (100.00%)
Conventional Hydroelectric 480,17629,609,009.2161.66No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
63 power plants total

Quick Facts

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Montana ranks 49th in the US for natural gas generation, with 337,721.67 megawatt hours generated using the fuel type.

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When measuring carbon dioxide emissions per capita, Montana experienced a 28.31% decrease over the course of the last 12 months.

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Montana is the 6th highest generator of megawatt hours per capita, with a population of 1,068,778 and recent annual megawatt hour production of 23,345,318.63.

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As the 32nd highest state for non-renewable generation per capita, Montana produces 9.07 megawatt hours per person a year.

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Citizens of Montana are faced with an average of 1.8 power outages each year, with outages lasting on average 274.4 minutes.

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Flathead Electric Cooperative is the largest supplier in the state of Montana when calculated by megawatt hours sold.

CountyArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.PopulationArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.ProvidersArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.PlantsArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Rate (¢)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Avg. Electric BillArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.
Beaverhead County9,4537 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.10.17$92.24/mo
Big Horn County13,31911 providers312.50$108.93/mo
Blaine County6,6815 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.12.75$109.44/mo
Broadwater County6,2373 providers110.20$91.06/mo
Carbon County10,7258 providers112.59$102.68/mo
Carter County1,25210 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.12.51$107.44/mo
Cascade County81,3665 providers713.40$110.25/mo
Chouteau County5,6356 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.13.26$108.42/mo
Custer County11,4027 providers113.02$122.85/mo
Daniels County1,6903 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.10.89$143.06/mo
Dawson County8,61310 providers111.84$110.96/mo
Deer Lodge County9,1403 providers110.66$90.35/mo
Fallon County2,8469 providers112.25$96.20/mo
Fergus County11,0505 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.13.78$112.62/mo
Flathead County103,8069 providers49.67$118.04/mo
Gallatin County114,4346 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.10.60$99.05/mo
Garfield County1,25810 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.13.05$123.49/mo
Glacier County13,7536 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.10.46$98.44/mo
Golden Valley County8214 providers113.59$109.72/mo
Granite County3,3794 providers110.44$96.30/mo
Hill County16,4845 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.13.07$103.20/mo
Jefferson County12,2213 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.10.21$91.06/mo
Judith Basin County2,0075 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.13.71$111.55/mo
Lake County30,4585 providers18.51$100.36/mo
Lewis and Clark County69,4325 providers410.33$91.79/mo
Liberty County2,3377 providers111.75$100.41/mo
Lincoln County19,9808 providers110.46$114.96/mo
Madison County8,6003 providers110.36$92.41/mo
McCone County1,6647 providers111.71$121.74/mo
Meagher County1,8625 providers111.71$104.88/mo
Mineral County4,3976 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.10.63$100.14/mo
Missoula County119,6004 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.10.27$98.20/mo
Musselshell County4,6337 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.13.37$115.55/mo
Park County16,6068 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.10.79$99.91/mo
Petroleum County4877 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.13.44$117.21/mo
Phillips County3,9547 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.13.17$121.89/mo
Pondera County5,9116 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.11.39$100.36/mo
Powder River County1,6829 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.13.05$123.32/mo
Powell County6,8904 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.10.73$92.63/mo
Prairie County1,0778 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.11.94$111.36/mo
Ravalli County43,8064 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.10.82$103.91/mo
Richland County10,80313 providers210.15$105.69/mo
Roosevelt County11,00411 providers310.98$118.88/mo
Rosebud County8,93711 providers212.96$123.66/mo
Sanders County12,1137 providers210.18$106.48/mo
Sheridan County3,3097 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.9.57$106.87/mo
Silver Bow County34,9152 providers110.20$91.06/mo
Stillwater County9,6426 providers112.50$103.47/mo
Sweet Grass County3,7374 providers112.29$108.26/mo
Teton County6,1475 providers312.04$101.24/mo
Toole County4,7366 providers110.65$103.17/mo
Treasure County6966 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.13.28$136.80/mo
Valley County7,3968 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.12.22$121.97/mo
Wheatland County2,1263 providers313.41$110.70/mo
Wibaux County9698 providersNo DataIcon representing missing value.11.25$108.39/mo
Yellowstone County161,3007 providers412.29$106.65/mo

Power Plant Fuel Types, Emissions & Pollution Factors

The state of Montana’s primary fuel source consumed for electricity production is Conventional Hydroelectric. They produce 10,648,634.51 megawatt hours, or 45.61% of the total production in the state, from this fuel. When combined with Coal (37.04%) and Wind (12.61%), these three fuel types make up 22,237,785 megawatt hours (or 95.26%) state's electricity production. The state has the 42nd highest amount of total CO2 pollution from electricity production of all of the states in the US, emitting 6,767,418,527.58 kilograms per year. Additionally, the state ranks 15th highest in the country for emissions per resident, which could be argued to be the more important statistic. They average 6,331.92 kilograms of emissions per citizen. Montana has 63 power generation plants, which is the 41st highest number of power plants in a state and the 13th highest number of plants per citizen in a state.

CONVENTIONAL HYDROELECTRIC Renewable, RefreshableIcon representing renewability.
Conventional Hydroelectric
Conventional Hydroelectric
Conventional Hydroelectric
Conventional Hydroelectric
Conventional Hydroelectric
45.61%
COAL
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
37.04%
WIND Renewable, RefreshableIcon representing renewability.
Wind
Wind
12.61%
PETROLEUM COKE
Petroleum Coke
1.89%
NATURAL GAS
Natural Gas
1.45%
OTHER
Other
1.41%

Net Metering

Roughly 55.88% of the electric providers in Montana offer net metering to their customers. At the state level, Montana is known for decent net metering and feed in tariff regulations.

Energy Loss

There are 23 companies in Montana that reported energy loss, including Flathead Electric Cooperative, Mission Valley Power, and Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative. Combined, these 23 companies average an annual energy loss of 3.11% of electricity produced. The United States average for energy loss is 2.72%, which earns a rank of 32nd worst in the country for Montana in this category.

Solar Taxes And Rebates

When it comes to encouraging solar panel installs at private residences, tax and rebate incentives from the government are some of the easiest methods. Montana offers a credit that is $1000 or less or there is no state tax. Offering no rebates for solar panel installs, the state is currently dropping the ball for its citizens who want to install private solar panels. Fortunately, Montana offers a 100% tax exemption to residents. at their place of residence. There is currently a 100% sales tax exemption in place for the purchase of solar panels.

State Level Initiatives

Whether a consumer is able to easily find electricity plans with renewable sources is somewhat determined by statewide initiatives. Many states require renewable fuels to be a portion of the fuel used for electricity generation by suppliers in the state. These stipulations are referred to as Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). The state of Montana, unfortunately, has no standards in place. Also, there are currently no low income solar programs to assist low income families to install solar panels.

FAQ: Common Questions About Energy in Montana

Where does Montana get its electricity?

The main fuel used for electricity production in Montana is Conventional Hydroelectric, making up 45.61% of the fuel used in the state.

What is the average electric bill in Montana?

The average electricity bill in Montana in 2021 is $97 while the countrywide average is $120.

How much does electricity cost in Montana?

The average price per kilowatt hour of electricity is 11.33 cents in Montana in 2021.