Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op and solar
Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op is an electric cooperative serving about 21,471 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.)
- 15.2¢9% above Montana average
- Typical bill
- $135893 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 15.1 yrs7.2 kW, cash
Export rules for Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op 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 Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op home
| System | 7.2 kW (90% of 893 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $20,780 |
| First-year savings | $1,455 |
| Payback | 15.1 years |
| 25-year net | $15,635 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 453
- Share of customers
- 2.1%
- Residential solar capacity
- 4 MW
- Residential customers
- 21,471
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op and solar
Does Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op have net metering?
Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op 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 Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.2¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.2¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 893 kWh a month, a bill of about $135.
Is solar worth it with Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 7.2 kW system costing about $20,780 pays back in about 15.1 years, with $15,635 net over 25 years.
How many Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op customers have solar?
About 453 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 2.1% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Yellowstone Valley Elec Co-op (EIA ID 20997). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.