Electricity cost in Montana
Short answer: Homes in Montana pay an average of 14.99¢ per kWh for electricity (July 2026). That is 18% below the U.S. average of 18.31¢ and ranks number 38 of 51, where 1 is the most expensive. The average home here uses 852 kWh a month, which costs about $127.71 at that price.
Montana electricity cost calculator
Start typing an appliance and pick it from the list, or describe it in a sentence. You can skip this and fill in the boxes yourself.
The calculator starts with a 1,500-watt space heater and the Montana average price. Change the wattage and hours for your own appliance.
Uses 360.0 kWh per month. The starting price is the Montana average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
My list
Add each appliance you use to estimate this part of your bill. The list is kept only in this browser.
| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||
| Per year |
Montana at a glance
Montana has 557,432 residential electricity customers. In 2024 the average home used 852 kWh a month, about the same as the U.S. average of 863 kWh and the 23rd lowest in the country. The average monthly bill was $107.91, the 5th lowest, against a national average of $142.26.
Homes here use about as much electricity as the national average, and the price per kWh is lower, so the average bill is 24% below the national average.
What appliances cost to run in Montana
Typical wattage and use for each appliance, at the Montana average price of 14.99¢ per kWh, next to the same use at the U.S. average. Follow a link for the appliance's own calculator.
| Appliance | Typical use | Per month in Montana | Per month, U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric furnace | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $404.73 | $494.37 |
| Central air conditioner | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $125.92 | $153.80 |
| Heat pump | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $107.93 | $131.83 |
| Electric water heater | 3 hours a day, 30 days a month | $60.71 | $74.16 |
| Space heater | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $53.96 | $65.92 |
| Pool pump | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $53.96 | $65.92 |
| Baseboard heater | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $53.96 | $65.92 |
| Electric car charger | 1.5 hours a day, 30 days a month | $48.57 | $59.32 |
| Portable air conditioner | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $43.17 | $52.73 |
| Window air conditioner | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $32.38 | $39.55 |
| Dehumidifier | 12 hours a day, 30 days a month | $26.98 | $32.96 |
| Hot tub | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | $26.98 | $32.96 |
| Electric fireplace | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | $26.98 | $32.96 |
| Clothes dryer | 60 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $9.74 | $11.90 |
| Gaming PC | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | $7.20 | $8.79 |
| Electric stove | 45 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $6.82 | $8.33 |
| Electric oven | 60 minutes per use, 4 times a week | $5.98 | $7.30 |
| Air purifier | 24 hours a day, 30 days a month | $5.40 | $6.59 |
| Refrigerator | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $5.40 | $6.59 |
| Desktop computer | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $4.05 | $4.94 |
| Dishwasher | 120 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $3.90 | $4.76 |
| Chest freezer | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $3.60 | $4.39 |
| Electric blanket | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $3.60 | $4.39 |
| Mini fridge | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.88 | $3.52 |
| Ceiling fan | 12 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.70 | $3.30 |
| Game console | 3 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.70 | $3.30 |
| Box fan | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.70 | $3.30 |
| TV | 5 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.25 | $2.75 |
| Humidifier | 10 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.80 | $2.20 |
| Air fryer | 20 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $1.62 | $1.98 |
| Laptop | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.62 | $1.98 |
| Slow cooker | 360 minutes per use, 2 times a week | $1.56 | $1.90 |
| Electric pressure cooker | 45 minutes per use, 3 times a week | $1.46 | $1.79 |
| Electric kettle | 4 minutes per use, 21 times a week | $1.36 | $1.67 |
| Hair dryer | 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $1.36 | $1.67 |
| Washing machine | 45 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $1.22 | $1.49 |
| Microwave | 5 minutes per use, 14 times a week | $1.14 | $1.39 |
| Wi-Fi router | 24 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.08 | $1.32 |
| String of Christmas lights | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.08 | $1.32 |
| Toaster oven | 20 minutes per use, 4 times a week | $1.04 | $1.27 |
| Coffee maker | 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $0.76 | $0.93 |
| Rice cooker | 30 minutes per use, 4 times a week | $0.65 | $0.79 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 30 minutes per use, 2 times a week | $0.65 | $0.79 |
| Clothes iron | 20 minutes per use, 2 times a week | $0.52 | $0.63 |
| LED light bulb | 5 hours a day, 30 days a month | $0.22 | $0.27 |
| Toaster | 3 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $0.20 | $0.25 |
What a monthly bill looks like
The table shows what different amounts of electricity cost at the latest Montana price. Fixed monthly charges are already included in the average price, so a real bill for a small user is usually a little higher than shown and a large user's a little lower.
