Average Electric Bill

Rates by state / Montana

Residential electricity · updated July 2026

Average electric bill in Montana

The average Montana home paid 13.8¢ per kWh and about $115 a month over the 12 months to July 2026, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data. That rate is 23% below the U.S. average of 18.0¢, the 42nd highest of 50 states and D.C.

Average rate

13.8¢/kWh

12 months to Jul 2026. Latest month 15.0¢.

Average bill

$115/mo

Average use × average rate

Average use

829kWh/mo

Per residential customer

1-year change

+9.5%

5 years: +24.2%

Montana electric bills by month

What the average residential customer actually paid each month: total residential revenue ÷ customers. Source: EIA.

MonthAvg useAvg rateAvg bill
July 2026889 kWh15.0¢$133
June 2026677 kWh15.1¢$102
May 2026693 kWh14.7¢$102
April 2026785 kWh13.9¢$109
March 2026876 kWh13.5¢$118
February 2026974 kWh13.3¢$130
January 20261,100 kWh12.9¢$141
December 2025990 kWh12.8¢$126
November 2025771 kWh12.8¢$99
October 2025663 kWh14.3¢$95
September 2025708 kWh14.6¢$104
August 2025819 kWh14.3¢$117

Typical bill by home size in Montana

Monthly use of typical homes, all household sizes, priced at Montana's average rate of 13.8¢. Source: EIA RECS 2020 and EIA retail sales.

Home sizeTypical useMost homesTypical bill
Under 1,000 sq ft413 kWh261–628 kWh$57
1,000–1,499 sq ft586 kWh407–838 kWh$81
1,500–1,999 sq ft732 kWh518–1,027 kWh$101
2,000–2,999 sq ft859 kWh636–1,195 kWh$119
3,000+ sq ft1,102 kWh815–1,595 kWh$153

Summer and winter months run higher than these yearly averages. Check your own bill to compare a specific month.

Apartment electric bills in Montana · Electric bill for one person in Montana

What uses the most electricity in Montana homes

Average yearly use by purpose for Montana homes, priced at 13.8¢ per kWh. Source: EIA RECS 2020 (172 surveyed homes).

UsekWh / yr≈ $ / mo
Space heating2,232 (24%)$26
Everything else plugged in1,513 (16%)$17
Water heating1,260 (14%)$15
Refrigerators and freezers1,068 (11%)$12
Washer and dryer686 (7%)$8
Lighting660 (7%)$8
Air conditioning605 (7%)$7
TVs and electronics481 (5%)$6
Cooking and dishwasher431 (5%)$5
Pool and hot tub212 (2%)$2
Fans and dehumidifiers160 (2%)$2

Why is my electric bill so high?

Monthly rate, last 5 years

510152020222023202420252026¢/kWh
MontanaU.S. average

Monthly prices swing with the season because fixed charges are spread over fewer or more kWh.

How much electricity Montana homes use

4006008001,0001,2001,40020222023202420252026kWh
kWh per home per month

Electricity rates by utility in Montana

Average residential revenue per kWh in 2025, largest 14 of 14 by customers. Source: EIA-861.

UtilityCustomersRateAvg use / mo1-yr change
NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT)333,71314.4¢707 kWh+1.3%
Flathead Electric Coop Inc64,33410.0¢1,184 kWh+3.8%
Yellowstone Valley Elec Co-op21,47114.2¢893 kWh+6.5%
Montana-Dakota Utilities Co19,62612.3¢773 kWh-4.3%
USBIA-Mission Valley Power16,3539.4¢1,274 kWh+5.4%
Missoula Electric Coop, Inc14,86710.9¢1,068 kWh+4.1%
Fergus Electric Coop, Inc6,85515.9¢896 kWh+2.5%
Northern Lights, Inc4,70013.1¢905 kWh+4.3%
Lower Yellowstone R E A, Inc3,2479.2¢1,160 kWh+4.2%
Fall River Rural Elec Coop Inc1,52511.1¢1,102 kWh-2.5%
Powder River Energy Corp5113.2¢848 kWh+4.0%
McKenzie Electric Coop Inc258.9¢1,333 kWh+3.6%
Black Hills Power, Inc.137.0¢788 kWh+0.4%
Avista Corp108.7¢1,633 kWh+2.0%

Montana electricity: common questions

What is the average electric bill in Montana?
The average Montana household pays about $115 a month for electricity, based on 829 kWh of use at 13.8¢ per kWh over the 12 months to July 2026 (U.S. Energy Information Administration data).
How much does electricity cost per kWh in Montana?
Residential electricity in Montana averaged 13.8¢ per kWh over the 12 months to July 2026, and 15.0¢ in July 2026 alone. That is 23% below the U.S. average of 18.0¢, the 42nd highest of the 50 states and D.C. These averages spread fixed service charges and surcharges over each kWh. Sales taxes added to bills may not be included.
When are electric bills highest in Montana?
In the last 12 months, the average Montana bill peaked in January 2026 at $141 and was lowest in October 2025 at $95.
How much electricity does a 1,500–1,999 sq ft home use in Montana?
A typical Montana home of 1,500–1,999 square feet uses about 732 kWh a month, and most use between 518 and 1,027 kWh. At the state's average rate that is roughly $101 a month. Based on EIA's Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS 2020).
Are electricity rates going up in Montana?
Montana's average residential rate changed +9.5% compared with the previous 12 months and +24.2% over five years.
What uses the most electricity in Montana homes?
In a typical Montana home, space heating uses the most electricity (about 2,232 kWh a year, 24% of the total), followed by everything else plugged in (16%) and water heating (14%). Source: EIA RECS 2020.
How do I know if my Montana electric bill is too high?
Compare two things: how many kWh you used against similar homes, and what you paid per kWh against the state average. The free bill check on AverageElectricBill.com does both from the numbers on your bill, adjusting for the month and your home's size.

States with similar rates

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