Hill County Electric Cooperative was founded in 1945 by rural Montanans who knew access to reliable electricity would strengthen their farms, homes and communities—and who recognized they would need to roll up their sleeves and do it themselves.
In the spring of 1947, the first lines were energized, a milestone that helped power growth and opportunity across Hill County and beyond. What began as a bold, community-driven effort has grown into a trusted electric cooperative serving approximately 2,300 members across 3,334 miles of line in five counties of north-central Montana.
As a member-owned cooperative, Hill County Electric (HCE) exists to serve the people who own it. Guided by a locally elected Board of Trustees and led today by CEO and General Manager Craig Gates, HCE remains focused on delivering safe, reliable and affordable power while investing in system reliability and long-term sustainability. From maintaining and upgrading infrastructure to supporting the communities they call home, HCE continues the cooperative tradition of neighbors working together to power Montana’s future.
“Our cooperative is essential to the strength and vitality of our community… ensuring that rural Montana has access to the same opportunities as larger communities.” – Craig Gates, CEO & General Manager
“Our cooperative is essential to the strength and vitality of our community,” Gates said. “Beyond delivering safe, reliable power, HCE invests locally, supporting our agricultural and Tribal communities, and ensuring that rural Montana has access to the same opportunities as larger communities.”
There are countless ways that HCE lives out Principle 7, or “concern for community.” Here are just a few ways HCE serves as a foundational pillar in north-central Montana:
- Annual donations to local fire stations and food banks
- $1,500 Teacher Appreciation award that goes to a impactful educator every year
- Community event sponsorships
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program for members who need support paying power bills
- Winter weatherization kits for Tribal communities at no cost
HCE understands that Montana’s youth are its future, so scholarships are awarded annually to local students, and two students receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC every year as part of National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Youth Tour. Additionally, HCE just hosted its 4th annual Trades Day, where over 200 kids from area schools visited the HCE campus to learn about careers in the trades. HCE’s line workers frequently attend career fairs and provide safety demos to local youth.
Principle 6, or “cooperation among cooperatives,” is also baked into its business. As an electric distribution cooperative, HCE relies on other sources for generation and transmission. This is where Basin Electric Power Cooperative fits into the picture, a generation and transmission cooperative owned by 138 member cooperative systems across nine states serving 3 million consumers. HCE is one of those 138 members.
Whether it’s a business relationship or community relationship, HCE has always been guided by cooperative values and principles, and that’s why HCE is a member of NCBA. “We believe in the cooperative model, and we believe that NCBA exhibits and supports the principles that HCE lives by daily in our pursuit of excellence for our members,” Gates said.
Hill County Electric Cooperative’s pursuit of excellence for their members—not just by providing safe, affordable and reliable electricity but also by being good stewards of the land and helping to build resilient communities—exemplifies the cooperative identity.