NorthWestern News

Planned Power Outage in Hamilton, Montana

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:59:58 GMT

Butte, Mont. – October 13, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy has scheduled a planned power outage that will affect approximately 6,500 customers in the Bitterroot Valley. The outage will begin Monday, October 17, 2011, at 3 a.m. and will last approximately three hours.

This outage is needed to complete some upgrades to the NorthWestern Energy substation that serves a significant portion of the Hamilton area. The work and needed outage have been scheduled during the early morning hours to minimize the impact on businesses and residents.

The outage will primarily affect customers located south of highway 93 to Angler’s Roost, north of highway 93 to Bowman Road and everyone located east and west of the substation, located on south First Street behind the NorthWestern Energy office.

Customers with questions may call the Contact Center at (888) 467-2669.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch

(866) 622-8081

NorthWestern Announces Major Construction Project in Aberdeen, S.D.

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:30:14 GMT

Huron, S.D. – October 10, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy will ceremonially break ground on the $65 million Aberdeen Generating Station Unit #2, on Friday, October 14, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. The turbine-type generation project is a 60 MW natural gas-fired electric peaking plant.

The groundbreaking and the electric generation plant will be located directly east of the existing Siebrecht Substation located on the southeast corner of 5^th Avenue and 135^th Street, west of the Northern Beef Packers Plant.

Company officials, representatives from contracted construction companies, and local area representatives will be on hand to celebrate the first few shovels of dirt being moved. The public is invited to attend.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Tom Glanzer

(877) 410-0154

NorthWestern to Host Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results Conference Call

web@northwestern.com — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:12:37 GMT

Sioux Falls, S.D. – October 5, 2011 – NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) today announced that it will host an investor conference call on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Central Time) to review its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2011. The Company also plans to issue a news release detailing its third quarter 2011 financial results the morning of October 26, 2011, before the market opens.

A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET on October 26, 2011, through November 26, 2011, at 800-475-6701, access code 219704.

About NorthWestern Energy

NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch

(605) 978-2902

michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Encourages Helena Customers to Join Smart Grid Pilot Program

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:38:53 GMT

Butte, Mont. – Oct. 3, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy is extending the deadline for customers in the midtown area of Helena, Mont., to participate in the company’s regional Smart Grid Demonstration Project.

NorthWestern sent out postcards to more than 1,200 customers that are served by the Golf Course Substation, an area roughly between Custer Ave. to the Cathedral and Last Chance Gulch to Montana Street, inviting them to participate in the pilot program. Customers who participate in the two-year program will receive new equipment which will enable them to monitor their energy usage and take appropriate actions on a real-time basis. NorthWestern Energy will monitor and measure customer acceptance and energy use behavioral changes through the program.

The pilot is part of NorthWestern Energy’s participation in the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project. This project – one of 16 smart grid demonstration projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) – will be a unique demonstration of unprecedented geographic breadth across five Pacific Northwest states – Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

NorthWestern’s project is unique in that it will test applications in both small urban and rural settings. Through the project, NorthWestern plans to test techniques that will monitor activities in real time, exchange data about supply and demand and adjust power use to changing load requirements. We will monitor and measure customer acceptance and energy use behavioral changes. This will better inform our decision making about potential future expansions of the Smart Grid.

Helena customers who’ve been invited to participate but who have not signed up through the enrollment website may receive telephone calls from NorthWestern Energy notifying them that the enrollment period has been extended to Oct. 11. Customers who live in the area who are interested in participating in the program but who did not receive the invitation are encouraged to call or send an email to the Smart Grid program to be placed on a waiting list for potential applicants.

To sign up from the program or to register your interest, please visit www.montanaenergysmart.com or call (406)497-2210.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081
claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Seeking Electricity Contracts for Montana Customers

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:33:27 GMT

Butte, Mont. – Oct. 3, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy is seeking a two-year electricity contract for 100 megawatts of firm electricity products and exchanges to serve its Montana customers beginning January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014.

The company has issued a Request for Proposal for energy delivered to any available interconnection point on its transmission system or to the Mid-C trading hub. NorthWestern will only consider offers from creditworthy providers. Proposals are due by 3 p.m. MDT on October 12, 2011.

Interested parties may obtain a copy of the RFP at http://www.northwesternenergy.com/ or by contacting Kevin Markovich at 406-497-3336 or kevin.markovich@northwestern.com.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081
claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Upgrading Natural Gas Regulator Station in Butte, Mont.

web@northwestern.com — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:52:59 GMT

Butte, Mont. – Sept. 30, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy will be upgrading new equipment on its natural gas regulator station at the intersection of N. Excelsior Ave. and 8^th St. for up to six weeks beginning Monday, Oct. 3.

The regulator station, which has been at this location for decades, is a part of the company’s infrastructure that controls the pressure of the natural gas that flows through the distribution pipelines in the area. This upgrade is a scheduled part of the company’s major Distribution System Infrastructure Project that will improve and update NorthWestern Energy’s natural gas and electric systems to maintain safety and reliability.

From Oct. 3 through Oct. 5, the company will use temporary stoplights to limit traffic to one-lane on Excelsior from Missoula Ave. north to 9^th St. Beginning Oct. 6, the company will limit traffic to local access on Excelsior Ave. from Missoula Ave. north to 11th St. for up to six weeks. Road closures and alternate routes will be marked clearly.

