We Just Love Our Community

The staff at Flathead Electric Co-op doesn’t just work here — we live here, just like you. And we don’t just provide you with reliable electricity — we make supporting and serving our community part of every day.

A few ways we make a positive local impact:

Roundup for Safety

Roundup for Safety is made possible by our members who allow their monthly electric bill to be rounded up to the nearest dollar, with that money going to fund community safety projects. Since 1997, the Roundup for Safety program has awarded more than $4.8M in support of over 1,300 projects.

More About Roundup

Scholarships

We award over $128,000 in scholarships to local students each year. These scholarships are funded by unclaimed capital credits (this money is dedicated to education by the Montana legislature).

More About Scholarships

Your Trusted Energy Advisor

We may be the only company that wants you to use less of what we’re selling. Did you know that the vigorous energy efficiency efforts of Flathead Electric Co-op save enough power each year to energize more than 700 households?

Top 3 Ways To Save

1

Adopt good energy habits.

Small changes that you make in your home energy use can have an impact on your bill.

Ways to Save Energy

2

Upgrade your home with help from your Co-op.

Installation of smart thermostats, heat pumps, insulation, and window upgrades are just a few of the home improvement projects that can save you energy and money. Your Co-op offers members rebates and on-bill financing with low-interest rates to make these upgrades more affordable.

Learn About Upgrades

3

Shift usage outside of peak times.

During certain times of the day, electricity costs your Co-op more to purchase and that cost gets passed back to members as a “demand charge.” Small adjustments, like setting the timer to run your dishwasher overnight, can help you lower your demand and save money.

More About Peak Hours

What Is A Co-op?

A co-op, or cooperative, is a business owned and governed by its members. Providing electric service the cooperative way distinguishes electric cooperatives from investor-owned and municipal electric utilities. A cooperative operates for the benefit of its members, rather than investors.

Your Co-op was formed in 1937 when a small group of 117 members pooled their resources to bring power to their homes and farms. We’ve since grown to serve over 58,000 members in Montana!

Learn About Cooperatives

You Are A Member-Owner

When you signed up to receive electric service, you became a member-owner of Flathead Electric Cooperative. This means that you have a say in how your electric co-op is run. The member-owners run the Cooperative through their elected representatives on the Board of Trustees.

Meet Your Board of Trustees

Capital Credits – Money Back To You!

One benefit of being a member of a not-for-profit co-op is that excess revenue is returned to you as capital credits, via check or bill credit.

What Are Capital Credits?

Attend Your Annual Meeting

We invite our members to the Annual Meeting each spring. It’s an opportunity to hear about the health of your Co-op, understand issues impacting Flathead Electric Cooperative, and meet the staff who work on your behalf each day.

Learn More About the Annual Meeting

Our Power Sources

Where does your electricity come from?

Have you ever flipped a light switch and wondered where that energy comes from? Over 80% of the Co-op’s fuel mix is affordable, reliable, carbon-free hydropower.

Where Your Electricity Comes From

Innovative Energy Projects

Community Solar

It’s like a community garden, planted with solar panels! Community Solar projects allow participating Flathead Electric Cooperative members to support and benefit from locally sited solar generation.

About Community Solar

Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant

Did you know that your garbage is actually producing power? Since 2009 the Co-op and the county have partnered to collect and burn methane gas (a byproduct from the landfill) to produce electricity. This keeps pollutants from entering the atmosphere and provides another energy source, too.

Explore Landfill Gas-to-Energy

Get Involved

Our largest renewable energy resource (hydropower) is not only churning out thousands of megawatts of electricity but is also serving as a backup for other renewables such as wind and solar. However, our hydropower sources are under constant threat. Together, we must take action to protect them.

As a member of the Co-op, you have a voice! Are you interested in hearing more about (and having a say in) where your electricity comes from? Here’s how you can stay informed and get involved:

Power Outages & Safety

As hard as we work to keep the lights on, storms and power outages are a reality of living in this heavily treed area of Northwest Montana.

If your power goes out, please follow these steps:

1

Check your breaker

Sometimes flipping a switch to reset the breaker is all that’s needed.

2

Check our Outage Map

If there is a verified outage reported in your area, you can see it on the map and get information about the outage.

3

If your outage is not on the map – report it!

Our dispatchers are available 24-hours a day/7 days a week to respond to outages. Call or text the word OUT to (406) 751-4449 to use our Automatic Outage Texting Service.

Outage Center

Our website is your top resource for outage information. In the unfortunate situation of a widespread outage, we will push regular updates to the top of our website.

Visit the Outage Center

Preventing Outages

Planting/Maintaining Trees Near Power Lines