Flathead Electric Cooperative

What Flathead Electric Cooperative does

Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC) is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Kalispell, Montana, with a branch office in Libby. Founded in 1937 to electrify 117 farms in the Flathead Valley, it now serves more than 60,000 member-owners across 77,000+ meters in Northwest Montana. Because it is a cooperative rather than an investor-owned utility, FEC is not regulated by the Montana Public Service Commission; it is governed by a nine-district Board of Trustees elected by its membership. Its core product is electricity distribution — delivered through a regional low- and medium-voltage distribution grid sourced primarily via long-term contracts with the Bonneville Power Administration, which provides roughly 82% hydropower from the Columbia River Basin dams and brings the fuel mix to approximately 97% carbon-free. FEC supplements this with self-generation, including a Landfill Gas-to-Energy plant at the Flathead County Landfill that was expanded in 2023 with a second 1.6 MW engine, plus member-facing distributed energy programs such as Community Solar (Phases I–III, with Phase III launching in February 2026), an EV Charging Assistant pilot, and an AC Smart Thermostat demand-response program. Its business model is subscription-based monthly billing to member-owners, with rates adjusted 2.8% in June 2024 and 5.5% in 2026; surplus margins are returned as capital credits rather than retained as profit. Around this core utility operation, FEC operates an extensive community-engagement and member-services layer — rebates, on-bill financing, low-income assistance, Roundup for Safety grants (over $5.5 million awarded since 1997), scholarships (over $131,000 annually), the Ribeye Raffle food bank fundraiser, the D.C. Youth Tour, and multi-channel member communications — that reinforces member loyalty and differentiates the cooperative from investor-owned peers. Customer segments are predominantly residential and small commercial across the Flathead Valley and Libby service territory, with selected industrial accounts such as Weyerhaeuser's Kalispell plant, and headcount stood at approximately 171 across both offices.

Name

Flathead Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Flathead Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Website

https://flatheadelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Distribution Utility

NAICS

Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ), Green Tariffs & Utility Renewable Supply Programs (EUAGADAJ), Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI)

Keywords

• Electric distribution utility
• Electric cooperative
• Energy efficiency programs
• Community solar
• Demand response programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kalispell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Electric Distribution Service: The co-op generates revenue through monthly electricity distribution charges to its 60,000+ member-owners. Revenue is derived from base rates, demand charges, and various service fees. As a not-for-profit cooperative, revenues above operational costs are returned to members as capital credits. The co-op adjusted rates by 5.5% in 2026 following a 2.8% increase in 2024.
2. Capital Credits: As a not-for-profit cooperative, margins are allocated back to members as capital credits, which are periodically retired and returned to members as bill credits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Flathead Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric utility that distributes electricity to over 60,000 members across 77,000+ meters in Northwest Montana. It delivers power sourced primarily from carbon-free hydroelectric resources and offers energy efficiency, rebate, solar, EV charging, and demand reduction programs alongside member and community services.