NorthWestern Energy reminds customers to notify us immediately at (888) 467-2669 or to call 911 if they see a low-hanging or downed power line or if they smell natural gas.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan
(866) 622-8081

Western Electricity Coordinating Council Affirms MSTI Transmission Line Path Rating

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:21:09 GMT

Butte, Mont. – Sept. 29, 2011 – The Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) has notified NorthWestern Energy (NYSE:NWE) that the Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI) has been approved to carry up to 1,500 megawatts of electricity north-to-south and up to 1,100 MW south-to-north.

WECC’s Three Phase Path Rating Process is a comprehensive technical planning study that defines the transfer limit that a new transmission line (or lines) can achieve without interfering with the reliability or stability of other lines in the western interconnection. In addition to technical modeling, the path rating process requires a peer review by all interested transmission providers and other stakeholders.

The company was recently notified that the project has received “Phase 3” status, which means that the study has been concluded, the path rating established and MSTI can be constructed with the approved rating. Phase 3 concludes when the project is placed into service. “This is an important project milestone that has been several years in the making,” said Mike Cashell, vice president – Transmission. “We still have much work to do before MSTI is in operation, but this and other recent studies affirm the regional benefit of this project to spur new energy development and alleviate congestion on the existing system.”

The WECC recently published a 10-year transmission planning study and the Northern Tier Transmission Group (NTTG) recently published its biennial planning report, both of which look at what the grid may look like in 2020 under different operating conditions. Both reports found that new transmission lines are needed throughout the west to accommodate demand for proposed renewable energy development. Both studies also found benefit (mostly in the form of congestion relief) should transmission be built to accommodate renewable energy development in Montana.

MSTI is still working its way through the siting process with the Bureau of Land Management and Montana Department of Environmental Quality. While the path rating is independent of the siting process, the path rating study did evaluate the “common corridor” approach to what has been termed the “northern route alternative” that may allow MSTI to more closely parallel the existing BPA double-circuited 500kv towers from Townsend to Deer Lodge. The rating was affirmed for all of the potential alternative routes, including the scenario that places MSTI in a common corridor with the BPA line.

For more information about the MSTI line please visit www.msti500kv.com. To learn more about WECC’s path rating process and its mission to maintain grid reliability, please visit www.wecc.biz.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081
claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902

NorthWestern Energy and Beacon Power Showcase Innovative Flywheel Project at Mill Creek

web@northwestern.com — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Butte, Mont. – September 28, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) and Beacon Power Corporation, a provider of energy storage products and services that support the operation of the electricity grid, today showcased a project to install and test an advanced flywheel-based energy storage technology at the Dave Gates Generating Station (DGGS) at Mill Creek, near Anaconda.

Beacon Power is installing a 1-megawatt (MW) Smart Energy Matrix flywheel energy-storage system that will be operated in conjunction with the DGGS. The 1-MW system consists of ten, 1-kW flywheels along with two containers housing power electronics and environmental control systems. Construction of this project should be complete by the end of 2011.

“We’re pleased to collaborate with NorthWestern Energy on this innovative and forward-looking project,” said Bill Capp, Beacon Power President and CEO. “Studies have shown that fast-responding energy storage technology like our flywheels can augment conventional fossil-fueled regulation resources by improving their performance. We look forward to demonstrating this project and its operation with the DGGS.”

NorthWestern Energy, as does any electricity grid operator, must balance the electrical loads and resources, including intermittent resources such as wind, on its system on a moment-to-moment basis.

“NorthWestern Energy is pleased to work with Beacon Power to gain additional understanding of and operational experience with flywheel technology,” said Bob Rowe, President and CEO of NorthWestern Energy. “We are excited to learn more about this technology, and how it integrates with the operation of the Dave Gates Generating Station.

“I also find it interesting that flywheel technology has evolved from what was used for hoists in the Butte mines almost a century ago to this innovative energy-storage concept.”

The proposed flywheel system will respond to grid operator control signals to absorb excess electricity from the electric system and inject it back when needed, providing 1 MW of fast-responding regulation. Beacon and NorthWestern Energy will work closely together to develop the flywheel system’s control signal algorithms to integrate it with the performance of the adjacent DGGS and to evaluate the impact and potential benefits of the flywheel resource.

About Beacon Power

Beacon Power Corporation designs, develops and is commercializing advanced products and services to support stable, reliable and efficient electricity grid operation. Beacon’s Smart Energy Matrix™, now in production, being operated and earning revenue, is a non-polluting, fast-response flywheel-based solution designed to provide less expensive, more sustainable and effective regulation services to power grids around the world. The company’s business strategy is both to supply regulation services from its own plants and to sell systems directly to utilities or grid operators in parts of North America and selected international markets. Beacon is a publicly traded company with its research, development and manufacturing facility in the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.beaconpower.com.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902

NorthWestern Energy Announces Planned Outage in Bristol, S.D.

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:12:48 GMT

Huron, S.D. – September 22, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy has scheduled a power outage in the city of Bristol, S.D., beginning at 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2011. The outage will last approximately an hour and a half.

“This outage is needed to finalize some upgrades to equipment in our substation that serves the entire city and some farms in the region,” said Randy Otto – Aberdeen Area Engineer.

Customers are reminded that plug-in alarm clocks will not work during the outage.

If weather prevents the upgrades, the outage will be rescheduled.

Customers with questions may call the Contact Center at (800) 245-6977.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Tom Glanzer
(877) 410-0154
tom.glanzer@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Giving Away Free Weatherization Kits to Qualifying Customers in the Butte, Mont., Area

web@northwestern.com — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:45:05 GMT

Butte, Mont. – September 21, 2011 – In an effort to help Montana residents become more energy efficient this winter, NorthWestern Energy is inviting qualifying natural gas customers to attend a Weatherization Event in their area. At the events, NorthWestern Energy will be distributing free Weatherization Starter Kits to natural gas home heating space or water heating customers who have not received a kit at any prior event or through a home energy audit. NorthWestern Energy customers have been sent a postcard with information about the events and are asked to bring the postcard with them when they attend.

