USBIA-Mission Valley Power and solar
USBIA-Mission Valley Power is a federal utility serving about 16,353 homes in Montana. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 10.0¢28% below Montana average
- Typical bill
- $1271,274 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- Never6 kW, cash
Export rules for USBIA-Mission Valley Power 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 USBIA-Mission Valley Power home
| System | 6 kW (50% of 1,274 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $17,900 |
| First-year savings | $767 |
| Payback | never within 25 years |
| 25-year net | −$605 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 112
- Share of customers
- 0.7%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 16,353
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about USBIA-Mission Valley Power and solar
Does USBIA-Mission Valley Power have net metering?
USBIA-Mission Valley Power 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 USBIA-Mission Valley Power?
Residential customers paid an average of 9.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 10.0¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,274 kWh a month, a bill of about $127.
Is solar worth it with USBIA-Mission Valley Power?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 6 kW system costing about $17,900 does not pay back within 25 years, with −$605 net over 25 years.
How many USBIA-Mission Valley Power customers have solar?
About 112 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.7% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: USBIA-Mission Valley Power (EIA ID 19603). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.