Flathead Electric Cooperative names Evergreen Water and Sewer District as Energy Partner of the Year

Flathead Electric Cooperative has named Evergreen Water and Sewer District as the 2026 Energy Partner of the Year.

A member of the Co-op since it began serving customers in 1965, Evergreen Water and Sewer District serves 3,283 customers across an 8-square-mile service territory and runs the largest wastewater infrastructure project in Montana.

As a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative, Flathead Electric operates on a simple principle: the cheapest kilowatt-hour is the one we never have to buy. That’s where energy efficiency efforts come in. Each month, members pay for the wholesale power that the Co-op purchases from the Bonneville Power Administration, which provides a two-year budget to support energy-efficiency initiatives. Those funds are offered to the Co-op on a use-it-or-lose-it basis, which is why staff works hard to connect members with beneficial, cost-effective projects. 

“Evergreen Water and Sewer District is an important community institution,” said Flathead Electric Cooperative Energy Services Supervisor Kyle Carlson. “Our close cooperation on various projects is an excellent example of how energy efficiency means cheaper electricity, more water and more money for all Evergreen residents.”

In 2025, Evergreen Water and Sewer completed a custom leak abatement project that ended up saving both energy and money. After installing a new SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system, the utility gained real-time insight into its water distribution network, allowing operators to pinpoint and repair a major leak on a main line that had been wasting over 500 gallons of water per minute.

The leak had forced the well to run nonstop to meet demand, dramatically increasing power consumption. By fixing the problem, Evergreen Water and Sewer cut energy use by nearly 35%, saving about 268,000 kilowatt-hours per year. That’s enough electricity to power 19 Northwest Montana homes annually.

The improvements also reduce electricity costs by more than $15,000 each year. Flathead Electric Cooperative partnered with Energy Smart Industrial to support the project, providing a $73,174 rebate through BPA’s custom energy efficiency program.

“Our neighbors at Flathead Electric have been excellent partners over the years,” said Evergreen Water and Sewer District General Manager Cynthia Murray. “Their energy incentive programs continue to save us money and allow us to better serve our ratepayers.”

The Co-op’s Energy Services staff are always exploring new opportunities to help members save energy and money while strengthening the grid. In 2025, the Co-op provided commercial and industrial members with just over $1 million in incentives, saving more than 10 million kWh of electricity. That’s enough electricity to power nearly 800 Flathead Valley homes for a year.