NorthWestern Energy will also be distributing free compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) to residential electric customers who have not received free CFLs at any other 2011 event or program.

According to Bill Thomas, Manager of Regulatory Support Services for NorthWestern Energy, “The Weatherization Events target our natural gas residential customers with a specific purpose. That is to distribute our free starter Weatherization Kits to qualifying customers, particularly those customers with noticeable air leaks around their doors and single pane windows. For customers who received a kit in the past but haven’t installed it, we strongly encourage them to take time to install it while the weather is still cooperative. Customers will only see energy savings when the kits have been installed.”

For more information and a full schedule of upcoming Weatherization Events and videos on How to Install a Kit, visit www.northwesternenergy.com or call (800) 823-5995.

Butte Area Weatherization Events Schedule

Dillon – NorthWestern Energy Service Center

32 South Atlantic

On Wednesday, September 28, 3pm-7pm

Sheridan – Bethany Hall

211 ½ South Main Street

On Thursday, September 29, 10am-2pm

Twin Bridges – Twin Bridges Volunteer Fire Department

210 North Main Street

On Thursday, September 29, 3pm-7pm

Anaconda – NorthWestern Energy Service Center

1000 East Commercial

On Friday, September 30, 10am-2pm

Deer Lodge – Pen Convention Center

925 Main Street

On Friday, September 30, 3pm-7pm

Butte – NorthWestern Energy Service Center

400 Oxford Street

On Saturday, October 1, 10am-3pm

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan
(866) 622-8081
michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Supports MSTI Review Project

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:47:20 GMT

Butte, Mont. – September 19, 2011 – Two Montana counties and five local non-governmental organizations have announced they will conduct an independent review of NorthWestern Energy’s Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI) project.

NorthWestern Energy supports this third-party, independent review. The review will evaluate impacts and use a modeling process to analyze unbiased policy data, scientific data and community values. This process also assesses the economic impacts of the project to each county. Organizers of the third-party review process will be inviting all counties throughout the MSTI project area to participate.

“NorthWestern Energy has always been committed to transparent and factual communications about the project,” said Mike Cashell, Vice President - Transmission. “We think this is an excellent opportunity for county commissioners to continue to participate in a transparent and constructive public dialog that allows them to incorporate their important community values into the transmission siting equation. We hope that all counties potentially affected by MSTI will participate in this effort to better understand how this important project affects their county, state, and region.”

The MSTI Review Group includes: Madison County, MT; Jefferson County, MT; Western Environmental Law Center; Headwaters Economics; Sonoran Institute; Craighead Institute and Future West. Funding for the review process is expected to come from a variety of sources including counties, states, and NorthWestern Energy.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the Bureau of Land Management are continuing to develop the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the MSTI Project, which is expected to be published in spring 2012. After the DEIS is released there will be public meetings and a comment period before a final EIS and a Certificate of Compliance is issued by MDEQ and the Record of Decision is released by the BLM.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contacts:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081
claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Giving Away Free Weatherization Kits to Qualifying Customers in the Kalispell, Mont., Area

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:05:24 GMT

Butte, Mont. – September 15, 2011 – In an effort to help Montana residents become more energy efficient this winter, NorthWestern Energy is inviting qualifying natural gas customers to attend a Weatherization Event in their area. At the events, NorthWestern Energy will be distributing free Weatherization Starter Kits to natural gas home heating space or water heating customers who have not received a kit at any prior event or through a home energy audit. NorthWestern Energy customers have been sent a postcard with information about the events and are asked to bring the postcard with them when they attend.

For more information and a full schedule of upcoming Weatherization Events and videos on How to Install a Kit, visit www.northwesternenergy.com or call (800) 823-5995.

Kalispell Area Weatherization Events Schedule

Bigfork – Bigfork Fire Department

810 Grand Drive

On Thursday, September 22, 3pm-7pm

Whitefish – O’Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center

1 Central Avenue

On Friday, September 23, 10am-2pm

Columbia Falls – Glacier Discovery Square

540 Nucleus Avenue

On Friday, September 23, 3pm-7pm

Kalispell – Gateway Community Center

1203 US Highway 2 West

On Saturday, September 24, 10am-3pm

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan
(866) 622-8081
michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Giving Away Free Weatherization Kits to Qualifying Customers in the Missoula, Mont., Area

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:57:20 GMT

NorthWestern Energy will also be distributing free compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) to residential electric customers who have not received free CFLs at any other 2011 event or program.

For more information and a full schedule of upcoming Weatherization Events and videos on How to Install a Kit, visit www.northwesternenergy.com or call (800) 823-5995.

Missoula Area Weatherization Events Schedule

Drummond – Drummond High School Library

108 West Edwards Street

On Wednesday, September 21, 11am-2pm

Clinton – Clinton Elementary School

20397 East Mullan Road

On Wednesday, September 21, 4pm-8pm

Corvallis – Corvallis Rural Fire Department

317 Woodside Cutoff Road

On Thursday, September 22, 10am-2pm

Hamilton – Hamilton City Volunteer Fire

179 South 3^rd Street

On Thursday, September 22, 3pm-7pm

Stevensville – Stevensville Main Street Association

102 B Main Street

On Friday, September 23, 10am-2pm

Florence – I.O.O.F. Lou Lou Lodge #34

Highway 93 and Heacock Avenue

On Friday, September 23, 3pm-7pm

Missoula – Missoula County Fairgrounds (Home Arts Bldg)

1101 South Avenue West

On Saturday, September 24, 10am-3pm

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan
(866) 622-8081
michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Giving Away Free Weatherization Kits to Qualifying Customers in the Helena, Mont., Area

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:45:56 GMT

NorthWestern Energy will also be distributing free compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) to residential electric customers who have not received free CFLs at any other 2011 event or program.

