USB

In 1997 the Montana legislature passed an electric deregulation law that included language establishing a Universal Systems Benefits (USB) fund.

USB programs were established, in part, to ensure continued funding of low-income energy assistance.  Upon passage of that bill, Energy Share started working with utility companies and electric cooperatives to operate USB bill assistance, furnace safety and weatherization programs. Additionally, some companies contribute USB funds to the Energy Share Endowment to ensure funding will be in place to help meet the future heating needs of low-income Montanans.

Utility companies (both natural gas and electric), electric cooperatives and large electric users who have in the past or currently contribute USB funds to Energy Share include:

  • American Chemet
  • Asarco
  • Ash Grove Cement Company
  • Avista
  • Beartooth Electric Cooperative
  • Big Flat Electric Cooperative
  • Big Horn County Electric Cooperative
  • Big Horn Rural Electric Cooperative
  • Big Sky Coal Company
  • Calumet Montana Refining Company
  • Columbia Falls Aluminum Company
  • Commercial Energy of Montana
  • Cut Bank Gas Company
  • Energy West
  • Fall River Electric Cooperative
  • Fergus Electric Cooperative
  • Flathead Electric Cooperative
  • Glacier Electric Cooperative
  • Goldenwest Electric Cooperative
  • Graymont
  • Hardin Generating Station/CO Energy Mgmt. LLC
  • Hill County Electric Cooperative
  • Holcim Inc. – Trident Plant
  • Lincoln Electric Cooperative
  • Lower Yellowstone REA
  • McCone Electric Cooperative
  • Missoula Electric Cooperative
  • Montana-Dakota Utilities
  • Montana Resources
  • Montana Tunnels/Apollo Gold
  • Mountain Power Construction
  • Northern Electric Cooperative
  • NorthWestern Energy
  • Nor-Val Electric Cooperative
  • PPL Montana
  • Pacificorp
  • Park Electric Cooperative
  • Phillips 66
  • Portland General Electric
  • Powder River Energy
  • Puget Sound Electric
  • Ravalli County Electric Cooperative
  • REC Silicon
  • Rocky Mountain Propane Association
  • Sarpy Creek Mine (Westmoreland Resources)
  • Shelby Gas Association
  • Sheridan Electric Cooperative
  • Smurfit-Stone Container
  • Southeast Electric Cooperative
  • Stillwater Mining Company
  • Sun Mountain Lumber
  • Sun River Electric Cooperative
  • Tongue River Electric Cooperative
  • Valley Electric Cooperative
  • Vigilante Electric Cooperative
  • Western Energy Company
  • Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative