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Electricity In North Dakota

  • Population762,062
  • Total Consumption21,859,416 MWh / 28.68 MWh per capita
  • CO2 Equivalent Emissions14,027,159,158 kg
  • Total Production42,171,325 MWh / 55.34 MWh per capita
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Residential Electricity Bills & Rates in North Dakota

North Dakota residential electric rates are highest in January and the highest average bill is in May.

Historical Electric Rates:

Price Per kWHAverage Bill$0.124/kWh$0.089/kWh$149.07/mo.$86.62/mo.
5th10.66¢Average residential price per kWh in the state of North Dakota
20th$111.43Average residential monthly electricity bill for North Dakota Residents

Energy Profile of North Dakota

MonthlyWe report production data as it is published. Due to reporting methods and timing, data from 2021 and 2020 may be incomplete. Data is released in full each fall for the previous calendar year. For clarification on any data points, please contact our team.
AnnualAnnual data for 2020 will be finalized in the fall of 2021. Until that time, some data may be incomplete. Data for 2021 is a summation of all information released to date, which may only represent a portion of the actual production that has occurred. For clarification on any data points, please contact our team.

North Dakota's Electricity Prices and Usage

Customers in North Dakota enjoy a lower residential electricity rate than many people around the United States, with an average state electric rate of 10.66 cents per kilowatt hour compared to the nationwide average rate of 13.33 cents. When shopping for electricity, many residents are faced with only one or two options when choosing their supplier due to the regulated electricity market that exists in the state. The state is ranked as the 40th largest electricity consuming state as 21,859,416 megawatt hours are consumed by citizens living there. McKenzie Electric Cooperative sells 4,739,038 megawatt hours in the state per year, more than all other electricity providers. Rising 8.29% over the course of the previous 12 months, renewable fuel types continually make up a bigger amount of the fuel types used for electricity production in North Dakota. The state is home to 762,062 residents, which is the 48th largest population for a state in the nation.

Residential Electricity Providers in North Dakota

ProviderArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Residential Rate (¢)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Residential 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.
Northern States Power Company11.1787.96769,20085,906,0181,995,9481,490,297,200.56
Montana Dakota Utilities 10.3282.74758,72678,329,0001,753,843.252,823,047,062.49
Cass County Electric Cooperative11.84125.62591,03269,994,000No DataIcon representing missing value.807,151,103.22
Otter Tail Power Company9.97107587,66758,617,6981,544,002.352,166,224,184.54
Nodak Electric11.93182.37365,52643,620,000No DataIcon representing missing value.700,109,340.56
Capital Electric Cooperative10.21105.31227,79823,267,500No DataIcon representing missing value.238,901,864.81
Northern Plains Electric Cooperative10.43185.76216,50622,574,000No DataIcon representing missing value.268,509,843.52
Verendrye Electric Cooperative10.49131.32211,93022,231,000No DataIcon representing missing value.358,888,615.64
Mountrail Williams Electric Cooperative6.4778.54183,51611,876,922No DataIcon representing missing value.2,309,839,443.65
Roughrider Electric Cooperative10.25123.09157,83016,170,848No DataIcon representing missing value.457,781,446.31
33 providers total

Power Plants in North Dakota

PlantArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.City/CountyArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Primary Fuel TypeArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Production (MWh)Arrow DownBlue arrow pointing down.Emission (KG)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Emissions/MWh (KG/MWh)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Toxic Chemical ReleaseArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Closing DateArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.
Coal CreekGreat River Energy (100.00%)
McLean County Coal 8,741,870.018,294,519,082.39948.83Yes10/2022
Antelope ValleyBasin Electric Power Cooperative (100.00%)
Mercer County Coal 5,117,765.995,587,660,090.851,091.82YesNo DataIcon representing missing value.
Milton R YoungMinnkota Power Cooperative (100.00%)
Oliver County Coal 4,519,158.015,055,619,133.761,118.71YesNo DataIcon representing missing value.
Leland OldsBasin Electric Power Cooperative (100.00%)
Mercer County Coal 2,944,517.023,364,658,132.511,142.69YesNo DataIcon representing missing value.
GarrisonUS Army Corps of Engineers (100.00%)
McLean County Conventional Hydroelectric 2,450,395.01151,098,249.0161.66No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
CoyoteMontana Dakota Utilities (25.00%)NorthWestern Energy (10.00%)Otter Tail Power Company (35.00%)Minnkota Power Cooperative (30.00%)
Mercer County Coal 2,406,8812,742,897,373.581,139.61No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
Emmons-Logan Wind, LLCNextEra Energy (100.00%)
Emmons County Wind 865,69924,621,510.7528.44No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
Bison 4 Wind Energy CenterMinnesota Power (100.00%)
Morton County Wind 805,99722,779,185.0728.26No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
Lonesome Creek StationBasin Electric Power Cooperative (100.00%)
McKenzie County Natural Gas 784,053417,049,477.6531.91No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
Courtenay Wind FarmNorthern States Power Company (100.00%)
Stutsman County Wind 695,54219,802,186.8928.47No DataIcon representing missing value.No DataIcon representing missing value.
59 power plants total

Quick Facts

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Wind turbines produce 18.28 megawatt hours per year per person for North Dakota citizens, which is highest in the United States.