For more information and a full schedule of upcoming Weatherization Events and videos on How to Install a Kit, visit www.northwesternenergy.com or call (800) 823-5995.

Helena Area Weatherization Events Schedule

Clancy – Clancy Library

3 North Main Street

On Wednesday, September 21, 10am-2pm

Montana City – Montana City Hardware Cafe

11 Bankers Lane

On Wednesday, September 21, 3pm-7pm

East Helena – East Helena Fire Hall

2 East Pacific

On Friday, September 30, 3pm-7pm

Helena – Helena Indian Alliance

501 Euclid Avenue

On Saturday, October 1, 10am-3pm

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan
(866) 622-8081
michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Reminds Customers of Planned Outage in Hitchcock and Bonilla Areas

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:34:46 GMT

Huron, S.D. – September 15, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy is reminding customers of a scheduled power outage for the cities of Hitchcock, Bonilla and surrounding rural customers on Friday, September 16. The outage will begin at 7:00 a.m. and is scheduled to last approximately 8 to 10 hours.

“We are excited to complete this final big step in bringing the new Hitchcock substation on-line,” said Rick Hoffman – Huron Area Manager. “The entire project will improve reliability and increase our ability to connect new and bigger electric loads.”

Customers are encouraged to plan and prepare in advance for this outage. As a reminder, keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed helps to retain cold and sensitive electronic equipment should be turned off or unplugged until power is fully restored.

Customers who rely on electronically powered medical devices are strongly encouraged have ample battery back-up for the day.

Customers who plan to use electric generators during the outage are reminded that any generator that is directly wired into the home or business’ electric system are required to be installed with the appropriate safety mechanisms to prevent electricity from “back feeding” onto the system which poses a hazard to our employees working on the lines.

Customers with questions may call the Contact Center at (800) 245-6977.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Tom Glanzer
(877) 410-0154
tom.glanzer@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Giving Away Free Weatherization Kits to Qualifying Customers in the Great Falls, Mont., Area

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:14:11 GMT

Butte, Mont. – September 8, 2011 – In an effort to help Montana residents become more energy efficient this winter, NorthWestern Energy is inviting qualifying natural gas customers to attend a Weatherization Event in their area. At the events, NorthWestern Energy will be distributing free Weatherization Starter Kits to natural gas home heating space or water heating customers who have not received a kit at any prior event or through a home energy audit. NorthWestern Energy customers have been sent a postcard with information about the events and are asked to bring the postcard with them when they attend.

NorthWestern Energy will also be distributing free compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) to residential electric customers who have not received free CFLs at any other 2011 event or program.

For more information and a full schedule of upcoming Weatherization Events and videos on How to Install a Kit, visit www.northwesternenergy.com or call (800) 823-5995.

Great Falls Area Weatherization Events Schedule

Augusta – Augusta Senior Center

134 Main Street B

On Tuesday, September 13, 11am-2pm

Simms – Sun River Valley Lions Hall

150 North Main Street

On Wednesday, September 14, 11am-2pm

Fort Shaw – Sun River Valley Senior Center

13319 MT Highway 200

On Wednesday, September 14, 3pm-7pm

Sun River – Sun River Middle School (Gym)

301 Margent Street

On Thursday, September 15, 11am-2pm

Vaughn – American Legion

424 Post Avenue

On Thursday, September 15, 3pm-7pm

Harlowton – Kiwanis Youth Center

204 3^rd Street NE

On Friday, September 16, 10am-2pm

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan
(866) 622-8081
michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Giving Away Free Weatherization Kits to Qualifying Customers in the Billings, Mont., Area

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:11:43 GMT

NorthWestern Energy will also be distributing free compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) to residential electric customers who have not received free CFLs at any other 2011 event or program.

For more information and a full schedule of upcoming Weatherization Events and videos on How to Install a Kit, visit www.northwesternenergy.com or call (800) 823-5995.

Billings Area Weatherization Events Schedule

Roberts – Roberts Rural Fire Department

3 South 1^st Street

On Wednesday, September 14, 11am-2pm

Red Lodge – Red Lodge Fire Department

801 North Broadway

On Wednesday, September 14, 3pm-7pm

Absarokee – Stillwater Senior Citizens Center

7 South Woodard Avenue

On Thursday, September 15, 10am-2pm

Columbus – Columbus Senior Center

620 Palladium Place

On Thursday, September 15, 3pm-7pm

Harlowton – Kiwanis Youth Center

204 3^rd Street NE

On Friday, September 16, 10am-2pm

Big Timber – American Legion

110 East 3^rd Avenue

On Friday, September 16, 4pm-8pm

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan
(866) 622-8081
michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Giving Away Free Weatherization Kits to Qualify Customers in the Bozeman, Mont., Area

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:06:24 GMT

NorthWestern Energy will also be distributing free compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) to residential electric customers who have not received free CFLs at any other 2011 event or program.

For more information and a full schedule of upcoming Weatherization Events and videos on How to Install a Kit, visit www.northwesternenergy.com or call (800) 823-5995.

