What Beartooth Electric Cooperative does

Beartooth Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative incorporated in 1938 under Montana law and headquartered in Red Lodge, Montana. It distributes electricity across an exclusive 2,225 square-mile service territory covering Carbon, Stillwater, and Sweetgrass Counties in Montana and a portion of Park County in Wyoming, serving over 5,000 members and 7,000 meters across residential, small and large commercial, industrial, and irrigation customer classes. Wholesale power and transmission, procured primarily through NorthWestern Energy, represent 35–40% of the cooperative's total cost of service, with 93% of current supply requiring replacement by October 2027.

The cooperative's operational technology stack consists of owned distribution infrastructure (lines, substations, smart meters), an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) layer capturing 15-minute interval demand data with remote disconnect capability, and the SmartHub online and mobile platform (built on NISC) for member account management, bill payment, energy usage monitoring, and outage reporting. Adjacent member-facing programs include the Shares du Soleil community solar array (50.16 kW, 80 panels, ~66,000 kWh annually), net metering under policies MR416 and MR416A for sub-25 kW member generation, a System Demand (kW) Calculator, wildfire mitigation and Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) protocols, and rebate programs for heat pumps and heat pump water heaters.

Beartooth operates on a cost-of-service, usage-based revenue model: monthly bills combine a base charge by rate class ($25 residential up to $1,000 industrial) with energy charges ($0.045–$0.072/kWh depending on class), a NorthWestern Energy transmission pass-through ($0.009652/kWh), and a system demand charge ($4.95–$14.73/kW). Members may elect Budget Billing (rolling 12-month average) or Prepay Service. As a cooperative, excess revenues are returned to members as patronage capital credits (~$500K returned in 2025). Democratic governance is exercised through a seven-district elected Board of Trustees (currently led by Board President Jim Neu and General Manager Kevin P. Owens, PE) and an annual member meeting (88th held in 2026). The most strategically significant initiative underway is the negotiation of a long-term lease for the Broadwater Hydroelectric Project with the Montana DNRC, targeted to supply ~50% of annual energy needs from October 2027.

Name

Beartooth Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Beartooth Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Website

https://beartoothelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Beartooth Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative serving over 5,000 members across a 2,225 square-mile territory in Montana and Wyoming. Founded in 1938, it provides residential, commercial, industrial, and irrigation electric service via AMI-enabled infrastructure and the SmartHub platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Utilities (22)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail Electric Providers / Competitive Distribution Utilities (where applicable) (EUADABAE), C&I Renewable Supply & Green Tariffs (Bundled RE, Sleeves, Utility Green Tariffs) (EUAGACAE), Green Tariffs & Utility Renewable Supply Programs (EUAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Electric distribution utility
• Member-owned cooperative
• Rural electric service
• Community solar program
• Electricity distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Red Lodge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electric Service Revenue: Monthly electricity sales to residential, commercial, industrial, and irrigation customers. Revenue generated through monthly base charges, energy charges per kWh, NWE Transmission charges, and system demand charges. As a not-for-profit cooperative, revenues are used to cover operating costs, maintain infrastructure, and provide reliable service at lowest reasonable cost.
2. Connection and Service Fees: Fees for new construction service connections, membership applications, and various service fees as outlined in rates and service fees schedule.
3. Rebate Program Administration: Heat pump and heat pump water heater rebate programs funded by cooperative to encourage energy efficiency among members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Beartooth Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative delivering electricity to over 5,000 members and 7,000 meters across 2,225 square miles in Carbon, Stillwater, and Sweetgrass Counties in Montana and part of Park County in Wyoming. The cooperative provides residential, small commercial, large commercial, industrial, and irrigation electric service through owned distribution infrastructure, supplemented by the SmartHub online/mobile account platform, community solar subscriptions, net metering, billing options, energy rebates, and safety programs.

Product overview

Beartooth Electric Cooperative is a member-owned nonprofit electric utility offering a unified electricity distribution platform supplemented by member services and digital tools. The core product is electric service delivery across a 2,225 square-mile territory in Montana and Wyoming. SmartHub serves as the primary digital platform for account management, bill payment, energy usage monitoring, and notifications. Member-facing add-on services include Net Metering for renewable energy interconnection, the Shares du Soleil community solar program, Budget Billing and Prepay Service for payment flexibility, Members Helping Members charitable roundup program, and heat pump rebates for energy efficiency. Infrastructure support services encompass the Outage Center, Wildfire Mitigation program, and the Broadwater Hydroelectric Project for long-term power supply planning. Educational programs include the System Demand Calculator, Leadership Scholarship, and Washington D.C. Youth Tour.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shares du Soleil: Community solar program allowing members to purchase solar panels and receive electricity credits for 25 years. The 50.16 KW array generates approximately 66,000 kWh annually.
• Members Helping Members
• SmartHub