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CO2 pollution totals due to electricity consumption have improved by 3.93% over the course of the preceding year in North Dakota.

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The average North Dakota resident uses 28.68 megawatt hours of electricity each year, which ranks the state as the highest state for electricity consumption per person.

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With 24,280,808.29 megawatt hours of electricity generated from coal, North Dakota is 14th in the country for total megawatt hours produced from coal.

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With 762,062 citizens living within the state and 42,171,324.77 megawatt hours produced a year, North Dakota had a megawatt hour per capita production of 55.34 megawatt hours. This is the 2nd largest megawatt hour per capita amount in the nation.

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The burning of non-renewable fuel sources in electricity generation in North Dakota has been curtailed by 3.80% during the course of the previous 12 months.

CountyArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.PopulationArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.ProvidersArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.PlantsArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Residential Rate (¢)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Residential Avg. Electric BillArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.
Adams County2,2165110.60$112.63/mo
Barnes County10,415439.53$106.65/mo
Benson County6,8326No DataIcon representing missing value.10.34$146.07/mo
Billings County9283No DataIcon representing missing value.10.25$123.09/mo
Bottineau County6,2826No DataIcon representing missing value.10.08$120.73/mo
Bowman County3,0245110.60$112.63/mo
Burke County2,115518.25$99.21/mo
Burleigh County95,6266310.17$98.34/mo
Cass County181,9235111.00$106.86/mo
Cavalier County3,762239.97$107.00/mo
Dickey County4,8727210.42$126.64/mo
Divide County2,2646No DataIcon representing missing value.8.38$105.93/mo
Dunn County4,4246No DataIcon representing missing value.9.65$105.01/mo
Eddy County2,2875No DataIcon representing missing value.10.48$145.74/mo
Emmons County3,2415111.35$116.54/mo
Foster County3,2105No DataIcon representing missing value.10.22$146.34/mo
Golden Valley County1,7616No DataIcon representing missing value.10.94$92.40/mo
Grand Forks County69,4517No DataIcon representing missing value.9.81$125.90/mo
Grant County2,2745No DataIcon representing missing value.11.99$111.36/mo
Griggs County2,2315No DataIcon representing missing value.10.94$144.71/mo
Hettinger County2,4994110.60$112.63/mo
Kidder County2,4807No DataIcon representing missing value.10.57$119.26/mo
LaMoure County4,0467110.45$124.63/mo
Logan County1,8506No DataIcon representing missing value.10.67$119.75/mo
McHenry County5,7457210.48$113.71/mo
McIntosh County2,4975110.98$127.09/mo
McKenzie County15,024619.02$112.79/mo
McLean County9,4506210.41$101.51/mo
Mercer County8,1876311.31$113.69/mo
Morton County31,3645911.99$111.35/mo
Mountrail County10,5456No DataIcon representing missing value.8.68$101.15/mo
Nelson County2,8794No DataIcon representing missing value.10.18$142.28/mo
Oliver County1,9595310.28$102.91/mo
Pembina County6,8013210.14$124.00/mo
Pierce County3,9755110.18$145.94/mo
Ramsey County11,5196No DataIcon representing missing value.10.86$142.77/mo
Ransom County5,2185No DataIcon representing missing value.10.75$127.75/mo
Renville County2,3277No DataIcon representing missing value.10.04$114.92/mo
Richland County16,1775110.95$150.62/mo
Rolette County14,1764110.04$142.95/mo
Sargent County3,8985No DataIcon representing missing value.10.47$148.14/mo
Sheridan County1,3155No DataIcon representing missing value.10.22$122.33/mo
Sioux County4,2304No DataIcon representing missing value.11.99$111.35/mo
Slope County7505No DataIcon representing missing value.10.60$112.63/mo
Stark County31,4895210.28$102.91/mo
Steele County1,890529.80$133.12/mo
Stutsman County20,7045310.25$146.96/mo
Towner County2,1895No DataIcon representing missing value.10.24$146.29/mo
Traill County8,0367210.31$131.07/mo
Walsh County10,6413111.06$143.04/mo
Ward County67,6411029.62$97.64/mo
Wells County3,8345No DataIcon representing missing value.10.20$145.70/mo
Williams County37,589858.46$110.83/mo