Bozeman Area Weatherization Events Schedule

Big Timber – American Legion

110 East 3^rd Avenue

On Friday, September 16, 4pm-8pm

Bozeman – Gallatin County Fairgrounds

901 North Black Avenue

On Saturday, September 17, 10am-3pm

Livingston – NorthWestern Energy Service Center

224 South B Street

On Wednesday, September 28, 3pm-7pm

Belgrade – Central Valley Fire Training Center

95 North Davis Street

On Thursday, September 29, 10am-2pm

Three Forks – I.O.O.F.

20 East Date Street

On Thursday, September 29, 3pm-7pm

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan
(866) 622-8081
michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Giving Away Free Weatherization Kits to Qualifying Customers in the Havre, Mont., Area

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:56:10 GMT

NorthWestern Energy will also be distributing free compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) to residential electric customers who have not received free CFLs at any other 2011 event or program.

For more information and a full schedule of upcoming Weatherization Events and videos on How to Install a Kit, visit www.northwesternenergy.com or call (800) 823-5995.

Havre Area Weatherization Events Schedule

Joplin – Joplin Fire Department

502 5^th Street

On Friday, September 16, 11am-2pm

Hingham – Hingham Community Center

502 1^st Street South

On Friday, September 16, 3pm-7pm

Havre – NorthWestern Energy Service Center

164 21^st Avenue West

On Saturday, September 17, 10am-3pm

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan
(866) 622-8081
michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Planning Natural Gas System Integrity Work in Red Lodge, Mont.

web@northwestern.com — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:07:42 GMT

Butte, Mont. – September 7, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy employees will be conducting planned maintenance of its natural gas system in Red Lodge, Mont. Work is projected to begin the week of September 12, 2011. The area affected will be located between North Broadway and North Platt, and from 9^th to 10^th, including the west side of North Platt and the east side of North Broadway.

The company will begin work in the alley starting with services located on the north end of the block and is expected to take four to six weeks. NorthWestern Energy will be replacing the two inch steel main and other steel services. This is part of the company’s regular natural gas system integrity maintenance program.

Residents and businesses in the affected areas will experience restricted alley access during the construction, and arrangements for temporary natural gas service is possible. Customers with questions about the maintenance should contact NorthWestern Energy’s construction engineer Sharla Thomas at 406-655-2509.

NorthWestern Energy reminds customers to notify us immediately at (888) 467-2669 or to call 911 if they see a low-hanging or downed power line or if they smell natural gas.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan
(866) 622-8081
michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

NORTHWESTERN ENERGY SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH OWNENERGY FOR MONTANA COMMUNITY WIND FARM

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:10:14 GMT

Butte, MT – September 1, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE), and OwnEnergy, Inc., a developer of Community Wind projects, today announced that they have signed a 25-year Qualifying Facility Agreement, for the 9.7 megawatt Two Dot Wind Farm. The project is located in Wheatland County, near the town of Two Dot, about 90 miles NW of Billings.

OwnEnergy will sell the electricity from the Community Wind farm to NorthWestern Energy under the terms and conditions set forth by the Montana Public Service Commission in the QF-1, Option 3 electric tariff. OwnEnergy and NorthWestern negotiated a long-term rate substantially below the current Qualifying Facility rate of $69.21. In return, OwnEnergy obtained curtailment provisions that are significantly more favorable than those contained in new Qualifying Facility Agreements.

The project is being developed as a result of the partnership between OwnEnergy and Two Dot Wind, LLC, whose owners, Dave Healow and Dana Dogetrom, are local businessmen. Two Dot Wind Farm exemplifies the central principles of Community Wind development - local ownership as well as greater involvement and financial upside for members of the community. Furthermore, as a wind development approach, Community Wind has demonstrated that it creates a greater number of local jobs.

OwnEnergy has taken a leadership role in the high-growth Community Wind sector, where its CEO serves on the AWEA Board as an advisor on the segment. Through its proprietary development technology and local partnerships, OwnEnergy has driven down the time and cost of developing these small to mid-sized wind projects and made them competitive in the market.

Jacob Susman, Founder and CEO of OwnEnergy, said, “This is an exciting milestone for OwnEnergy, Two Dot Wind, LLC and the local Montana community. NorthWestern has once again shown true leadership, demonstrating that power generation can be environmentally friendly at the same time as being cost-effective.”

“Thanks to this agreement, our customers will benefit from the addition of a renewable energy source at a rate more beneficial to ratepayers,” said John Hines, Vice President – Supply. “With our other recent wind QF purchases, we are nearing the limit of installed wind capacity that we are allowed to purchase through this tariff.” The Montana Public Service Commission set a rate for NorthWestern Energy to purchase up to 50MW of wind generation. When the company reaches the cap, the MPSC will reexamine the wind QF tariff and related policies.

Construction of the Two Dot Wind Farm will begin by spring of 2012.

About OwnEnergy

OwnEnergy, Inc. is a Community Wind developer of mid-sized, utility scale wind projects that enable landowners and communities to build and profit directly from their own local wind farms. The company is based in Brooklyn, New York. For more information about OwnEnergy visit www.ownenergy.net.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:

Christine Karlovic
OwnEnergy, Inc.
(646) 898-3696
christine.karlovic@ownenergy.net

Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081
claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Announces Planned Outage in Hitchcock and Bonilla Area to FInish New Substation Construction

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:35:06 GMT

Huron, S.D. – August 30, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy has scheduled a power outage for the cities of Hitchcock, Bonilla and surrounding rural customers on Friday, September 16. The outage will begin at 7:00 a.m. and is scheduled to last approximately 8 to 10 hours.

