Energy Share of Montana

What Energy Share of Montana does

Energy Share of Montana is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 and headquartered in Helena, Montana. Its core function is providing situationally-based emergency energy bill assistance to Montana households at risk of losing heat or electricity due to circumstances beyond their control — a niche that complements but does not duplicate federal programs such as LIHEAP, since Energy Share does not restrict eligibility by federal poverty guidelines. The organization supplements its bill-assistance offering with an Appliance Replacement and Baseload Reduction Program, a Furnace and Water Heater Safety and Efficiency Program, and a Weatherization Program funded by specific Montana utilities for their customers.

Energy Share distributes funds and processes applications through a contractual network of ten Human Resource Development Councils (HRDCs) that cover all 56 Montana counties; applications are reviewed by local committees comprising utility, cooperative, senior, faith, school, and low-income community representatives. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: tax-deductible private donations (including utility-bill add-ons and November pledge envelopes), statutorily required Universal Systems Benefits (USB) contributions from 53+ Montana utilities, electric cooperatives, and large electric users, and voluntary repayments from past recipients (which feed a revolving fund). The organization maintains an administrative rate of 7-10% and helps approximately 2,500-3,000 Montana families per year, with average household assistance of about $570.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors with stakeholder representation from Montana-Dakota Utilities, NorthWestern Energy, Rocky Mountain Propane Association, the Montana Electric Cooperatives' Association, the HRDC Directors Association, the Montana Public Service Commission, faith communities, senior citizen representatives, and other community stakeholders. It is not venture-backed, has no parent company, and operates with a very lean statewide staff of approximately 1.5 FTE plus part-time support. Annual awareness is sustained through a Fourth Grade Art Contest that has run since 1997.

Name

Energy Share of Montana

Legal name

Energy Share of Montana

Website

https://energysharemt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Energy Share of Montana is a Helena-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides situationally-based emergency energy bill assistance, weatherization, and appliance programs to roughly 2,500-3,000 Montana households per year through ten HRDC partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Energy Assistance Services

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Energy & Clean Tech Access (Off-grid, Energy Poverty Solutions) (BPAGALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Emergency energy assistance
• Bill payment help
• Weatherization programs
• Low-income utility aid
• Nonprofit community assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Helena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Donations: Energy Share is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Private donations are tax-deductible and 100% of private donations are used to help someone in need, with funds used first in the area from which they originated. Donors can also designate gifts for the Endowment.
2. Universal Systems Benefits (USB) Fund Contributions: Montana utilities (natural gas, electric), electric cooperatives, and large electric users contribute USB funds to Energy Share for bill assistance, furnace safety, and weatherization programs. Some companies contribute to the Energy Share Endowment.
3. Repayment of Assistance: Recipients who are able may repay their Energy Share assistance, and the money is used to help someone else in need. This creates a revolving fund model.
4. Utility Bill Add-On Donations: Montana utilities include Energy Share donation envelopes in November bills. Many utilities have a checkbox option for customers to add a donation to their monthly bill.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Energy Share of Montana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides situationally-based emergency energy bill assistance to Montanans at risk of losing heat or electricity. It also operates appliance replacement, furnace and water heater safety/efficiency, and weatherization programs, with funds distributed through ten Human Resource Development Councils (HRDCs) statewide.

Product overview

Energy Share of Montana is a private nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of energy assistance programs. The core offering is Emergency Bill Assistance, a situationally-based program helping Montanans facing energy emergencies (threat of losing heat or electricity). Supplementary programs include the Appliance Replacement and Baseload Reduction Program for unsafe/inefficient appliances, Furnace and Water Heater Safety and Efficiency Program for utility customers, and a Weatherization Program for income-qualified households. Additional offerings include donation processing and a voluntary repayment option for previous recipients. The organization partners with twelve Human Resource Development Councils (HRDCs) statewide to distribute funds and administer programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Bill Assistance Provides situationally-based (not income-based) emergency assistance to Montana households at risk of losing heat or electricity, helping pay energy bills during crises such as medical emergencies, job loss, or family hardship. Applications are reviewed individually by local HRDC committees considering need, level of emergency, and funds available, with average assistance of about $570 per household.
• Appliance Replacement and Baseload Reduction Program Statewide program that repairs or replaces unsafe or inefficient appliances, heating systems, and water heaters in qualified Montana homes to reduce baseload energy use.
• Furnace and Water Heater Safety and Efficiency Program Examines furnaces and water heaters for customers of NorthWestern Energy (formerly Energy West) and Montana-Dakota Utilities, and repairs or replaces them with energy-efficient models as necessary.
• Weatherization Program
• Donation Processing
• Repayment Processing

Quantifiable outcome

• Helps 2,500-3,000 Montana families per year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Human Resource Development Councils (HRDCs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Energy Share contracts with ten HRDCs around Montana to distribute funds and process applications. HRDCs also work with LIHEAP and low-income weatherization programs. The HRDCs and local committees work within broad contractual guidelines to award assistance to Montanans facing energy emergencies.
• NorthWestern Energy (formerly Energy West)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthWestern Energy funds Furnace and Water Heater Safety and Efficiency Programs and Weatherization Programs administered by Energy Share for their customers in certain Montana counties.
• Montana-Dakota Utilities (MDU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDU funds Furnace and Water Heater Safety and Efficiency Programs and Weatherization Programs administered by Energy Share for their customers in certain Montana counties.
• Montana Electric Cooperatives' AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMECA members receive Energy Share donation information in the November issue of 'Rural Montana' magazine. Monti Wetsch represents MECA on the Energy Share Board.
• Montana State University Extension ServiceminorOthersMSU Extension offers resources on weatherization strategies and provides brochures on topics like air sealing, home insulation, and energy-efficient lighting.
• Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) MontanaminorOthersProvides energy conservation information and resources linked on Energy Share's website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: National nonprofit federation with many local affiliates administering emergency assistance funds including utility bill payment help. Comparable to Energy Share at the program level (utility hardship grants) but operates as a broader umbrella for many social services.
• The Salvation Army: National nonprofit with extensive utility bill assistance, heating aid, and emergency energy programs across all 50 states. Overlaps with Energy Share's mission and donor base but operates at vastly greater scale and with a broader social services mandate.
• Catholic Charities USA: National nonprofit network operating emergency assistance programs including utility bill payment and heating aid through parish and diocesan channels. Comparable to Energy Share's emergency-assistance mission with a similar faith/community-based distribution model.
• Community Action Partnership: National organization representing Community Action Agencies (including Montana's HRDCs) that administer LIHEAP, weatherization, and emergency energy assistance. Directly connected to Energy Share's distribution network via HRDCs and overlaps in mission and service population.

Regional players

• LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): Federal energy assistance program administered by states (including Montana's HRDCs) providing income-tested bill payment and weatherization. Directly comparable in program structure but federally funded and income-restricted, while Energy Share serves a complementary situational-assistance niche.

Direct peers

• Dollar Energy Fund: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit utility hardship fund providing bill assistance and weatherization to low-income households. Operates a directly analogous model to Energy Share — utility-contributed funding, voluntary donations, and revolving assistance — making it the closest functional peer in another state.

Others

• National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC): National membership organization advocating for and supporting utility affordability programs including bill payment assistance. Functions as a sector association that Energy Share and similar state-level funds participate in, providing policy advocacy and peer learning infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/energysharemt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/energy-share-of-montana

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Energy Share of Montana