Side by side (ND, EIA-861)
| Metric | Montana-Dakota Utilities Co | Cass County Elec Coop Inc |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 11.72 | 12.45 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 11.00 | 11.96 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,265 | $1,344 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 79,354 | 51,968 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Co-op |
| Counties served in ND | 29 | 8 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Montana-Dakota Utilities Co · Cass County Elec Coop Inc · North Dakota overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Dickey · LaMoure · Richland counties (ND, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Montana-Dakota Utilities Co and Cass County Elec Coop Inc do not compete for the same meters. North Dakota is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (psc.nd.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Montana-Dakota Utilities Co cheaper than Cass County Elec Coop Inc?
- Yes — in 2024 Montana-Dakota Utilities Co customers averaged 11.72 cents/kWh versus 12.45 for Cass County Elec Coop Inc (EIA-861). Montana-Dakota Utilities Co was cheaper by 0.73 cents, about $79 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Cass County Elec Coop Inc to Montana-Dakota Utilities Co?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. North Dakota has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Cass County Elec Coop Inc more expensive than Montana-Dakota Utilities Co?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Cass County Elec Coop and Montana-Dakota Utilities territory all feed the 0.73-cent gap.