“The scheduled outage is part of a system upgrade that will improve reliability, and increase our ability to connect new and bigger electric loads,” said Rick Hoffman – Huron Area Manager. “All available resources will be brought to Hitchcock in an attempt to complete the work in a safe and timely manner.”

Customers who rely on electronically powered medical devices are strongly encouraged have ample battery back-up for the day.

NorthWestern will alert customers of this and up-coming related outages via the media and the use of pre-recorded phone messages.

Customers with questions may call the Contact Center at (800) 245-6977.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Tom Glanzer
(877) 410-0154
tom.glanzer@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Announces Planned Outage in Avon, S.D.

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:22:08 GMT

Huron, S.D. – August 30, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy has scheduled a power outage in the city of Avon, S.D., beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, September 2, 2011. The outage will last approximately an hour and a half.

“This outage is needed to complete some upgrades to equipment in our substation that serves the entire city of Avon and some farms in the region,” said Brad Wenande – Yankton Area Manager.

Customers with questions may call the Contact Center at (800) 245-6977.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Tom Glanzer
(877) 410-0154
tom.glanzer@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Announces Planned Outage in Huron, S.D.

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:31:21 GMT

Huron, S.D. – August 23, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy has scheduled a power outage in the central portion of the city of Huron, S.D., beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 28, 2011. The outage will last approximately one half hour.

“This outage is needed to complete some upgrades to our substation that serves the downtown Huron area,” said Rick Hoffman – Huron Area Manager. “The work and the needed outage is scheduled on a Sunday morning to minimize the impact on businesses and city infrastructure in the downtown area.”

Customers with questions may call the Contact Center at (800) 245-6977.

Click here for the map that shows the affected areas (shaded in yellow).

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:

Tom Glanzer

(877) 410-0154

NorthWestern Energy Electric System Sets Another High Demand Mark

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:06:46 GMT

Huron, S.D. - August 2, 2011 - Just 14 days ago NorthWestern Energy surpassed a four year old record of electricity demand by customers located in the South Dakota region of the utility. Today the utility announced after Monday’s intense heat and humidity last month’s record has fallen.

Heat indexes again pushed into triple digits, and in turn electric loads grew to an all time high for South Dakota. Demand pushed the system to a new peak of an estimated 341 megawatts (MW). Two weeks ago the record was set at 338 MW which had smashed the previous record set in 2007 at 315 MW.

"I would venture to say that nobody at NorthWestern thought we were going to break the July 18th record so soon, but it shows you the amount of energy your cooling system requires to keep up with temperatures in the 100's and a heavy blanket of humidity," said Dennis Wagner - Director of South Dakota Energy Supply, Production & Generation. "Tuesday's cloud cover and reduced temperatures will be a welcomed relief for air conditioners all over Eastern South Dakota."

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Tom Glanzer
(877) 410-0154

NorthWestern Names Michial Sammons as New Kearney Area Manager

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:00:10 GMT

Huron, S.D. – July 28, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy announced today that Michial (Mike) Sammons has been hired as Area Manager in Kearney, NE. Sammons will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the Kearney natural gas retail operations.

Sammons graduated from Huron High School, S.D., and served 2 years in the U.S. Army. He has 35 years of experience in the natural gas industry and has served as a gas construction foreman for 15 years in the Huron, S.D. area. Most recently, Sammons was the District Superintendent in the Sioux Falls, S.D. area

“Mike’s field experience and leadership qualities will make him the perfect fit in the Kearney community; we are very excited to have his talents and expertise in that position,” said Mike Sydow – General Manager Retail Operations for South Dakota and Nebraska.

“My wife and I have found it very easy to become a part of this great community in the short time we have called it home,” said Sammons. “The NorthWestern Energy crew based in Kearney is among the top in the industry, and I look forward to using their talents to help us serve the community with great customer service and safety.”

Sammons is very active in the local community, was a member of Huron Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years, and currently serves on the Buffalo County Economic Development Board. Sammons and his wife have 4 grown children.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:

Tom Glanzer

(877) 410-0154

michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Reports Second Quarter 2011 Financial Results

web@northwestern.com — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 06:01:00 GMT

Reports diluted EPS of $.30/diluted shares compared with $.32/diluted share in 2Q 2010
Declares dividend for 3Q 2011

Sioux Falls, S.D. – July 27, 2011 – NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2011.

Highlights for the quarter include:

Upsized our revolving credit facility from $250 million to $300 million; extended the maturity date from June 30, 2012, to June 30, 2016; and significantly lowered the cost of the facility.
Filed for approval with the Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC) to purchase and operate the yet to be developed 40 megawatt Spion Kop Wind Project located in Central Montana.
- The construction of that wind project is contingent on the MPSC approving the project into rate base.
Filed an application to adjust our rates for natural gas services in South Dakota.
- Company is requesting an increase of $2.7 million annually due to increased operations and maintenance costs and an increase of $1.4 million annually to complete the company's remediation of a manufactured gas plant (MGP) site in South Dakota.
NorthWestern declared a common stock dividend of 36 cents per share, payable on September 30, 2011, to common shareholders of record as of September 15, 2011.

Natural Gas System Integrity Work Planned in Absarokee, Mont.

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:31:59 GMT

Butte, Mont. – July 25, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy employees will be conducting planned maintenance of its natural gas system in Absarokee, Mont. Work is projected to begin the first week of August. The area affected will be located between North Woodard and North Montana, and from Grove to Highway 78, including the west side of North Montana and the east side of North Woodard.

The company will begin work in the alley starting with services located on the north end of the block and is expected to take six weeks. NorthWestern Energy will be replacing the two inch steel main and other steel services. This is part of the company’s regular natural gas system integrity maintenance program.

