Flathead Electric Cooperative, Inc.

06/12/2026

Heads up, members: The US National Weather Service Missoula Montana is tracking thunderstorms for Friday across western Montana, mainly north of I-90 and around Glacier National Park.

Storms are expected between noon and 9 p.m. and may bring locally heavy rain, lightning, and wind gusts up to 40 mph.

⛈️ If you have outdoor plans on Friday, especially anywhere north of I-90 or up in Glacier National Park, make sure to keep an eye on the sky. We are tracking thunderstorms expected to move through the area between Noon and 9 PM.

Look out for locally heavy rain, lightning, and wind gusts up to 40 mph. Keep your phone handy for updates, stay weather-aware, and remember the golden rule: when thunder roars, go indoors!

06/12/2026

UPDATE at 11:35 PM
Power has been restored. Thank you for your patience!

UPDATE at 10:45 PM
Crews are on site making repairs to the damaged transmission equipment. The cause of the outage has been confirmed as a motor vehicle accident. A vehicle struck the wire stabilizing a transmission pole, causing damage to the transmission line. Crews are working as safely and quickly as possible to restore power.

UPDATE at 10:15 PM
Crews have assessed the damaged transmission structure serving the Bigfork and Somers areas, and restoration work is being coordinated now.

Based on the information we have at this time, we are hopeful that power can be restored to Bigfork and many members in the Somers area within the next couple of hours. Some members may remain out longer depending on damage and switching needs.

We’ll continue to share updates as more information is confirmed.

Thank you for your patience.

INITIAL POST at 9 PM
We are currently experiencing a large outage impacting members served by our Bigfork and Somers substations.

We have received reports of damage to a transmission structure near White Oak gas station along US Highway 93 South that serves the Bigfork and Somers substations. Crews have been dispatched to assess the damage to determine the safest repair path.

We do not have an estimated restoration time yet, but we will provide updates as more information is confirmed.

Thank you for your patience as our crews work safely to restore power.

Check our outage map for the latest updates: https://outage.flathead.coop:8181/

06/10/2026

It's never too early to start preparing for wildfire season. A little preparation can go a long way in protecting your home and property.

A few simple steps can help reduce risk:
- Clear dry leaves, pine needles, and debris from gutters, decks, and around buildings
- Trim branches away from roofs and structures
- Move firewood, propane tanks, and other flammable materials away from your home
- Keep grass and weeds mowed, especially near driveways and outbuildings
- Make sure emergency vehicles can clearly access your driveway and address

Taking time now to create defensible space can make a real difference when fire danger increases. Learn more at https://www.flatheadelectric.com/outages-safety/trees/wildfire-mitigation/your-wildfire-mitigation-plan/

06/08/2026

UPDATE 6/9 at 3 PM: Power has been restored to our Cooke City members!

Thank you for your patience, understanding and perseverance throughout this extended outage. We know this was a difficult stretch, and we’re grateful for the way the community supported each other and hung in there while crews worked through challenging conditions.

We also want to thank Rocky Mountain Power, fire crews and the incident command team on the Camp Creek Fire, and everyone involved in making restoration possible as quickly and safely as conditions allowed.

UPDATE 6/9 at 9 AM: As of this morning, conditions on the Camp Creek Fire are still preventing Rocky Mountain Power crews from patrolling the line. While we are hopeful that conditions will improve throughout the day and conditions will become safe for crew operations, members in the Cooke City/Silver Gate area should be prepared to go another 24 hours without power. We greatly appreciate the community’s patience.

INITIAL POST - 6/8: Yesterday, a falling tree took out the main Rocky Mountain Power transmission line that feeds the Cooke City area. While Rocky Mountain crews have cleared the tree, they are unable to re-energize the line due to the nearby Camp Creek Fire on the Wyoming side of the border. The fire is preventing crews from patrolling the rest of the line before re-energization. We are in regular contact with Rocky Mountain Power and the fire’s incident command team and will provide updates to our Cooke City members as we hear more. However, members should expect to be without power for another 24-48 hours. We appreciate everyone’s patience as work continues to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

Check our outage map for the latest updates at https://outage.flathead.coop:8181.

