Bitter cold drives the largest expected weather losses in Montana, and a winter outage is when backup power matters most. This page lists installers by city and shows how to confirm a license with the Montana State Electrical Board before you hire.
Find an Installer by City
Don't see your city? Many installers serve a wide area. Check the nearest city, or ask us for help.
Installers Serving Montana
We're still vetting installers in Montana. In the meantime, our team can help you plan a system and explain what to look for in an installer.
Home Backup in Montana: What to Know
Outages and the Montana Grid
FEMA's National Risk Index puts expected annual losses in Montana from cold waves at about $244 million, more than any other weather hazard that commonly knocks out power. Wildfire and winter weather come next, and Cascade County has the highest cold-wave losses in the state.
Utilities
NorthWestern Energy serves much of western and central Montana, and electric cooperatives serve much of the rest of the state.
Incentives and Utility Programs
Utility programs are the place to start: ask NorthWestern Energy or your electric co-op what they offer for home batteries. For state and utility incentives, check DSIRE (dsireusa.org), since programs open and close often.
Checking an Installer's License
Montana licenses electrical contractors and residential, journeyman and master electricians through the State Electrical Board in the Department of Labor & Industry. Check a license on the state's licensee lookup.
Permits and Inspections
Depending on where you live, electrical permits come from your city's building department or from the state's building codes program. Your installer normally pulls them.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Home Backup Installer
- Are you licensed for this work in Montana? Ask for the license number and check it with the Montana State Electrical Board.
- Will you pull the permits and schedule the inspections? Permitted work protects your insurance and resale value.
- Have you installed this type of system before? Ask about battery, generator or transfer-switch projects like yours, and which brands.
- Will you install equipment I buy myself? Many installers will. Some only install what they sell. Ask before you buy.
- What's included in the quote? Look for the equipment, panel work, transfer switch, permits, utility paperwork and haul-away.
- What warranty do you provide on your workmanship? It's separate from the manufacturer's equipment warranty.
- How will the system switch over in an outage? Automatic or manual, and which circuits will be backed up.
- Who services the system after installation?
Need Help Choosing Equipment First?
Tell us about your home and what you want to keep running, and an Outbound Power specialist will recommend a system and explain how installation would work. No obligation.
Montana Home Backup FAQs
Do I need a licensed contractor to install a home battery in Montana?
Are there Montana incentives for home batteries?
How do home batteries handle cold weather?
Lithium batteries charge more slowly in freezing temperatures, and many models protect themselves by limiting charging. Indoor or garage placement, or models with built-in heating, help. Your installer will advise on placement.
Can I buy my own equipment and hire a local installer?
Often, yes. Many installers will install customer-supplied equipment, but policies vary. Each listing in this directory shows whether the installer says they do. Confirm with the installer before you buy, and share the exact model so they can plan the installation.
Does Outbound Power install equipment?
No. Outbound Power sells home backup equipment and helps you plan a system. Installation is done by independent, licensed contractors like those listed here.
How are installers chosen for this directory?
Installers apply or are invited. Before listing, we confirm their business identity, check their license with the Montana State Electrical Board, and confirm their services and service area. Verified installers have also completed an insurance and reputation review. Nobody pays to be listed or for placement. Directory standards →
Installers listed here are independent businesses, not employees or agents of Outbound Power. We check the items described in our directory standards, but we don't supervise or guarantee their work. Confirm licensing, permits, pricing and warranty terms in your written agreement. Listed in alphabetical order; Verified installers appear first. Nobody pays for placement.
