Solar with Flathead Electric Cooperative

At a glance

Residential schedule effective June 1, 2026; checked November 1, 2026. Sources.

What this means for solar

• Excess power is banked as kWh and credited against the energy charge only; the fixed charge and the demand charge are billed regardless. Credits older than twelve months are retired without payment.
• Every member pays a $4.93 per kW demand charge on the highest 1-hour demand Mon-Fri 7-10am and 5-8pm, six holidays excluded. Rooftop solar rarely lowers a home's peak demand, so our estimates do not count it as savings.
• Systems up to 50 kW AC qualify for net metering; above that, capacity would run without export credit.
• There is a $250 interconnection fee.

Questions members ask

Does Flathead Electric Cooperative pay for excess solar power?

Excess power is banked as kWh and credited against the energy charge only; the fixed charge and the demand charge are billed regardless. Credits older than twelve months are retired without payment.

How big a solar system can I net-meter with Flathead Electric Cooperative?

Systems up to 50 kW AC qualify for net metering. The interconnection fee is $250.

Does solar reduce the Flathead Electric Cooperative demand charge?

Every member pays a $4.93 per kW demand charge on the highest 1-hour demand Mon-Fri 7-10am and 5-8pm, six holidays excluded. Rooftop solar rarely lowers a home's peak demand, so our estimates do not count it as savings.

What would solar cost and save for a typical Flathead Electric Cooperative home?

For a gas-heated home using about 900 kWh a month, a net-zero system is about 9.8 kW, costs roughly $23,496 to $28,718 installed, saves $651 to $742 in the first year, and pays back in 24.3 to 31.2 years at 2.7% a year rate growth. Your address gives a real figure in about a minute.

What federal incentives apply in 2026?

The 30% homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for systems completed after December 31, 2025. Business-owned systems, including ranches, farms and rental property, still qualify for the 30% investment credit (Section 48E) and bonus depreciation when placed in service by the end of 2027; tax-exempt owners receive the 30% as a cash payment. Not tax advice.

Where do these numbers come from?

The rate figures are read from Flathead Electric Cooperative's own published schedule and net-metering policy (linked under Sources), last checked November 1, 2026. The worked example runs the same engine as the estimator, using a production reference for Whitefish and Montana installed-cost data. If you spot an error, email us and we will correct it.

Service area

Other Montana co-ops: Missoula Electric Cooperative, Park Electric Cooperative, Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative, Ravalli Electric Cooperative, Fergus Electric Cooperative, Beartooth Electric Cooperative. All 26 utilities.