NorthWestern Energy reminds customers to notify us immediately at (888) 467-2669 or to call 911 if they see a low-hanging or downed power line or if they smell natural gas.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan

(866) 622-8081

NorthWestern Energy Electric System Hits All-Time High Demand Mark

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:46:10 GMT

Huron, S.D. – July 19, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy announced today that the South Dakota electric utility surpassed its old all-time high for electricity demand during Monday’s afternoon swelter.

With heat indexes reaching 112° F, customers depended on air conditioning to stay comfortable. Cooling equipment and other electric demands pushed the system to a new peak of 331 megawatts (MW). The previous record was set at 315 MW in 2007.

“Typically, when you break an electric peak record, it is only by a megawatt or two,” said Dennis Wagner – Director of South Dakota Energy Supply, Production & Generation. “Monday was a big day of usage on our entire South Dakota system—not just in a few regions, but our entire coverage area.”

There was a bit of relief in the form of wind generation on Tuesday. Titan 1 Wind Farm near Ree Heights, S.D. added 15 MW of renewable energy to NorthWestern’s system around the noon hour, thanks to a steady wind that didn’t exist in that area on Monday.

NorthWestern Energy system is capacity rated at 352 MW.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:

Tom Glanzer

(877) 410-0154

Investor Relations Contact:

Dan Rausch

(605) 978-2902

NorthWestern Energy Upsizes and Extends Corporate Revolving Credit Facility

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:09:07 GMT

Sioux Falls, S.D. – July 7, 2011 – NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) today announced that it has amended and restated its corporate revolving credit facility to increase the amount to $300 million from the current $250 million and to extend the maturity date to June 30, 2016, from the existing June 30, 2012. The facility also has an accordion feature that allows the Company to increase the size of the facility up to $350 million with the consent of the lenders.

Based on NorthWestern's current senior unsecured credit ratings, the initial commitment fee under the amended revolver will be reduced to 0.175% (from 0.375%), and the initial interest rate margin for Eurodollar loans will be reduced to 1.25% (from 2.75%). Going forward, interest rates, commitment fees and letter of credit fees will be based on the Company’s then-current senior unsecured credit ratings. As of June 30, 2011, the Company has issued approximately $90 million of commercial paper, which is supported by the amended facility, and approximately $167,000 of letters of credit under the facility. There are currently no loans outstanding under the amended facility.

The banks in the facility include Bank of America, N.A. (Administrative Agent), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Syndication Agent), KeyBank Nat’l Association (Co-Documentation Agent), Union Bank, N.A. (Co-Documentation Agent), U.S. Bank National Association (Co-Documentation Agent), UBS Loan Finance, Deutsche Bank, and Credit Suisse.

About NorthWestern Energy

NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch

(866) 622-8081

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch

(605) 978-2902

NorthWestern to Host Second Quarter 2011 Financial Results Conference Call

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:29:41 GMT

Sioux Falls, S.D. – June 30, 2011 – NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) today announced that it will host an investor conference call on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (3:00 p.m. Central Time) to review its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. The Company also plans to issue a news release detailing its second quarter 2011 financial results the morning of July 27, 2011, before the market opens.

The conference call will be webcast live on the Internet at www.northwesternenergy.com under the “Investor Information” heading. To listen, please go to the site at least 10 minutes in advance of the call to register. An archived webcast will be available shortly after the call.

A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 27, 2011, through August 27, 2011, at 800-475-6701, access code 209282.

About NorthWestern Energy

NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch

(866) 622-8081

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch

(605) 978-2902

NorthWestern Energy Notifies Customers of Steps to Follow After Flood Waters Recede

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:35:06 GMT

Huron, S.D. – June 13, 2011 – As a safety precaution, NorthWestern Energy may be shutting off gas and locking meters to premises that become flooded or are in danger of being flooded. The company encourages customers to call NorthWestern Energy to request meters be turned back on once the flood waters recede. The company will evaluate the condition of the meter, regulator and relief valve prior to restoring service, and replace or repair equipment as necessary. In the event of large scale flooding, NorthWestern Energy personnel will assess the situation and work with emergency responders to determine if it is safe to restore the service.

In the event a home or business floods which results in gas piping and appliances become submerged, property owners must have the equipment inspected and either approved or replaced by a qualified professional prior to requesting service restoration. Once the inspection has been completed, a NorthWestern employee will meet the customer to enter the residence and relight the gas appliances.

If your basement or home sustains flooding damage or if you smell natural gas, please notify NorthWestern Energy at (800) 245-6977 or call 911.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Tom Glanzer
(877) 410-0154
tom.glanzer@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

Winners of the Second Annual BetterBricks Awards Announced

web@northwestern.com — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:28:06 GMT

Butte, Mont. – The 2011 BetterBricks Awards event honored Montana’s leading green building professionals who design, build, operate and advocate for high performance commercial buildings. Held June 9, in Bozeman, the award ceremony drew approximately 100 attendees.

Judith Heerwagon, Program Specialist at the Office of Federal High Performance Green Buildings for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), was the keynote speaker. She spoke about how the interaction between building design and operations influences human behavior and performance and, in turn, affects building performance.

The BetterBricks Awards celebrate the champions of energy efficiency whose forward-thinking business practices raise the bar and industry standards. The Awards recognize architects, engineers, building operators, facility managers and other building professionals for their leadership in reducing the use of energy and other resources in commercial buildings.