06/04/2026

Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

June's featured photo in our 2026 Members' Calendar showcases the northern lights glowing over Glacier National Park, captured by co-op member Kiki Cropper.

A big thank you to all our members who shared their talents and helped make this year's calendar possible!

06/03/2026

We love seeing Youth Tour alumni doing amazing things!

Congratulations to Anitha Ravipati, a 2024 Youth Tour alumna and Glacier High School graduate, who is headed to the University of Texas at Austin to study neuroscience and psychology.

We’re proud of Anitha’s curiosity, compassion, and commitment to helping others, and we can’t wait to see where her path leads next!

Senior Spotlight: Glacier High School student looks to use science to help others🔗 bit.ly/4vm0pim

Knowing she wanted to help others, there was a time when Anitha Ravipati considered pursuing a career as a medical doctor. But applying her science acumen during an internship last summer opened the possibility of assisting through research.

06/03/2026

Look at how GOOOOOOD these lines look.

Around here, we get pretty stoked about clean, well-maintained utility corridors and rights-of-way.

Our crews and partners at Associated Arborists have been hard at work clearing hazard trees along our power lines as part of our ongoing wildfire mitigation work.

Why trim trees near power lines? It helps reduce wildfire risk, improves public safety by keeping vegetation away from energized lines, and supports reliability when weather brings lightning, wind, ice, or snow.

In May alone, crews cleared 6.44 miles of overhead primary line. So far in 2026, they’ve cleared more than 32 miles.

THIS is what a beautiful, well-maintained utility right-of-way looks like: safer for our communities, safer for crews, and stronger for the grid.

Want to learn more about what your Co-op is doing to reduce wildfire risk, and what you can do around your home or property?
---> https://www.flatheadelectric.com/outages-safety/trees/wildfire-mitigation/

06/01/2026

Caption This! Drop your best electric co-op themed caption in the comments.

With standing water in fields and yards all around the valley, this little guy still decided the best waterfront property was right here in our parking lot.

Maybe he’s a big fan of watt-er power. Maybe he’s just checking the current. Either way, he’s got us quacking up.

While he seems to be enjoying this weather, we encourage everyone to use caution this week, avoid flooded roads and standing water when possible, and stay safe during current flooding conditions.

06/01/2026

Do you have questions about how the June 1 rate adjustment may affect your bill?

Beginning June 1, Flathead Electric Cooperative rates will increase overall by 5.5%. The exact impact on each member’s bill will vary depending on electricity use, peak demand, and service type.

We have tools and information to help members better understand their electric bill and estimate the impact of the rate change.

On our "My Bill" webpage, you can:

• Use the Residential Bill Calculator to estimate how the June 1 rate change may affect you
• Learn where to find your kWh usage and kW demand
• Understand the charges that make up your monthly bill
• View current rates and service fees

We know any increase matters. As a not-for-profit cooperative, Flathead Electric provides power at cost and works to keep rates as stable as possible while continuing to deliver safe, reliable electricity.

Learn more and estimate your bill:
https://www.flatheadelectric.com/my-account-bill/my-bill/

05/30/2026

Update: 5/30/29 1:20 am

Power has been restored.

Update: 5/29/26 7:19 pm

A downed tree has brought power lines down across Highway 93 near State Park Road in Whitefish. Never approach, touch, or cross downed power lines, as they may still be energized and pose a serious risk of injury or death. Please avoid the area if possible, use caution while traveling nearby, and remain alert as utility crews and first responders work to safely clear the scene and restore power and access to the roadway.

Original Post: 5/29/26 7pm

We are aware of several outages impacting more than 1,000 members across our service territory. Crews are being dispatched. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to restore power as safely and quickly as possible.

Is your power out? If it’s not already on our Outage Map, please report it via your online account, mobile app, or by calling (406) 751-4449.

Outage Center: https://www.flatheadelectric.com/outage-updates/