Utilities listed
14
Montana, 2025
Homes counted
566 thousand
Residential customers
Average price
12.99 cents
Per kWh, Montana
Average bill
$110.80
Per month
Utilities serving Montana homes
| Utility | Type | Homes in MT | Cents per kWh | Monthly bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NorthWestern Energy | Investor-owned | 333,713 | 14.42 | $101.97 |
| Flathead Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 64,334 | 10.04 | $118.87 |
| Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op | Cooperative | 21,471 | 14.22 | $126.96 |
| Montana-Dakota Utilities | Investor-owned | 19,626 | 11.47 | $94.38 |
| USBIA-Mission Valley Power | Federal | 16,353 | 9.39 | $119.71 |
| Missoula Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 14,867 | 10.93 | $116.72 |
| Fergus Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 6,855 | 15.91 | $142.55 |
| Northern Lights | Cooperative | 4,700 | 12.32 | $132.15 |
| Lower Yellowstone R E A | Cooperative | 3,247 | 9.15 | $109.52 |
| Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 1,525 | 11.10 | $130.85 |
| Powder River Energy | Cooperative | 51 | 12.20 | $140.97 |
| McKenzie Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 25 | 8.03 | $144.59 |
| Black Hills Power | Investor-owned | 13 | 15.07 | $105.86 |
| Avista | Investor-owned | 10 | 13.37 | $121.82 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data). Homes in MT counts only the customers in this state. Price and bill cover the utility's whole territory and bundled customers only. Delivery only means the utility carries power but does not sell it.
Who owns Montana's electric companies
| Type | Utilities | Homes in MT | Share of homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor-owned utility | 4 | 353,362 | 72.6% |
| Electric cooperative | 9 | 117,075 | 24.1% |
| Federal power system | 1 | 16,353 | 3.4% |
Each type is run differently. An investor-owned company answers to shareholders and a state commission. A municipal utility answers to a city. A cooperative answers to its members. That is why the same state can have very different prices and service from one address to the next.
What Montana utilities charge, by type
| Type | Utilities with a price | Average cents per kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Investor-owned utility | 4 | 13.57 |
| Electric cooperative | 9 | 11.19 |
| Federal power system | 1 | 9.39 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data). Customer-weighted average of the prices utilities report for bundled residential service. It leaves out delivery-only customers and retail providers.
Outside the investor-owned companies, the largest electric cooperative is Flathead Electric Cooperative (64,334 homes).
Price differences between types come from costs, customer density and the way each type is financed, so a lower average does not decide which is better for your home.
Utilities with full profiles
These Montana utilities are among the 600 largest in the country, and each has a profile with its service area, reliability and rate options.
- ProfileNorthWestern Energy334 thousand homes. Investor-owned.Open
- ProfileFlathead Electric Cooperative64 thousand homes. Cooperative.Open
- ProfileYellowstone Valley Electric Co-op21 thousand homes. Cooperative.Open
- ProfileMontana-Dakota Utilities121 thousand homes. Investor-owned.Open
- ProfileNorthern Lights23 thousand homes. Cooperative.Open
- ProfileBlack Hills Power70 thousand homes. Investor-owned.Open
- ProfileAvista376 thousand homes. Investor-owned.Open
How Montana compares
The statewide average residential price is 12.99 cents per kWh and the average bill is $110.80 a month. See the full breakdown, rankings and neighbors on the Montana electricity rates page. Among utilities with at least 10,000 bundled residential customers, average prices ran from 9.39 cents at USBIA-Mission Valley Power to 15.07 cents at Black Hills Power.
Can you switch electric companies in Montana?
Most households cannot choose. The company that serves your address is set by where you live. Regulation and complaints go through the Montana Public Service Commission.
Find yours
Not sure which one serves you?
Montana electric company questions
Who is the largest electric company in Montana?
NorthWestern Energy serves the most residential customers in Montana, about 334 thousand homes in 2025 (EIA Form EIA-861).
How many electric utilities are there in Montana?
EIA lists 14 electric utilities with residential customers in Montana for 2025. Most households are served by a handful of the largest ones.
Which Montana utility has the lowest average price?
Among Montana utilities with at least 10,000 bundled residential customers, USBIA-Mission Valley Power had the lowest average residential price in 2025 at 9.39 cents per kWh and Black Hills Power had the highest at 15.07 cents. Prices reflect the utility's costs and customer mix, so a lower price does not mean better service.
Can I choose my electric company in Montana?
Usually not. Households in Montana buy electricity from the utility, municipal system or cooperative that serves their address.