Missoula Electric Cooperative and solar
Missoula Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 14,911 homes in Montana, Idaho. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 11.7¢16% below Montana average
- Typical bill
- $1241,068 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 22.4 yrs5 kW, cash
Export rules for Missoula 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 Missoula Electric Cooperative home
| System | 5 kW (50% of 1,068 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $15,500 |
| First-year savings | $744 |
| Payback | 22.4 years |
| 25-year net | $1,996 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 186
- Share of customers
- 1.3%
- Residential solar capacity
- 2 MW
- Residential customers
- 14,911
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Missoula Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Missoula Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Missoula 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 Missoula Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 10.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 11.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,068 kWh a month, a bill of about $124.
Is solar worth it with Missoula Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5 kW system costing about $15,500 pays back in about 22.4 years, with $1,996 net over 25 years.
How many Missoula Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 186 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.3% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Missoula Electric Coop, Inc (EIA ID 12692). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.