The short answer
TAKKEL supports utilities and utility contractors in Montana with storm event dashboards, field-to-office capture, closeout and billing automation, and technical staff. In 2024, Montana customers averaged 351.5 minutes without power, less than the national average of 611.3 minutes, and about 55% of that time came from major events, according to EIA.
Montana reliability at a glance
These figures come from utility reports to the U.S. Energy Information Administration for Montana.
5.9 hours
Average outage time per Montana customer in 2024 including major events (351.5 minutes), compared with 10.2 hours nationally. U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Annual Table 11.3
| Metric | Montana 2024 | Montana 2023 | U.S. 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outage minutes per customer, all events | 351.5 | 118.7 | 611.3 |
| Outage minutes per customer, without major events | 156.6 | 117.1 | 126 |
| Interruptions per customer, all events | 1.62 | 1.07 | 1.52 |
| Minutes per interruption, all events | 216.9 | Not shown | 401.9 |
What drives outage time in Montana
Montana split its 2024 outage time between major events (about 55%) and day-to-day interruptions, so Montana crews need systems that handle storm surges and steady maintenance work alike. Outage time in Montana rose 196% from 118.7 minutes in 2023 to 351.5 minutes in 2024, a reminder that one hard season can reset Montana’s numbers.
Even without major events, Montana customers averaged 156.6 minutes of outage time in 2024, above the U.S. figure of 126 minutes, so routine reliability work in Montana deserves close measurement too. Crews working in Montana also contend with wildfire risk, high winds, heavy mountain snow, and long lines through remote country.
Montana next to its neighbors
Montana logged more outage time in 2024 than every neighboring state listed below. Ranks for Montana and its neighbors run from 1st to 50th, where 1st means the most outage minutes.
| State | All events (min) | Without major events (min) | Rank of 50 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 351.5 | 156.6 | 20th |
| South Dakota | 84.7 | 62.1 | 50th |
| North Dakota | 99.1 | 84.2 | 48th |
| Wyoming | 137.8 | 109.1 | 42nd |
| Idaho | 232.8 | 174 | 33rd |
Where TAKKEL helps utility work in Montana
Storm event dashboard
Crews, costs and documentation for every event.
Outage cause reporting
Interruptions broken down by cause and circuit.
Field-to-office capture
Time, equipment and photos captured once.
Closeout and billing automation
Invoice packages built while the work happens.
Planning for the next big event in Montana? Book a working session.
How an engagement starts
We start with your last major event in Montana: how crews, hours, and documentation moved from the field to the invoice, and where the delays piled up.
From there we build the first piece, often a storm dashboard or a closeout checklist, around the way your Montana teams already work. TAKKEL’s leadership comes from power and storm operations, so the conversation starts in your vocabulary. See how we work.
Frequently asked questions
How long were Montana customers without power in 2024?
EIA data shows Montana customers averaged 351.5 minutes without power in 2024, about 5.9 hours, including major events. That compares with 118.7 minutes in Montana in 2023 and a U.S. average of 611.3 minutes in 2024. Excluding major events, the Montana figure was 156.6 minutes.
What share of Montana outage time came from major events?
About 55% of Montana’s 2024 outage minutes came from major events, based on EIA figures with and without them (351.5 versus 156.6 minutes). In Montana, storm response and routine maintenance both carry real weight in the reliability numbers.
How does Montana compare with neighboring states?
Montana recorded 351.5 outage minutes per customer in 2024. Among Montana’s neighbors, South Dakota had the lowest figure at 84.7 minutes and Idaho the highest at 232.8 minutes. Montana ranked 20th of 50 states, where 1st means the most outage time.
What weather and terrain challenges affect utility work in Montana?
Utility crews in Montana deal with wildfire risk, high winds, heavy mountain snow, and long lines through remote country. Those conditions shape how Montana utilities and contractors plan staffing, stage equipment, and document work. The EIA figures above show how much of that risk became customer outage time that year.
How does TAKKEL support utility work in Montana?
TAKKEL builds storm event dashboards, field-to-office capture, and closeout and billing automation, and provides technical staff for utilities and contractors in Montana. Most of the work runs remotely, with on-site time when it helps. Each engagement starts with a working session on one problem your team wants solved.