Products and services

• Electric Service Residential, small commercial, large commercial, industrial, and irrigation electricity distribution service across a 2,225 square-mile territory, serving over 5,000 members and 7,000 meters through owned distribution lines, substations, and smart meters.
• SmartHub Online account access and mobile app platform enabling members to manage their electric accounts, view and pay bills, monitor energy usage, receive notifications, and access account information via computer, tablet, or smartphone. Available 24/7 with bill payment, e-billing notifications, autopay enrollment, usage graphs, and paperless billing options.
• Net Metering Program under Policy MR416 enabling members to interconnect renewable energy generation systems smaller than 25 kW with BEC's electric grid and receive credits for excess power generated. Includes MR416A interconnection agreement.
• Shares du Soleil Community Solar Community solar program where members purchase or lease panels in a shared 50.16 kW array with 80 panels generating approximately 66,000 kWh annually, receiving electricity credits for 25 years. Features real-time production monitoring via FroniusSolar web platform.
• Budget Billing Program averaging the previous 12 months of usage to provide stable monthly bills, guarding against fluctuations caused by seasonal weather changes.
• Prepay Service Billing option allowing members to pay for electricity in advance, managing consumption and spending more flexibly.
• Heat Pump Rebate Program Rebate program funded by the cooperative to incentivize members to install heat pumps for heating and cooling, supporting energy efficiency and cost savings.
• Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate Rebate program for members installing heat pump water heaters to improve energy efficiency.
• Outage Center Central hub providing outage information, outage map, and restoration status updates for members during power outages.
• Wildfire Mitigation Program Comprehensive wildfire prevention program including vegetation management, smart technology for remote shutoff capabilities, and Public Safety Power Shutoff procedures during high-risk conditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• System reliability exceeding 99.98%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026DNRC selected Beartooth Electric Cooperative in January 2026 to negotiate a long-term lease for the Broadwater Hydroelectric Project, a state-owned facility near Toston, Montana. If successful, Broadwater would supply approximately 50% of BEC's annual energy needs beginning October 2027.
• Sundance Solar (Henry Dykema)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2019Selected as the renewable energy/energy efficiency company to install the Shares du Soleil community solar array. Sundance Solar is a leading local renewable energy company that also developed a web-enabled project dashboard for real-time production monitoring. The company was selected through a Request for Proposal process in July 2019.
• Yellowstone BankminorOthersNon-member that purchased panels to donate output to Operation Round Up 'energy bank' for disadvantaged members needing bill assistance. Demonstrates community support beyond the cooperative's service territory.
• Rockin' J, C-Store and GasminorOthersPurchased panels to donate output to Operation Round Up 'energy bank' for disadvantaged members needing assistance with BEC bills.
• NorthWestern EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationBEC purchases transmission services from NorthWestern Energy. The NWE Transmission Charge ($0.009652/kWh) is included in all rate classes. System Demand Calculator references NorthWestern Energy Transmission charges for rate estimation purposes.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange: Insurance and risk-management provider specifically serving electric cooperatives. Comparable ecosystem participant providing property, liability, and workers' comp coverage to rural co-ops of BEC's profile.
• Sundance Solar: Local renewable energy contractor that installed BEC's Shares du Soleil community solar array and built the custom FroniusSolar monitoring dashboard. Ecosystem participant enabling BEC's distributed renewable offerings.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA): National trade association and service cooperative for the U.S. electric cooperative network. Sets standards, provides insurance and finance products, and gives BEC access to scale economics and shared services.

Regional players

• Park Electric Cooperative: Montana-based member-owned electric cooperative serving rural Park County and surrounding areas, overlapping BEC's service geography. Directly comparable in customer mix, regulatory framework, and service territory characteristics.
• Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative: Montana-based member-owned electric cooperative serving a similar rural mix of residential, agricultural, and small commercial members. Comparable cooperative structure, member programs, and reliance on wholesale supply contracts.
• Sheridan County Electric Cooperative: Wyoming-based rural electric cooperative serving similar small-town and ranch members. Comparable in scale, member ownership model, and reliance on Pacific Northwest/Mountain West wholesale power supply.
• Big Horn Rural Electric Cooperative: Wyoming-based rural electric cooperative serving agricultural and residential members in comparable Rocky Mountain geography. Similar operational profile, including wildfire exposure and small-member base.
• Ravalli Electric Cooperative: Montana-based member-owned electric cooperative of similar rural character, providing comparable residential, commercial, and irrigation services. Directly comparable in scale, cooperative governance model, and renewable program offerings.
• Mid-Yellowstone Electric Cooperative: Adjacent Montana/Wyoming-area member-owned electric cooperative serving rural members with residential, commercial, and irrigation service. Highly comparable in cooperative structure, rural service territory, and reliance on NWE-era transmission arrangements.

Broad incumbents

• NorthWestern Energy: Investor-owned Montana utility that supplies BEC's transmission services and competes/operates in the broader Montana electricity market. Relevant for benchmarking rates, transmission cost structure, and as a counterparty supplier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/beartoothelectric
• Xx.com/BeartoothElec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/beartooth-electric-coop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Beartooth Electric Cooperative