Montana looks inexpensive on the statewide residential average, but EV cost planning is unusually location-sensitive because the state is large, rural, and corridor-driven. A Billings or Bozeman driver on NorthWestern Energy, an eastern Montana driver on Montana-Dakota Utilities, and a household served by a cooperative or municipal utility can face different rates and service charges. Montana also has a weight-based EV/PHEV annual fee and a separate public charging station tax, so a realistic estimate should combine home electricity, vehicle class, and how often highway DC fast charging replaces home charging.
$0.13/kWh
Rank #10 out of 50
1.9%
State adoption estimate
Current rates by utility territory, with EV program details.
$0.13/kWh
$0.05/kWh below US average
Public Level 2 (est.): $0.29/kWh ($0.25-$0.38/kWh)
Public DC fast (est.): $0.46/kWh ($0.41-$0.55/kWh)
Estimated public charging prices derived from local electricity rates. Actual prices vary by network, location, and fees.
Many utilities offer off-peak EV charging options that can lower effective charging costs.
| Utility | Avg Rate |
|---|---|
| NorthWestern Energy | PSC May 2026 residential summary: $0.160191/kWh total rate + $4.20/mo service charge for NWE Electric |
| Montana-Dakota Utilities | PSC May 2026 residential summary: $0.099166/kWh total rate + $0.19/day service charge; April 2026 interim rate adds 22.008% |
| Flathead, Missoula, and rural cooperatives | Co-op rates and member programs vary by local utility; verify the exact residential tariff before budgeting daily EV charging |
| Cooperative and municipal utilities | Local utilities need local tariff checks; Montana has no one statewide EV off-peak rate |
Montana EV charging cost is mostly about utility territory, fixed charges, and travel pattern. The statewide average can frame a quick estimate, but it does not capture the gap between NorthWestern Energy, Montana-Dakota Utilities, and local cooperative service areas.
Rates updated monthly | Source: EIA and utility filings.
vehicle class by unladen gross weight tiers:
5,999 lbs or below: BEV $130.00/year | PHEV $70.00/year
6,000-10,000 lbs: BEV $190.00/year | PHEV $100.00/year
10,001-26,000 lbs: BEV $340.00/year | PHEV $210.00/year
26,001 lbs and above: BEV $1,100.00/year | PHEV $700.00/year
Law reference: Montana Code Annotated 61-3-572
Note: Annual fee varies by vehicle class based on unladen gross weight: $130/$70 for EV/PHEV at 5,999 lbs or below, rising to $1,100/$700 at 26,001 lbs and above. AFDC notes EV fees are reduced by 30% for private residents beginning July 1, 2028.
Montana-specific EV ownership math depends on weight-based fees, public charging tax rules, and the NEVI corridor buildout across long interstate and highway distances.
| City | Avg Rate | Monthly Cost Estimate | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $0.15/kWh | $39.47/month | View city page -> |
| Missoula | $0.15/kWh | $39.47/month | View city page -> |
| Great Falls | $0.15/kWh | $39.47/month | View city page -> |
| State | Rate | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Montana (Current) | $0.13/kWh | #10 |
| Idaho | $0.12/kWh | #3 |
| Wyoming | $0.13/kWh | #17 |
| North Dakota | $0.11/kWh | #1 |
| South Dakota | $0.13/kWh | #13 |
| Nevada | $0.13/kWh | #11 |
Start with your ZIP code and EV model to open the full savings calculator.
Home charging in Montana averages around $0.13/kWh. Public Level 2 sessions are estimated around $0.25-$0.38/kWh, while DC fast charging is estimated around $0.41-$0.55/kWh depending on network and membership. Final cost can also include session or idle fees.
Montana does not have one statewide EV off-peak rate. The cheapest routine is usually home charging on the local residential tariff, scheduled overnight when possible, but NorthWestern Energy, Montana-Dakota Utilities, cooperatives, and municipal utilities should be checked separately before assuming a time-of-use savings window.
Charging a Tesla Model Y from near-empty in Montana costs approximately $9.87 at home, $22.01 at a public Level 2 station, and $34.91 at a DC fast charger, based on EPA efficiency of 25.3 kWh/100 miles and an estimated 300-mile range.
Montana charges annual EV and PHEV fees by vehicle class. AFDC lists $130 for EVs and $70 for PHEVs at 5,999 lbs or below, $190/$100 from 6,000 to 10,000 lbs, $340/$210 from 10,001 to 26,000 lbs, and $1,100/$700 at 26,001 lbs and above. Standard registration fees still apply.
Yes. AFDC and Montana Code 15-70-802 list a $0.03/kWh tax on electricity delivered to public charging stations. AFDC describes the current requirement for public EV charging stations with capacity greater than 25 kW and notes that private residences and homeowners' associations are exempt.
AFDC's Montana state data lists 5,600 EVs and 3,200 PHEVs registered in 2024. The same state summary lists 479 public electric charging ports and 5 private electric charging ports.
MDT says Montana expects approximately $43 million over five years for NEVI-funded DC fast chargers. The plan prioritizes Alternative Fuel Corridors including I-15, I-90, I-94, US-2, and US-93, which are the routes most relevant for long-distance EV travel across the state.
Montana Code 69-8-803 says entities operating EV charging stations are not public utilities. The same section says public utilities must allow qualifying EV charging stations to interconnect to the distribution system.
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Data updated monthly where available.