Welcome! – Letter from the General Manager
Dear New Vigilante Electric Cooperative Member,
Vigilante Electric Cooperative (VEC) is a local non-profit electric cooperative owned by its members. We are proud to be a part of your community, providing exceptional electric services to member-owners like you. It is our mission to provide safe, reliable service at the lowest possible cost while improving the quality of life in our communities.
Membership has many benefits, the greatest of which is service. Becoming a member-owner ensures you will receive returns on your investment in your co-op. We strive to keep rates as low as possible and still provide reliable service at cost. Any excess revenues, or margins, are returned to members in the form of capital credits, which are based on your individual contribution to margins.
VEC members enjoy the benefits of hydropower generated from the Federal Columbia Power System through Bonneville Power Administration. Your electric needs are primarily served by hydropower, which has a very low carbon footprint. Hydro power ensures that VEC has some of the most affordable rates in the country.
There are several convenient electronic payment options found on our website. We also take payments in person at our main office located in Dillon, MT. Our office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Community is very important to the staff, managers, and the board of trustees. We support local fire departments, schools, and youth programs. We also offer free energy audits to help you find ways to lower your electric bill. Our programs and services are detailed on our website and you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Feel free to join us at 1 of our member appreciation events.
The cooperative business model is democracy in action, giving each member an equal vote. We are governed by a local board of trustees who are nominated and elected by members like you. When board members are elected or bylaws are changed, everyone has the right to voice an opinion and cast a vote. By becoming involved in your cooperative, you ensure its stability and continued existence.
If you have any questions, please contact us at (406) 683-2327.

About
Vigilante Electric Cooperative provides electric power in 9 Montana counties and 1 Idaho county. With our main office in Dillon and outposts in Whitehall and Townsend, we provide electric power to over 10,400 services and maintain over 2,700 miles of transmission and distribution line.
Learn more about the company’s history, and how it’s grown since its founding in 1937, by visiting our Who We Are page.
Fast Facts
24
employees
11327
meters served
6787
members served
2824
miles of line
2
members per mile
4
meters per mile
197904328
KWH sold in 2024
Contact

Report an Outage
- To report an outage, call (406) 683-2327. There’s a 24-hour, 7 days a week answering service to take your call.
- Please be prepared with the primary service address, phone number, meter number, or account number for the residence or business experiencing the outage.
- If you get a busy signal, please be patient and leave a voicemail, as our Member Service Representatives are most likely answering a surge of outage-related calls.
Billing & Payment Info
Billing Day
6th of each month
Due Date
Last day of each month
Example: July 1st to August 1st usage will be billed on August 6th and due August 31st
Payment Options
We provide several payment options as a service to our members. Learn more about all the different Ways to Pay.
We accept Discover, Visa, and Mastercard.

How to Read Your Bill
Access a bill example and see information to help you understand How to Read Your Bill

Payment Plans & Assistance
If you get behind on your bill, please contact us so we can set up a payment arrangement. Communication is key. Assistance programs may be available for those who qualify.
Please reach out if you have questions – (406) 683-2327.
Capital Credits
It Pays To Be a Member!
Capital Credits work like savings bonds. It takes approximately 15 years between allocation and actual payment of capital credits. Example: In 2023, we retired (paid out) service year 2009. If you were a member and were allocated funds in 2009, your capital credits were paid out in 2023.
- VEC tracks how much electricity you use and how much money you pay throughout the year.
- At the end of the year, VEC completes financial matters and determines whether there is excess revenue, called margins
- VEC allocates the margins to members as capital credits based upon their contribution to margins.
- When VEC’s Financial Condition Permits, your Board of Trustees decides to retire (pay) the capital credits.
- Capital credits checks are applied to the account of qualifying VEC members.

Safety Round Up
Help keep your community safe. Round up your monthly bill to contribute.
Bill Roundup: Members can voluntarily allow Vigilante Electric to round their monthly bill up to the next whole dollar. They can also add a few extra dollars each month or make a one-time donation.
Grants: 100% of the money will be presented to worthy, safety-related organizations through grants. Grants will be awarded through an application process and will be reviewed by the Vigilante Electric Board of Trustees.


Staff & Board of Directors
Meet the Vigilante Electric staff. Then learn more about your directors on the Board of Trustees page!
Calendar Submissions
Submit your photos to us via email for a chance to be featured in our calendar!

Call Before You Dig
Please call 811 or go to the Montana 811 website before you dig to have utility lines located and marked. Know what’s below! Call before you dig.
Save This Information
Want to save or print this information to access later? Download New Member Guide