Electricity in Montana
Electricity Rates, Plans & Statistics
Electricity Coverage & Statistics in Montana
- Population see rank1,084,225
- Total Production see rank24,466,638 MWh / 22.57 MWh per capita
- Total Consumption see rank15,107,107 MWh / 13.93 MWh per capita
- Total Production from Renewable see rank12,662,714 MWh / 11.68 MWh per capita
- CO2 Emissions from Consumption see rank7,315,639,990 kg / 6,747.34 kg per capita
- Total Production from Non-Renewable see rank11,803,925 MWh / 10.89 MWh per capita

Residential Electricity Bills & Rates in Montana
Montana residential electric rates are highest in January and the highest average bill is in September.
Historical Electricity Rates:
Energy Profile of Montana
Montana's Electricity Prices and Usage
Consumers in Montana enjoy a lower residential electricity rate than most people around the nation, with an average state electricity rate of 11.19 cents per kilowatt hour compared to the nationwide average price of 13.99 cents. While there are 30 electricity companies operating in the state, citizens often will only have one electricity supplier choice due to the regulated electricity market in place. There are over 7,315,639,989.66 kilograms of CO2 emissions emitted from electricity use in the state, which is enough to make Montana the 42nd highest polluting state in the US based on total kilograms emitted. Residents in the state consume, on average, 13.93 megawatt hours of electricity each, making Montana the 19th highest ranked state based on electricity consumption per capita. Customers in the state are faced with 1.23 power outages on average, with outages lasting an average of 201.4 minutes. The national averages for these data points are 1.21 outages and 122.99 minutes. Approximately 51.76% of the states' electricity is produced from sustainable fuels, ranking them as the 22nd highest state for total renewable electricity production.
Residential Electricity Providers in Montana
Provider | Service Type | Residential Rate (¢) | Residential Average Bill ($) | Residential Sales (MWh) | Residential Revenues ($) | State Production (MWh) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NorthWestern Energy | BUNDLED | 12.05 | 88.24 | 2,751,629 | 331,489,030 | 3,960,649.96 |
Flathead Electric Cooperative | BUNDLED | 9.51 | 113.95 | 850,844 | 80,892,000 | 11,994 |
Mission Valley Power | BUNDLED | 6.90 | 93.77 | 251,189 | 17,327,570 | |
Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative | BUNDLED | 12.38 | 120.48 | 230,963 | 28,587,861 | |
Montana Dakota Utilities | BUNDLED | 11.05 | 88.14 | 188,987 | 20,880,000 | 165,456 |
Vigilante Electric Cooperative | BUNDLED | 7.79 | 117.64 | 187,925 | 14,645,000 | |
Missoula Electric Coop | BUNDLED | 9.91 | 108.34 | 184,521 | 18,277,542 | |
Ravalli Electric | BUNDLED | 10.04 | 121.52 | 143,279.44 | 14,378,230.77 | |
Park Electric Coop | BUNDLED | 9.29 | 112.7 | 85,220.22 | 7,916,863.68 | |
Lincoln Electric Cooperative | BUNDLED | 10.60 | 132.12 | 80,967.97 | 8,580,229.15 |
Power Plants in Montana
Plant | City/County | Primary Fuel Type | Production (MWh) | Emission (KG) | Emissions/MWh (KG/MWh) | Toxic Chemical Release | Closing Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colstrip | Coal | 10,010,332 | 10,402,443,379.64 | 1,039.17 | Yes | ||
NaturEner Rim Rock EnergyNaturEner Rim Rock Energy LLC (100.00%) | Toole County | Wind | 644,950 | ||||
Judith Gap Wind Energy CenterInvenergy (100.00%) | Wheatland County | Wind | 460,098 | ||||
Yellowstone Energy LPYellowstone Energy LP (100.00%) | Lockwood CDP | Petroleum Coke | 454,274 | 487,755,602.5 | 1,073.7 | ||
South Peak WindGreat American West Wind, LLC (100.00%) | Judith Basin County | Wind | 293,533 | ||||
NaturEner Glacier Wind Energy 2NaturEner Glacier Wind Energy 2 LLC (100.00%) | Toole County | Wind | 283,544 | ||||
NaturEner Glacier Wind Energy 1NaturEner Glacier Wind Energy 1 LLC (100.00%) | Toole County | Wind | 266,107 | ||||
Dave Gates Generating StationNorthWestern Energy DGGS (100.00%) | Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | Natural Gas | 263,656 | 172,708,636.31 | 655.05 | ||
Stillwater Wind, LLCPattern Operators LP (100.00%) | Stillwater County | Wind | 260,107 | ||||
OREG 1 IncOrmat Nevada Inc (100.00%) | Roosevelt County | Waste Heat | 156,298 |
Quick Facts
Montana generates 2,822,409.02 megawatts from wind turbines. That is sufficient to rank it 21st in the United States for wind energy electricity generation.
