How Can I Lower My Energy Bills in Lake, Sanders, and Mineral Counties?

It’s no secret that energy prices are getting really expensive.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), in 2023 the average consumer spent around $1,760 on electricity alone. It’s become so expensive that it’s now the second highest utility expense that we pay, second only to gasoline.

If you almost faint every time you open your electric bill, you’re not alone. Around a quarter of American households feel the same.

Thankfully, Mission West Community Development is working on strategies to help residents of all income levels, business owners, and agricultural producers in Lake, Sanders, and Mineral Counties save money on their electricity bills. 

Pay As You Save (PAYS)

Imagine being able to upgrade your home or apartment’s heating and cooling systems without having to spend a ton of money out of pocket.

Pay As You Save (PAYS) was created to give utility customers of all income levels the opportunity to make those upgrades with zero upfront costs, no loans, and no credit checks.

So, who PAYS?

The utility company! They pay the initial cost for things like improved insulation, duct sealing, a heat pump water heater or a more efficient HVAC system. Then, that cost is repaid by you through a fixed charge on the meter, but the charge works out to be less than ˆthe estimated energy savings.

“PAYS can reduce the barriers to energy efficiency upgrades typically found with traditional loans,” said Karl Sutton, Manager of Energy and Environmental Programs at Mission West Community Development Partners. “And you can be an owner of the building or you can be a renter."

Maybe your home or apartment needs a new water heater.

“Let’s say that hot water heater saves you $200 a year. You would pay 80% of your savings per year through a tariff on the meter. So you'd only pay $160 a year and still have $40 in your pocket,” said Sutton.

If you move, no worries. The remaining payment obligations are transferred to the new owner/renter until the upgrade is paid off.

For more details about the PAYS program, contact MWCDP today!

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

Recently, a local ranch received over $11,000 to install solar pumps, a project that is expected to save them over $4,000 per year by reducing their utility grid energy by 71,000 kWh.

How?

With help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). 

“The purpose of the program was to improve energy efficiency for rural businesses as well as agricultural operations,” said Sutton.

Since 2008, REAP has funded thousands of projects across the country through grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy systems like solar, geothermal and wind, energy efficiency improvements, and even energy audits and planning. 

REAP offers two different grants to offset projects of all sizes: 

1. Renewable Energy Systems: $2,500 to $1,000,000
2. Energy Efficiency Grants: $1,500 to $500,000

“You can get an energy efficiency grant and you can also get a renewable energy grant,” said Sutton. 

And for anyone interested in the program but 1) doesn’t know where to start 2) doesn’t have time to start or 3) has no experience writing a grant, Sutton’s your guy. 

He’ll guide you step by step through the process and help you fill out the grant application.

“A lot of people want to do it, but they're busy running their businesses. So I try to recognize their time constraints and make the process easier,” he said. 

“You could apply for a REAP grant now or start making a plan and submit an application during one of the three application periods in 2026,” he added. 

Deadlines for applying are typically offered three times a year, with the next being December 31, 2025. 

Are you an agricultural producer or for-profit business in Montana that could benefit from lower energy bills? Contact MWCDP for more information about the REAP program.