Our Natural Gas and Electric Service
NorthWestern Energy serves 337 communities in Montana, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park with safe and reliable electricity. We serve natural gas to 202 communities in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska.
Our Company
For more than 100 years, NorthWestern Energy has been committed to delivering safe, reliable and innovative energy solutions.
We serve gas and electric to customers in the western two-thirds of Montana and eastern South Dakota. We also have gas service in Nebraska, and serve electricity to Yellowstone National Park.
We own and operate a diverse generation fleet of wind, water, natural gas and coal-fired resources and the high-voltage electric transmission system and distribution system. We also own and operate natural gas production, transmission and distribution systems.
We serve gas and electric to customers in the western two-thirds of Montana and eastern South Dakota. We also have gas service in Nebraska, and serve electricity to Yellowstone National Park.
We own and operate a diverse generation fleet of wind, water, natural gas and coal-fired resources and the high-voltage electric transmission system and distribution system. We also own and operate natural gas production, transmission and distribution systems.
Enriching Lives Through a Safe, Sustainable Energy Future
Enriching Lives Through a Safe, Sustainable Energy Future
NorthWestern Energy has provided reliable and affordable electricity and natural gas to customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska for more than 100 years.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
Sustainability means meeting today’s needs while planning for tomorrow’s as well. It is not just a matter of good environmental practices, being a sustainable enterprise must also incorporate social and governance best practices.
NorthWestern Energy at a glance
775,300
customers served across Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Yellowstone National Park
1,573
employees working across our service territory
55%
carbon-free electric generation
Our vision
Enriching lives through a safe sustainable energy future.
Our mission
Working together to provide safe, reliable and innovative energy solutions that create value for customers, communities, employees, and investors.
Our values
SERVICE: Safety, Excellence, Respect, Value, Integrity, Community, Environment
Our Hydro Facilities
Our carbon-free hydro system is the foundation of our energy generation portfolio in Montana. In 2023, 35.7% of our electricity for Montana customers came from our hydro facilities.
Giving Back to Our Communities
NorthWestern Energy is committed to being a good corporate citizen of all the communities we serve. In 2023, we gave nearly $2 million in charitable donations and community support.
Where Does Your Energy Come From?
We provide safe, reliable energy through a balanced mix of clean energy and traditional resources.
NorthWestern Energy’s Montana system meets record energy demand during extreme January weather
Date: Jan 17, 2024
Butte, Mont. – Jan. 17, 2024 – Energy demand was record high during the Arctic blast that blanketed Montana beginning late last week and continued through the long holiday weekend.
The electric-peak load on the grid that serves NorthWestern Energy’s Montana customers and many other Montana energy service providers exceeded the record set during the December 2022 Montana Arctic blast. In addition, NorthWestern Energy’s Montana natural gas system supplied a record quantity of natural gas to keep our customers warm.
NorthWestern Energy’s crews were staffed and equipped to respond to issues and outages during the Arctic blast. The system performed well under the prolonged extreme conditions.
“We appreciate the patience of those who were affected by some outages our system experienced and the numerous accolades offered for our crews working around the clock in extreme conditions to keep the lights and heat on,” said NorthWestern Energy President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Bird. “We have tremendous customers and are honored to provide you with reliable energy service.”
NorthWestern Energy’s Montana natural gas-fired generation facilities and the Montana Colstrip power plant, along with our hydro generation in Montana, supplied about half of the power for our customers during the extreme temperatures. Wind and solar generation could not produce much, if any, power during the extreme cold. Energy market purchases, most imported from out-of-state, were made to meet more than half of our Montana customers’ energy demand.
If the 175 megawatt Yellowstone County Generating Station, the natural-gas fired generation plant NorthWestern Energy is completing south of Laurel, was operating during this Arctic blast in Montana, more than $14 million in purchases from the energy market would have been avoided.
If NorthWestern Energy had Avista’s 222 megawatt share of the Colstrip Plant, which will be acquired on Jan. 1, 2026, during this Arctic blast in Montana, more than $18 million in purchases from the energy market would have been avoided.
Energy market purchases are flow-through costs to our customers.
“More than five days of consecutive extreme temperatures across Montana illustrates why additional 24/7, on-demand resources located in Montana and dedicated to serving our Montana customers are needed to reduce the risk to reliable service during extreme weather,” said Bird. “And in order to add even more variable wind and solar generation to the Montana grid, we need more of the same 24/7 generation to keep the grid stable.”
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NorthWestern Energy - Delivering a Bright Future
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 764,200 customers in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park. We have provided service in South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and in Montana since 2002.
Media Contacts:
Jo Dee Black
866-622-8081