Montana produces 11.68 megawatt hours per resident of the state from renewable fuel types. This makes Montana the 5th highest state for renewable generation per capita in the nation.
Montana is the 45th largest state by population in the US, with 1,084,225 citizens .
Wind produces 2,822,409.02 megawatt hours of electricity in Montana. This equals roughly 2.6 megawatt hours per person in Montana being produced from wind power, giving the state a rank of 10th highest in the United States in that category.
Montana has seen a 24.50% increase in the burning of non-renewable fuel types for electricity production within the last 12 months.
Montana is 5th in the country for megawatt hours per capita generated from coal, averaging 9.74 megawatt hours per person each year.
County | Population | Providers | Plants | Residential Rate (¢) | Residential Avg. Electric Bill |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beaverhead County | 9,371 | 2 | 9.92 | $102.93/mo | |
Big Horn County | 13,124 | 6 | 1 | 12.15 | $105.81/mo |
Blaine County | 7,044 | 3 | 12.52 | $101.46/mo | |
Broadwater County | 6,774 | 2 | 9.92 | $102.94/mo | |
Carbon County | 10,473 | 3 | 12.44 | $95.42/mo | |
Carter County | 1,415 | 4 | 15.65 | $96.32/mo | |
Cascade County | 84,414 | 3 | 1 | 12.81 | $100.14/mo |
Chouteau County | 5,895 | 4 | 13.16 | $104.18/mo | |
Custer County | 11,867 | 7 | 13.00 | $124.75/mo | |
Daniels County | 1,661 | 3 | 11.58 | $127.37/mo | |
Dawson County | 8,940 | 6 | 12.29 | $103.99/mo | |
Deer Lodge County | 9,421 | 2 | 1 | 9.92 | $102.94/mo |
Fallon County | 3,049 | 4 | 13.91 | $90.40/mo | |
Fergus County | 11,446 | 3 | 13.77 | $109.33/mo | |
Flathead County | 104,357 | 4 | 1 | 10.75 | $103.10/mo |
Gallatin County | 118,960 | 4 | 10.99 | $96.99/mo | |
Garfield County | 1,173 | 2 | 13.18 | $115.82/mo | |
Glacier County | 13,778 | 3 | 11.06 | $92.98/mo | |
Golden Valley County | 823 | 2 | 1 | 13.79 | $109.59/mo |
Granite County | 3,309 | 3 | 11.75 | $91.16/mo | |
Hill County | 16,309 | 2 | 13.02 | $102.90/mo | |
Jefferson County | 12,085 | 2 | 9.92 | $102.94/mo | |
Judith Basin County | 2,023 | 2 | 1 | 13.79 | $109.58/mo |
Lake County | 31,134 | 4 | 9.92 | $92.25/mo | |
Lewis and Clark County | 70,973 | 2 | 2 | 10.87 | $96.39/mo |
Liberty County | 1,959 | 3 | 12.20 | $98.28/mo | |
Lincoln County | 19,677 | 5 | 10.82 | $112.22/mo | |
Madison County | 8,623 | 2 | 10.39 | $99.68/mo | |
McCone County | 1,729 | 6 | 12.68 | $110.72/mo | |
Meagher County | 1,927 | 4 | 10.51 | $106.16/mo | |
Mineral County | 4,535 | 3 | 11.33 | $101.43/mo | |
Missoula County | 117,922 | 3 | 10.87 | $97.41/mo | |
Musselshell County | 4,730 | 3 | 13.80 | $110.10/mo | |
Park County | 17,191 | 3 | 10.90 | $99.39/mo | |
Petroleum County | 496 | 3 | 13.96 | $114.61/mo | |
Phillips County | 4,217 | 3 | 11.93 | $100.44/mo | |
Pondera County | 5,898 | 4 | 12.05 | $95.72/mo | |
Powder River County | 1,694 | 4 | 13.69 | $140.65/mo | |
Powell County | 6,946 | 2 | 11.52 | $93.20/mo | |
Prairie County | 1,088 | 4 | 12.80 | $122.01/mo | |
Ravalli County | 44,174 | 4 | 11.31 | $100.86/mo | |
Richland County | 11,491 | 5 | 2 | 10.10 | $99.15/mo |
Roosevelt County | 10,794 | 7 | 2 | 10.66 | $109.11/mo |
Rosebud County | 8,329 | 6 | 1 | 12.73 | $122.13/mo |
Sanders County | 12,400 | 6 | 11.23 | $95.54/mo | |
Sheridan County | 3,539 | 4 | 8.73 | $113.22/mo | |
Silver Bow County | 35,133 | 2 | 1 | 9.92 | $102.94/mo |
Stillwater County | 8,963 | 5 | 1 | 12.76 | $101.12/mo |
Sweet Grass County | 3,678 | 4 | 2 | 11.79 | $105.10/mo |
Teton County | 6,226 | 2 | 12.76 | $101.68/mo | |
