Northern Lights electricity rates
Electric cooperative · Montana
Northern Lights is a member-owned electric cooperative, so its customers own it and elect its board, serving 4,700 homes in Montana. Its residential customers pay an average of 13.93¢/kWh including fixed and delivery charges, 23% less than the U.S. average.
Rate basis: EIA-861 2025 annual data, adjusted to the 12 months ending 2026-07 using the state's price trend.
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Northern Lights bill estimates
| Monthly use | At average all-in rate | Base tariff charges* |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | $69.65 | $107.80 |
| 1,000 kWh | $139.30 | $145.60 |
| 1,500 kWh | $208.95 | $188.10 |
| 2,000 kWh | $278.60 | $235.30 |
*Schedule 8 Mountain Top Rates (effective 2015-07-01, $70.00/month customer charge), energy and fixed charges from the OpenEI Utility Rate Database. Riders, fuel adjustments and taxes are often billed separately, so real bills usually land closer to the all-in column. Calculate your bill.
Northern Lights residential rate plans
| Plan | Effective | Customer charge | Energy charges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule 8 Mountain Top Rates | 2015-07-01 | $70.00 | 7.56¢ first 1,250 kWh, 9.44¢ after |
| Schedule 1 Residential, Seasonal, and Small Commercial (Single Phase) | 2015-07-01 | $28.00 | 8.07¢ first 1,250 kWh, 10.08¢ after |
| Schedule 1 Residential, Seasonal, and Small Commercial (Three Phase) | 2015-07-01 | $31.36 | 8.07¢ first 1,250 kWh, 10.08¢ after |
| Rate Schedule 1, Multi Phase | 2013-11-25 | $28.00 | 7.47¢ first 1,250 kWh, 9.33¢ after |
| Rate Schedule 1, Single Phase | 2013-11-25 | $25.00 | 7.47¢ first 1,250 kWh, 9.33¢ after |
Source: OpenEI U.S. Utility Rate Database. Rates change. Check the linked tariff or your bill for current figures.
Northern Lights rate history
2015–2025: -4% change in the average residential rate (13.60¢ → 13.06¢). Annual EIA-861 data.
Outages & reliability
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Reliability history
| 2025 | Northern Lights | Montana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outage minutes per customer (SAIDI) | 223 | 285 | 266 |
| Outages per customer (SAIFI) | 1.33 | 1.34 | |
| Outage minutes excluding major storms | 88 | 136 | 121 |
Outages in counties served (2025)
From ORNL EAGLE-I, which tracks customers without power every 15 minutes. These counts cover every utility in each county. Weighted across Northern Lights's counties, customers averaged 32 hr 45 min without power.
| County | Outage min/customer | Days with outages | Peak customers out | Worst day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | 2,206 | 53 | 7,602 | 2025-06-23 |
| Sanders | 1,545 | 40 | 6,903 | 2025-12-17 |
Northern Lights service area
Northern Lights serves 2 counties in Montana and 13 ZIP codes.
Lincoln, Sanders
Cities: Libby, Thompson Falls, Eureka, Plains
Programs, smart meters & solar
| Smart meters (AMI) for homes | 0% |
| Time-based rate programs | None reported |
| Net-metered solar homes | 0 reported |
Northern Lights at a glance
| Ownership | Electric cooperative |
| Services | — |
| Commercial rate | 11.03¢/kWh |
| Industrial rate | 9.63¢/kWh |
| Retail revenue (2025) | $7,988,000 |
| Electricity sold (2025) | 64,446 MWh |
| Balancing authority | BPAT |
| EIA utility ID | 13758 |
Other utilities in Montana
Frequently asked questions
What is Northern Lights's electricity rate?
Northern Lights residential customers pay an average of 13.93¢ per kWh, all charges included (EIA-861 2025 annual data, adjusted to the 12 months ending 2026-07 using the state's price trend). That's 1% above the Montana average of 13.84¢ and 23% below the U.S. average.
What is the average Northern Lights electric bill?
About $126 a month. The average Northern Lights home uses 905 kWh a month. At 1,000 kWh the bill would be about $139.
How many customers does Northern Lights have?
Northern Lights serves 4,700 residential customers and 5,057 customers in total in Montana, across 2 counties.
How reliable is Northern Lights?
In 2025, the average Northern Lights customer was without power for 3 hr 43 min (SAIDI) over undefined interruptions (SAIFI), including major storms. Excluding major event days it was 88 min. The Montana average was 4 hr 45 min and the U.S. average 4 hr 26 min.
Sources: EIA-861 2025 and EIA-861M (through July 2026), OpenEI URDB, ORNL EAGLE-I, U.S. Census. Methodology. Spot an error? Rates change often, so confirm with Northern Lights before making decisions.