Fergus Electric Cooperative and solar
Fergus Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 6,855 homes in Montana. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 17.0¢22% above Montana average
- Typical bill
- $152896 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 13.9 yrs7.6 kW, cash
Export rules for Fergus Electric Cooperative customers
Full retail net metering (Montana rule).
NorthWestern Energy customers get kWh-for-kWh net metering for systems up to 50 kW. Excess kWh roll forward monthly but are zeroed out (forfeited) at the annual anniversary.
Solar for a typical Fergus Electric Cooperative home
| System | 7.6 kW (90% of 896 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $21,740 |
| First-year savings | $1,644 |
| Payback | 13.9 years |
| 25-year net | $19,902 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 89
- Share of customers
- 1.3%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 6,855
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Fergus Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Fergus Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Fergus Electric Cooperative follows Montana's rules: NorthWestern Energy customers get kWh-for-kWh net metering for systems up to 50 kW. Excess kWh roll forward monthly but are zeroed out (forfeited) at the annual anniversary.
How much does electricity cost with Fergus Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 17.0¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 896 kWh a month, a bill of about $152.
Is solar worth it with Fergus Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 7.6 kW system costing about $21,740 pays back in about 13.9 years, with $19,902 net over 25 years.
How many Fergus Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 89 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.3% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Fergus Electric Coop, Inc (EIA ID 21513). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.