Toole County | 4,971 | 3 | 3 | 10.58 | $89.13/mo |
Treasure County | 762 | 3 | 12.73 | $126.67/mo | |
Valley County | 7,578 | 5 | 12.77 | $117.58/mo | |
Wheatland County | 2,069 | 3 | 1 | 13.71 | $109.65/mo |
Wibaux County | 937 | 4 | 12.61 | $74.91/mo | |
Yellowstone County | 164,731 | 3 | 1 | 12.76 | $107.68/mo |
Montana is the 42nd worst ranked state when it comes to total CO2 pollution, with the state consuming enough electricity to account for 7,315,639,989.66 kilograms of CO2 emissions per year. More telling of the state's pollution reality is the per capita CO2 totals. Currently that amount stands at 6,747.34 kilograms of CO2 emissions from electricity use, which results in the state being the 11th ranked state in the nation for CO2 pollution emitted per capita. Electricity producing facilities in the state most often use Coal, which makes up 10,564,151.71 megawatt hours (or 43.18%) of the fuel types used for electricity generation in the state. Adding Coal totals to Conventional Hydroelectric (39.95%) and Wind (11.54%), these three fuels make up 94.66% of the state electricity generation. Montana has 22 electricity producing plants, which is the 38th most in the country and 7th highest when counting power plants per person.
FAQ: Common Questions About Energy in Montana
What is a good electricity rate in Montana?
The average electricity price paid by customers in Montana in 2022 is 11.19 cents per kilowatt hour.
Where does Montana get its electricity?
Montana's electricity is produced using primarily Coal, which makes up 43.18% of the fuel used in the state. Conventional Hydroelectric and Wind also account for 39.95% and 11.54% respectively.
Does Montana have a deregulated electricity market?
No, Montana has a regulated electricity market where consumers often have only a single supplier choice for their electricity needs.
How many power plants are located in Montana?
There are 22 active power plants in Montana.
How many electric companies offer service in Montana?
Montana has 30 electricity providers operating in the area.
What is the average electric bill in Montana?
The average electric bill in the state of Montana in 2022 is $99 while the national average is $124.
What electricity company is the largest supplier in Montana?
By total megawatt hours sold, NorthWestern Energy is the largest electricity supplier in Montana.
What power companies are in Montana?
State Customers Rank | Provider | State Customers |
---|---|---|
1 | NorthWestern Energy | 390,225 |
2 | Flathead Electric Cooperative | 71,177 |
3 | Montana Dakota Utilities | 25,593 |
4 | Mission Valley Power | 22,053 |
5 | Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative | 21,626 |
6 | Missoula Electric Coop | 15,800 |
7 | Ravalli Electric | 10,972 |
8 | Vigilante Electric Cooperative | 10,374 |
9 | Glacier Electric Coop | 7,808 |
10 | Fergus Electric Cooperative | 6,531 |
What is the cheapest electricity company in Montana?
Residential Rate Rank | Provider | Residential Rate (¢) | State Customers |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mission Valley Power | 6.90 | 22,053 |
2 | City of Troy Utilities | 7.40 | 1,045 |
3 | Vigilante Electric Cooperative | 7.79 | 10,374 |
4 | Sheridan Electric Cooperative | 8.22 | 3,715 |
5 | Lower Yellowstone Electric REA | 8.75 | 5,093 |
6 | Marias River Electric Cooperative | 9.09 | 3,817 |
7 | Park Electric Coop | 9.29 | 6,307 |
8 | Flathead Electric Cooperative | 9.51 | 71,177 |
9 | Missoula Electric Coop | 9.91 | 15,800 |
10 | Ravalli Electric | 10.04 | 10,972 |