| Monthly use | Roughly | In Montana | At the U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | A small apartment or a home with gas heat | $74.95 | $91.55 |
| 852 kWh | The average home in Montana (2024) | $127.71 | $156.00 |
| 1,500 kWh | A large or all-electric home | $224.85 | $274.65 |
| 2,000 kWh | An all-electric home in its peak month | $299.80 | $366.20 |
Where the electricity in Montana comes from
The largest source of the electricity generated in Montana in 2024 was coal, according to the Energy Information Administration's state profile. Coal plants are old and paid for, which has historically kept prices low, but many are being retired or fitted with costly pollution controls, and that cost is being passed on to customers as plants are replaced.
The state's power plants generated 26.9 million MWh in 2024, more than the 15.6 million MWh sold to customers in the state, so it produces more electricity than it uses.
How the climate shapes bills
Winters are long and severe, and heating is the main energy need. Homes that heat with electricity use far more than the national average in the cold months; homes on gas, oil, propane or wood have a flatter electric bill, with a small rise in summer.
That is why the same price per kWh can produce very different bills in two homes: the price tells you what each kWh costs, and the weather and your heating and cooling equipment decide how many you use. To see the effect of one appliance, compare a window air conditioner, a space heater and a heat pump in the table above.
Can you choose your electricity supplier?
Generally, no. Montana does not have a statewide retail choice program for households, so most buy their electricity from the utility or cooperative that serves their address, at prices approved by regulators or set by the local public power provider. Prices still differ between utilities, and between rate plans at the same utility, so check the price per kWh on your own bill and type it into the calculator.
Montana compared with nearby states
Average residential prices for July 2026, with the rank among the 50 states and D.C. and the cost of 900 kWh. The full table covers every state, and our guide explains why prices differ so much between states.
| State | Price per kWh | Rank | Cost of 900 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 14.99¢ | 38 | $134.91 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | 46 | $123.57 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | 41 | $129.24 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | 48 | $120.69 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | 34 | $138.33 |
| U.S. average | 18.31¢ | – | $164.79 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average electricity rate in Montana?
The average residential price in Montana was 14.99 cents per kWh in July 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is 18% below the U.S. average of 18.31 cents and ranks number 38 of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), where 1 is the most expensive.
How much is the average electric bill in Montana?
The average home in Montana used 852 kWh a month in 2024 and paid $107.91, according to the EIA; the U.S. average was 863 kWh and $142.26. At the latest price of 14.99 cents per kWh, 852 kWh costs $127.71.
How much electricity does a home in Montana use?
852 kWh a month on average in 2024, which is about the same as the U.S. average of 863 kWh and the 23rd lowest of the 50 states and D.C.
What uses the most electricity in a home in Montana?
Heating, wherever it is electric: baseboard heaters, electric furnaces and heat pumps dominate winter bills. In homes heated with gas, oil or propane, the largest uses are water heating, the refrigerator and freezer, the clothes dryer and the furnace fan.
How do I find my exact price per kWh?
Take the total amount due on your electric bill and divide it by the kWh used that month. That gives the price you actually paid, including delivery charges and fees. Type it into the price box of the calculator instead of the state average.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Average monthly residential bill by state, 2024
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: State Electricity Profiles, 2024
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Residential retail electric choice
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.