NorthWestern Energy: The Utility That Keeps On Taking

Northwestern Energy Is At It Again

I really just can not believe I'm writing another article about Northwestern Energy. This is hands-down the most ridiculous 2 years I've ever seen with a utility. And let me tell you, I dealt with Pacific Power in Oregon for a couple of years. Believe me, if you know about Pacific Power you know.

Get our free mobile app

Northwestern Energy's Next Customer Ask

On January 1, 2026, Northwestern Energy will control 55% the coal-fired electricity generation plant at Colstrip. This acquisition cost $18 million just for operations and maintenance.

Knowing full well it would be a significant investment for the company, NWE has asked to backdoor raise our rates again. They did it August 29, 2025 in a motion to the Montana PSC. As reported by Montana Free Press, NWE said

“These costs are not currently reflected in customer rates and represent a significant financial obligation for NorthWestern,”

Northwestern's answer to this cash flow situation that they thought they could get out of the sweat and blood of Montanans during their utility monopoly fever dreams, is they thought they'd take the revenue from extra energy they pay to customers with customer credits, and take that money to pay their enormous acquisition bill. Keeping those credits is a rate hike because that is money you normally get that you won't so they can pay for business decisions made by their company. It's astonishing to me.

As reported by Montana Free Press, NWE said of the keeping of the credits,

“limited carveout” also would reduce “interim financial impacts to NorthWestern.” Without (the waiver), NorthWestern will bear the entirety of the approximately $18 million in annual New Colstrip (Avista) O&M while customers receive the full benefit of the Designated Revenues made possible, in part, by the Colstrip addition

Isn't that exactly what SHOULD happen? We should FINALLY "reap the benefits" NWE is claiming to be giving to Montana during all of these rate hikes the last couple of years.

If the PSC lets them do this once, you can bet that becomes a new revenue stream for the utility giant. (I mean just look at Calumet)

Remember, the millionaires and almost millionaires that run Northwestern Energy, are doing this for our own good. You don't realize how good we have it over other states, says the utility giant. Here is the NWE proxy statement of pay to executives. In an easier to read format from the Daily Montanan:

• Brian Bird CEO: $4.81 million
• Crystal Lail CFO: $1.74 million
• Shannon Heim general counsel: $1.00 million
• Bobbi Schroeppel VP customer care, communications, HR: $892,457
• John Hines VP, supply/MT government affairs: $929,887

I love millionaires who think they can relate to people who won't see 4.81 million with a lifetime of work.

Please millionaire guy, cry to me how your teetering-on-a-monopoly company needs my bill credits.

It really resonates as I'm trying to figure out if it's eggs or bananas this grocery run, because my utility bill is so high I can't have both.

Sources: Daily Montanan, Montana Free Press, Missoula Current, Montana Right Now, News Data

More From This Author: Click Here