In 1997, the state of Montana offered consumers in the state the option of choice for power. Montana Power sold off its energy generation facilities, with its utility business next, later filing for bankruptcy.
From a 2003 New York Times report, prices soared for natural gas, with many residents not realising how much rates had risen due to usual increases in the winter. Montana Power was sure that consumers would pay competitive costs for natural gas.
As of today, customers in Montana who live in a service area supplied by either Northwestern Energy or Energy West Montana can benefit from deregulated energy.
Below are the October prices for residential and industrial natural gas in the state.
| State | Latest rate (dollars/thousand cubic feet) | Rank | % Change |
| Montana residential | 14.52 | 6 | 22.5 |
| Montana industrial | 8.08 | 8.9 | |
| US average residential | 19.94 | 12.5 | |
| US average industrial | 4.73 | 14.0 |