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Sioux Falls, S.D./Butte, Mont. – March 5, 2024 – This week, NorthWestern Energy is joining Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS) in supporting the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) annual National Consumer Protection Week, along with more than 100 federal, state, and local agencies; consumer groups; and national advocacy organizations.

As a member of UUAS, NorthWestern Energy is working with partners, including the FTC, to inform customers about scams and to support initiatives to combat scammers.

Utility impostor scammers pretend to represent electric, natural gas, water, and sewer utilities as a way to steal customers’ money and personal information. They approach customers through a variety of methods, including texts, phone calls, in-person visits, and emails. Scammers often will demand payment and threaten service disconnection, claiming a customer is past due on their utility bill.

“We’ve worked to shut down hundreds of phone numbers and other tactics scammers use and make the communities we serve aware of scam activity,” said NorthWestern Energy Vice President Customer Care, Communication and Human Resources Bobbi Schroeppel. “We all need to work together to protect our neighbors, families and friends from these criminals.”

“UUAS and our members are committed to educating customers about utility scams,” said UUAS Executive Director Monica Martinez. “Customers should be aware that scammers are using more advanced digital tactics to target them.”

Customers who suspect they have been contacted by a scammer should alert their local utility and law enforcement.

Here are general tips to avoid being scammed:

• Protect personal information: Never provide personal information, including your date of birth, to anyone who initiates contact with you, claiming to be a utility company representative. They may ask you to confirm this information if you contact them first, but they will never initiate contact with you asking for this information.
• Take your time: If a request for payment is unexpected or seems suspicious, end the conversation and contact your utility using the verified phone number on a recent bill or the utility’s website to check the true status of your account.
• Only make payments through a verified phone number or website: Remember your utility will never ask you to make a payment through methods like a prepaid debit card, a gift card, cryptocurrency, or through third-party digital payment mobile applications.

For more information and tips on how to protect against utility scams, please visit www.northwesternenergy.com/scamalert. The FTC’s website also provides additional information about protecting personal information and other information regarding impostor scams.

Follow UUAS on Facebook and Twitter and join the conversation by using #StopScams.

Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter (@NWEinfo).

NorthWestern Energy - Delivering a Bright Future

NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides essential energy infrastructure and valuable services that enrich lives and empower communities while serving as long-term partners to our customers and communities. We work to deliver safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions that create value for customers, communities, employees, and investors. We do this by providing low-cost and reliable service performed by highly-adaptable and skilled employees. We provide electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 775,300 customers in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park. Our operations in Montana and Yellowstone National Park are conducted through our subsidiary, NW Corp, and our operations in South Dakota and Nebraska are conducted through our subsidiary, NWE Public Service. We have provided service in South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and in Montana since 2002.

Media Contact:

Jo Dee Black (866) 622-8081

jodee.black@northwestern.com