Product overview

Flathead Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric utility providing electricity distribution services to over 60,000 members across Northwest Montana. The co-op operates a unified service platform combining core electricity distribution with energy management programs, member services, and community initiatives. Key products include My Account & Bill Services (online/mobile account management), Energy Efficiency & Rebate Programs (residential and commercial rebates, on-bill financing), Your Electricity Choices (EV Charging Assistant, solar/wind/battery options, Community Solar Phases I-III), and Demand Reduction Programs (AC Smart Thermostat Program). The co-op also provides Outage Center services with real-time outage mapping and automated alerts. Community programs include Roundup for Safety grants, Scholarships funded by unclaimed capital credits, Ribeye Raffle food bank support, and Youth Tour D.C. The co-op's power supply comes primarily from carbon-free sources through Bonneville Power Administration, supplemented by Landfill Gas-to-Energy, biomass, and hydro generation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• My Account & Bill Services Online account management portal enabling members to view bills, make payments, start/stop service, and access billing history through web and mobile platforms.
• Energy Efficiency & Rebate Programs Incentives, rebates, and on-bill financing programs for residential and commercial members to improve energy efficiency and reduce consumption.
• On-Bill Financing Financing program allowing members to repay energy efficiency upgrades through their electric bill.
• Your Electricity Choices Portfolio of options for members to choose how they generate and use electricity, including EVs, solar, wind, and battery storage.
• EV Charging Assistant Pilot program for EV owners that manages charging schedules to avoid peak hours, saving money and contributing to grid reliability.
• Community Solar Program allowing members to subscribe to panels in community solar arrays without installing equipment on their property. Community Solar Phase III was launched in February 2026.
• Outage Center Resources and information for members before, during, and after power outages, including outage maps and automated text alerts.
• Demand Reduction Programs Programs designed to reduce peak electricity demand, including the AC Smart Thermostat Program that manages central air conditioning to reduce peak electricity usage.
• Capital Credits Not-for-profit cooperative structure where margins are returned to members as capital credits based on their electricity purchases.
• Roundup for Safety Voluntary program where members round up their electric bills to fund community safety projects by local nonprofits.
• Scholarships Educational scholarships funded by unclaimed capital credits, providing over $100,000 annually to area students.
• Ribeye Raffle Annual fundraiser at the Northwest Montana Fair where livestock purchases support local food banks through meat donations and cash contributions.
• Wildfire Mitigation & Tree Maintenance Vegetation management, hazard tree assessment, and fire prevention programs protecting the electric system and communities from wildfire risk.
• Low Income Assistance Assistance programs helping qualifying low-income members with their electric service costs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved 4.24% energy savings for Weyerhaeuser, exceeding the 2% goal, saving 1,381,850 kWh/year and $69,000/year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBPA is the primary power supply and transmission infrastructure provider for Flathead Electric Cooperative. Approximately 97% of FEC's fuel mix comes from BPA, including ~82% hydropower from Columbia River Basin dams. BPA provides long-term power contracts and transmission services critical to FEC's operations. BPA executives visited FEC headquarters to discuss load growth, system planning, and long-term power contracts. FEC trustees advocate to protect federal hydropower resources through BPA.
• Energy Smart Industrial (ESI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESI collaborated with FEC and Weyerhaeuser on energy efficiency improvements that achieved 4.24% energy savings, reducing Weyerhaeuser's energy consumption by 1,381,850 kWh/year and saving approximately $69,000/year on their electric bill.
• WeyerhaeusercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeyerhaeuser's Kalispell plant worked with FEC and BPA's Strategic Energy Management program to exceed energy savings goals, achieving 4.24% savings through collaborative energy efficiency improvements. The collaboration benefited all members by reducing overall system energy demand.
• Roundup for Safety Nonprofit PartnerssupportingGTM or Marketing Partner27 local nonprofit organizations received Roundup for Safety grants in the first half of 2026, totaling over $111,000 for life safety projects. Funded by member donations through bill rounding. Past recipients include Flathead Lake United Methodist Camp, Whitefish Community School, Samaritan House, Libby Elementary School, Discovery Developmental Center, Habitat for Humanity, Flathead Avalanche Center, and many others.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Lincoln Electric Cooperative: Electric cooperative based in Libby, Montana — operating adjacent to FEC's Libby service area in the same northwestern Montana region. Highly comparable in scale, customer mix, and rural distribution profile.
• Pedernales Electric Cooperative: One of the largest member-owned electric distribution cooperatives in the U.S., serving central Texas. Closely comparable in cooperative governance, member-elected board structure, capital credit retirements, and operational focus on distribution rather than generation.
• Missoula Electric Cooperative: Member-owned electric cooperative serving the greater Missoula County area in western Montana. Direct peer operating under the same Montana co-op structure, BPA wholesale supply arrangement, and member-elected governance model as FEC.
• Ravalli Electric Cooperative: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving Ravalli County in western Montana. Closely comparable as a Montana-based electric co-op distributing BPA-supplied power to a similar mix of residential, agricultural, and small commercial members under the same NRECA framework.
• Midwest Energy Cooperative: Member-owned electric cooperative serving rural southwestern Michigan. Comparable as a mid-sized distribution-focused electric co-op with member-elected governance, community programs, and a similar mix of residential, agricultural, and small commercial members.
• Ohop Mutual Light Company: Small member-owned electric utility in Pierce County, Washington serving a rural/suburban service area. Comparable as a member-owned distribution utility with a captive customer base, modest scale, and reliance on BPA-administered power supply.
• Salem Electric Cooperative: Member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving Salem, Oregon and surrounding areas. Comparable mid-sized distribution co-op with similar member-driven governance and a mix of residential and small commercial members in a Pacific Northwest context.

Broad incumbents

• NorthWestern Energy: Investor-owned utility serving Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska with electric and natural gas service. Adjacent service territory to FEC and the dominant regulated IOU in Montana; competes for large customers and is regulated by the Montana Public Service Commission, in contrast to FEC's cooperative structure.
• Chelan County PUD: Consumer-owned public utility district in Washington State that generates and distributes hydropower from the Columbia River (Rocky Reach and Rock Island dams). Comparable consumer-owned utility model with deep reliance on Columbia River Basin hydropower like FEC.
• Snohomish County PUD: Consumer-owned public utility district in Washington State purchasing wholesale power from BPA and operating generation, transmission, and distribution. Comparable as a Pacific Northwest consumer-owned utility reliant on BPA-supplied hydropower.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FlatheadElec
• Facebookfacebook.com/flatheadelectric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Flathead Electric Cooperative