Power Plant Fuel Types, Emissions & Pollution Factors

North Dakota is the 34th highest ranked state when it comes to total CO2 pollution, with the state consuming enough electricity to account for 14,027,159,158.43 kilograms of CO2 emissions per year. Averaging 18,406.85 kilograms of CO2 emissions per resident, the state ranks 2nd highest for emissions per capita from electricity consumption. About 57.58% of electricity in the state of North Dakota comes from generation using Coal. Adding Coal totals to Wind (33.04%) and Conventional Hydroelectric (5.73%), these three fuel types make up 40,629,136.84 megawatt hours (or 96.34%) of the state's electricity production. North Dakota has the 41st most power plants of any state in the US, with 59 power plants. This equates to the 5th most power plants per resident in the United States.

COAL
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
57.58%
WIND Renewable, RefreshableIcon representing renewability.
Wind
Wind
Wind
Wind
33.04%
CONVENTIONAL HYDROELECTRIC Renewable, RefreshableIcon representing renewability.
Conventional Hydroelectric
5.73%
NATURAL GAS
Natural Gas
3.39%
OTHER GAS
Other Gas
0.09%
OTHER
Other
0.17%

North Dakota Net Metering

About 15.15% of the electric companies in North Dakota offer net metering to their customers. At the state level, North Dakota is known for highly restricted net metering and feed in tariff legislation.

Energy Loss

North Dakota has 25 companies who are reporting energy loss. The average energy loss for these 25 companies is 2.15%. The US average is 2.72%, resulting in North Dakota receiving a rank of 46th worst in the country for energy loss efficiency.

Solar Taxes And Rebates

States that want to foster personal solar can accomplish this by enacting solar related tax and rebate incentives. North Dakota, unfortunately, has no statewide tax credits offered to residents who purchase solar. The state offers no rebates to consumers who are installing solar panels. North Dakota offers consumers a 100% tax exemption that lasts less than 10 years. Residents in the state do not have access to a sales tax exemption when purchasing solar.

State Level Initiatives

Customers searching for electricity plans that generated by renewable fuel types will benefit from state level legislation that encourage green energy usage. Many states require renewable fuel types to be a portion of the fuel used for electricity production by providers in the state. These requirements are called Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). The state of North Dakota does not currently have any standards established that suppliers must follow. Also, there are currently no low income solar programs to help low income families to install solar panels.

FAQ: Common Questions About Energy in North Dakota

How much does electricity cost in North Dakota?

The average rate per kilowatt hour of electricity is 10.66 cents in North Dakota in 2021.

Does North Dakota have a deregulated electricity market?

North Dakota has a regulated electricity market, rather than a deregulated market. This means that consumers in the state usually have only one or two electricity provider options to choose from due to state legislation.

Where does North Dakota get its electricity?

The main fuel used for electricity production in North Dakota is Coal, making up 57.58% of the fuel used in the state. The second and third most used fuels are Wind and Conventional Hydroelectric, which make up 33.04% and 5.73% of total generation respectively.

How many power plants are located in North Dakota?

There are 59 power plants in North Dakota

What electricity company is the largest provider in North Dakota?

By total customer count, Northern States Power Company is the largest electricity provider in North Dakota.

What is the average electric bill in North Dakota?

The average electricity bill in North Dakota in 2021 is $111 while the nationwide average is $120.

How many electric companies offer service in North Dakota?

North Dakota has 33 electricity suppliers serving customers in the area.

What is the cheapest electricity company in North Dakota?

Residential Rate RankArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.ProviderArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.Residential Rate (¢)Arrow UpArrow pointing upwards.State CustomersArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.
1Northwood, North Dakota Electric Utility6.18656
2Mountrail Williams Electric Cooperative6.4720,917
3Valley City Public Works6.793,953
4McKenzie Electric Cooperative7.8713,168
5Burke Divide Electric Cooperative7.953,466
6Hillsboro Utilities8.16952
7Cavalier Municipal Utilities8.51886
8Sharon, North Dakota Electric Utility8.5480
9Lakota, North Dakota Electric Utility8.63547
10Sheridan Electric Cooperative8.70423

What electricity companies offer service in North Dakota?

State Customers RankArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.ProviderArrow UpArrow pointing upwards.State CustomersArrow DownBlue arrow pointing down.
1Northern States Power Company94,604
2Montana Dakota Utilities 93,366
3Otter Tail Power Company59,283
4Cass County Electric Cooperative53,294
5Capital Electric Cooperative21,058
6Mountrail Williams Electric Cooperative20,917
7Nodak Electric20,447
8Verendrye Electric Cooperative16,472
9Roughrider Electric Cooperative14,844
10McKenzie Electric Cooperative13,168

Last Reviewed By: Matt Hope
Published: 2021-03-16Last Updated: 2021-10-14