# Is a heat pump worth it in Montana? Compare by electric utility

> As of November 2026: of 9 Montana electric utilities, a heat pump comes out ahead at any quote for 2,
> it depends on quotes for 7, and like-for-like comes out ahead for 0
> (typical 1,800 sq ft home replacing both furnace and AC).

- Montana average residential electricity: 14.0¢/kWh (EIA, last 12 months)
- Winter gas: $0.85/therm (EIA, Nov–Mar)
- Interactive page: https://meterwise.app/mt/

## What to know about the Montana numbers

- **Rebates not checked yet**: We haven't checked heat pump rebates in Montana yet, so the numbers here leave them out. Utility and state programs can take thousands off a heat pump, so ask your utility and your contractor what's available.
- **Mostly average prices**: Only 0% of Montana ZIP codes here are priced on a current utility tariff. The rest use the utility's average price from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which is about two years old and doesn't show tiers, so the winter price of extra kWh is estimated. Enter the rate from a recent bill for a closer answer.
- **Regional fuel prices**: EIA doesn't publish a Montana price for every fuel: heating oil uses the national average. Enter your own price if you heat with it.

## Utilities

"Heat pump vs. furnace + AC" is the heat pump's yearly running cost difference (− = cheaper to run).

| Utility | Price/kWh | vs. state | Default fuel | Heat pump vs. furnace + AC | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [NorthWestern Energy](https://meterwise.app/mt/northwestern-energy/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 14.2¢ | +1% | gas | +$30 | depends on quotes |
| [Fergus Electric Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/mt/fergus-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 15.5¢ | +11% | propane | −$1,190 | heat pump ahead at any quote |
| [Montana-Dakota Utilities Co](https://meterwise.app/mt/montana-dakota-utilities-co/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 12.9¢ | -8% | gas | +$90 | depends on quotes |
| [Yellowstone Valley Elec Co-op](https://meterwise.app/mt/yellowstone-valley-elec-co-op/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 13.4¢ | -5% | gas | +$40 | depends on quotes |
| [Missoula Electric Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/mt/missoula-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 10.5¢ | -25% | gas | −$60 | depends on quotes |
| [USBIA-Mission Valley Power](https://meterwise.app/mt/usbia-mission-valley-power/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 8.9¢ | -37% | gas | −$110 | depends on quotes |
| [Flathead Electric Coop Inc](https://meterwise.app/mt/flathead-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 9.7¢ | -31% | gas | −$90 | depends on quotes |
| [Lower Yellowstone R E A, Inc](https://meterwise.app/mt/lower-yellowstone-r-e-a-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 8.8¢ | -37% | gas | −$280 | depends on quotes |
| [Powder River Energy Corp](https://meterwise.app/mt/powder-river-energy-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 12.7¢ | -10% | propane | −$1,240 | heat pump ahead at any quote |

Data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities.json · Method: https://meterwise.app/about/index.md