Lower Yellowstone Electric: Your Local Power Partner in Sidney, Montana

Lower Yellowstone Electric is a member-owned power cooperative serving the Sidney, MT community and the wider region. This isn't a big corporate utility; it's a local organization built by and for the people who live and work here. They focus on delivering reliable electricity to homes, farms, and businesses across the area.

Business Overview

As a rural electric cooperative, Lower Yellowstone Electric distributes power to about 2,500 members. They serve a mix of residential customers, agricultural operations, and commercial businesses. The co-op is governed by a board of directors elected by the members themselves, ensuring local voices guide its decisions. While they manage the distribution lines, they do not typically perform on-site electrical repair work in homes.

Key Services for Members

Lower Yellowstone Electric provides essential power services and member benefits tailored to the needs of the region.

• Reliable Power Distribution: They deliver electricity to meters, maintaining the infrastructure that keeps lights on and equipment running.
• Flexible Billing Options: Understanding the seasonal cash flow in an agricultural community, they offer budget billing to help smooth out monthly payments.
• Capital Credits: As a cooperative, margins are returned to members over time as capital credits, a direct financial benefit of membership.
• Power Source Management: They secure power for the grid, sourcing about 90% from Basin Electric Power Cooperative and 10% from Western Area Power Administration.

Areas Served

Lower Yellowstone Electric proudly serves Sidney MT and West Glendive MT, along with surrounding areas across five counties in Montana and North Dakota. Their team has a deep understanding of the local landscape—from the older neighborhoods in Sidney to the sprawling farms and newer commercial developments. This local knowledge helps them plan for and respond to the unique power demands of the region.

Company History & Community Roots

Founded as a rural electric cooperative, Lower Yellowstone Electric was created to bring essential power service to areas that might otherwise have been overlooked. It has grown steadily alongside the communities it serves, always maintaining its core principle of member control. The cooperative structure means it answers to local residents, not distant shareholders.

Leadership & Local Involvement

The cooperative is led by a seven-member Board of Directors, elected from within the membership. These are local neighbors—farmers, business owners, community leaders—who volunteer their time to steer the co-op. Their firsthand experience with Montana's weather and economic cycles informs practical, community-focused decision-making.

Specialties & Highlights

Several features set Lower Yellowstone Electric apart in the Sidney, MT area.

• Member-Owned Model: Every customer is a member and has a voice in the cooperative.
• Operation Round Up: This program allows members to round up their bills to the nearest dollar, with the change funding local charitable grants.
• Local Governance: All major decisions are made locally by a board your neighbors elect.
• Commitment to Rural Service: They maintain lines across vast, often challenging terrain to ensure everyone has access to power.

Why Locals Choose Lower Yellowstone Electric

Residents and businesses in Sidney and the surrounding counties choose Lower Yellowstone Electric because it's their cooperative. Reliability is paramount in a region known for wide-open spaces and extreme weather, from bitter winters to summer storms. The co-op's local focus means problems get solved by people who live here and understand the importance of keeping the power on. The direct community benefits—through capital credits and Operation Round Up—create a partnership that goes far beyond a monthly bill. For trusted power service rooted in the community, locals rely on Lower Yellowstone Electric in Sidney, Montana.