Welcome to the Family.
Flathead Electric Cooperative is more than just a utility. We’re a not-for-profit Co-op, which means we’re owned by you, the members we serve.
Have a question? We’re here to help! For information about your account or any of our services and programs, feel free to reach out to us using one of the many options available on our Contact Us page.
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.

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).
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.
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.
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.
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 MeetingOur 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.

Our Hydropower Advantage
Thanks to our access to hydropower, the Northwest is a leader in clean energy.
Learn More About HydropowerInnovative 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.

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.
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:
Sign Up For Our Grassroots Action Team
If you would like to stay informed about the challenges to our hydroelectric sources and other issues, we invite you to be a member of our Grassroots Action Team. Help us contact legislators who make the decisions about critical issues impacting Flathead Electric Cooperative’s members. We’ll let you know when legislation comes up that needs your attention.
Sign Up For Our Grassroots Mailing ListPower 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:
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

Staying Safe
Never, ever touch or go near a downed power line
Even during a power outage, it’s never safe to touch or go near a downed power line. Lines might be energized, even if they appear “dead.” Our motto is: “If you want to survive, assume it’s live.”
More About Downed Lines
Staying Prepared
Make Sure You Have a Plan!
It’s important to have a backup plan in case of a prolonged power outage. Along with an emergency kit, things like secondary heat sources, backup generators, or simply a plan of where to go during an extended outage should be something you think about before a storm strikes. Everyone’s home is different, so we’ve compiled a list of things to think through as you put together your outage plan.
Outage PreparationPreventing Outages

Your Co-op’s job: System Maintenance
The Co-op has a robust, year-round system maintenance program:
Our line crews work continuously on maintenance and system improvement projects to ensure reliability.
We prune trees along many miles of line year-round. In addition, we respond to hundreds of tree trimming or removal requests from our members each year.

Your Job: Plan Before You Plant
Members play an important role in system reliability, too:
When trees are planted too close to overhanging power lines, they can become a hazard. Learn how to avoid future hazards by planting the right tree in the right place.
If you think you have a tree on your property that is endangering power lines, we’ll chat with you about that, as well!