Outage Center
Our emergency line is available 24 hours a day.
Montana: 888-467-2669 | South Dakota/Nebraska: 800-245-6977 | In case of a life-threatening emergency, dial 911.
Report Electric Outage
Report an electric outage and sign up for outage alerts.
Streetlight Out?
If a streetlight or yard light is out or not working correctly, you can report it online.
Report Gas Outage
If you are experiencing an outage, please call NorthWestern Energy's Customer Service Center:
Montana: 888-467-2669
South Dakota/Nebraska: 800-245-6977
What to do when your power goes out
Step 1
Check your fuses and breakers to rule out problems with electricity inside your home.
Step 2
Step 3
Check our online outage map for the most up-to-date information.
We also post updates during widespread outages on our Facebook page.
Our Online Outage Map
If an outage occurs, report it online and track outages with our outage map.
What to do during a power outage
How to safely use a generator
Portable generators can be useful during a power outage. However, it’s crucial that they are used safely.
How we restore power during an outage
During a widespread outage, we prioritize repairs to restore power to the largest number of customers possible, as quickly as possible while keeping everyone safe.
Check your meter mast and base after a major storm
Check your meter mast and base after a major storm
Heavy windstorms can damage the meter bases and masts on customers’ homes and buildings.
If a customer’s meter base is damaged, the property owner needs to contact an electrician to make repairs before service can be restored. Even if you can clearly see where a meter base or meter mast is damaged, never attempt to make a repair on your down. Up to 240 volts of electricity in a service line could cause severe injury and could start a fire. Repairs can only be made by a licensed electrician.
For Montana customers, Energy Share is available for qualifying customers with energy emergencies that may need financial assistance. Customers should contact their local HRDC office for more information.
Never touch a downed powerline
Strong winds, ice and heavy snow can lead to downed power lines. If you see a downed or damaged power line, keep your distance and call 911 and NorthWestern immediately.
Never touch a power line or any object, including trees, that is in contact with a line. Always keep people, equipment and objects at least 30 feet away from downed lines.
Frequently Ask Questions
Learn more about what to expect during a power outage
My power is out and I'm worried the food in my fridge or freezer will go bad. What should I do?
Do not open freezers or refrigerators more than necessary. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
You can fill empty space in your freezer with perishable items from your refrigerator, which will help keep these items fresh and help your freezer keep it's temperature. You can also fill your freezer with jugs of water or bags of ice.
If the power doesn't come back on after four hours, you may want to consider buying ice and filling a cooler. Move perishable items from your fridge to the cooler. Use a thermometer to make sure the cooler stays below 40 degrees. Add ice as needed.
What should I do if I see a downed power line?
Strong winds, ice and heavy snow can lead to downed power lines. If you see a downed or damaged power line, keep your distance and call 911 immediately.
Never touch a power line or any object, including trees, that is in contact with a line. Remember:
- Keep people, equipment and objects at least 30 feet away from power lines.
- Never attempt to remove a fallen tree or branch from a power line. You could be seriously injured or killed.
- If a tree or branch does come in contact with a power line, keep yourself and others away from the tree and call 911 and NorthWestern Energy immediately.
What causes power outages?
Outages occur for many reasons. Here are the most common causes of unplanned outages:
- System equipment, such as service lines, underground conductor, transformers and insulators.
- Birds and squirrels.
- Debris on the pole or in the line.
- Weather, such as snow, thunderstorms or extreme temperatures.
How long does it take to restore power?
This can vary greatly depending on the cause of an outage. Sometimes restoring power is as simple as removing a branch that has fallen on a line. Other times, it might require replacing a pole that was hit by a vehicle or blown over in a storm. Sometimes we can switch customers to a different circuit while we make repairs, greatly reducing outage time. If a major storm knocks down numerous poles and takes out several lines, an outage can last hours or even days.
Our top priority is always the safety of our crews and our customers. While restoring power quickly is our goal, our crews take the time required to make repairs safely.
I don’t have power, but my neighbor does. Why?
Your neighbor’s home may be fed by a different service or distribution line. It’s also possible the cause of the outage is
in your home. Be sure to check your fuses or breaker box.
What should I do if my power goes out?
Check fuses or circuit breakers to rule out problems with electricity inside your home. If there’s not an issue with your fuses or breakers, report the outage to NorthWestern Energy. You can report outages online or by calling:
- 888-467-2669 in Montana or
- 800-245-6977 in South Dakota/Nebraska
You can find up-to-date outage information on our online outage map and on our Facebook page.