“Northwest green building professionals lead the country in their commitment to energy efficiency,” said Claire Fulenwider, Executive Director of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA). “Our high caliber winners this year are making impressive strides in both private and the public sector buildings and demonstrate that through innovation and collaboration, we can accomplish significant energy savings.”

Winners were selected in the following categories:

Advocate: Thomas E. McNab
Director, Community Design Center, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Montana State University School of Architecture, Bozeman
Architect: Eric Simonsen
Principal, A&E Architects, Billings
Design Engineer: Ken Phillips, P.E.
Senior Energy Engineer, Montana State Building Energy Program, Helena
Facility Manager / Operator: Co-Winners
Richard Whitney, Executive Director of Facilities Services, Billings Public School District #2, Billings; Don Clark , Water/Wastewater Treatment Superintendent, City of Helena

Winners were selected by a panel of judges comprised of industry professionals, NorthWestern Energy employees and green building experts.

To achieve high performance buildings, award winners championed a variety of best practices such as utilizing local climate in site designs, employing early design energy modeling, supporting building commissioning, educating tenants and staff about sustainability and implementing better building operations. Their projects have achieved substantial energy savings, reduced building operation and maintenance costs and enhanced productivity of building occupants among other benefits.

The award ceremony was held in conjunction with the Montana Energy Conference for Businesses.

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081
claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Notifies Customers of Steps to Follow After Flood Waters Recede

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:32:33 GMT

Butte, Mont. – June 9, 2011 – As a safety precaution, NorthWestern Energy may be shutting off gas and locking meters to premises that become flooded or are in danger of being flooded. The company encourages customers to call NorthWestern Energy to request meters be turned back on once the flood waters recede. The company will evaluate the condition of the meter, regulator and relief valve prior to restoring service, and replace or repair equipment as necessary. In the event of large scale flooding, NorthWestern Energy personnel will assess the situation and work with emergency responders to determine if it is safe to restore the service.

In the event a home or business floods which results in gas piping and appliances become submerged, property owners must have the equipment inspected and either approved or replaced by a qualified professional prior to requesting service restoration. Once the inspection has been completed, a NorthWestern employee will meet the customer to enter the residence and relight the gas appliances.

If you see a low-hanging or downed power line or smell natural gas, please notify NorthWestern Energy at (888) 467-2669 or call 911.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan
(866) 622-8081
michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Alerts Customers of Surveying Work to be Performed in Billings Area

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:24:04 GMT

Butte, Mont. – June 9, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy has contracted with Heath Consultants to conduct the required Department of Transportation Annual Leak and Atmospheric Corrosion Surveys on its natural gas system in Reed Point, Absarokee, Columbus, Red Lodge and Roberts beginning the week of June 13, 2011.

Heath Consultants will be accessing residential yards and business properties to inspect natural gas services, meters, collect data, and check risers and regulators. The employees will drive vehicles and wear clothing that identify them as official company representatives and carry some form of company identification (i.e. business card, access key card, etc.).

If you see a low-hanging or downed power line or smell natural gas, please notify NorthWestern Energy at (888) 467-2669 or call 911.

Media Contact:
Michelle Sullivan
(866) 622-8081
michelle.sullivan@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Files Annual Electricity and Natural Gas Supply Trackers in Montana

web@northwestern.com — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:37:47 GMT

Butte, MT. – June 3, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) today announced it has submitted its annual filings with the Montana Public Service Commission to true-up its electricity and natural gas supply costs beginning July 1, 2011.

These costs are adjusted monthly based on forecasted market rates and are trued up once a year to adjust for any difference between the forecasted costs collected in rates and the actual costs incurred during the same period. At the same time, the company updates the forecasted electricity and natural gas supply rates.

The natural gas supply tracker includes NorthWestern Energy’s interest in Battle Creek natural gas production in Blaine County, Montana, acquired through two separate transactions in 2010 and early 2011. The associated costs are included in the 2011 tracker on an interim basis pending a revenue requirement filing that will be made later this year.

The natural gas supply rate as of July 1, 2011, will be $5.13 per dekatherm (10 therms) or $05.13 per therm – which compares to $5.69/per dekatherm at the same period last year. This lower rate indicates that natural gas prices over the coming tracker period are expected to remain about the same or slightly lower than last year; however, actual results depend on weather patterns, demand, and other market fundamental and factors.

The electric filing also includes adjustments for the variable costs and revenue credits associated with Colstrip Unit 4 and the Dave Gates Generating Station. The new electricity supply cost rates included in this filing are combined with the separate rate components for Colstrip Unit 4 and the Dave Gates Generating Station into a single overall supply rate and net deferred cost rate for customer billing purposes.

The projected overall Electric Supply Cost and net Supply Deferred Cost in this filing result in a decrease for a typical residential customer using 750 kWh per month of $0.24 per month or $2.88 per year on the total bill. This will result in an overall 0.53% decrease for supply-related costs.

However, overall bills are expect to increase slightly on July 1, 2011, due to the combined impact of rate changes associated with the Competitive Transition Charge for Qualifying Facilities (CTC-QF), and the reduced BPA Residential Exchange Credit. Including all July 1, 2011 rate adjustments, the total overall bill increase is estimated to be $0.36/per month or $4.32 annually. The actual increase will depend on each customer’s type and usage.

For more information about these filings, please visit www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081
claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

Montana Energy Conference for Businesses Hosted in Bozeman Next Week

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:30:53 GMT

Butte, Mont. – June 2, 2011 – Energy efficiency opportunities for the commercial sector is the topic of the Montana Energy Conference to be held at the Best Western Gran Tree Inn in Bozeman, June 7 – 9, 2011. Not only will there be sessions on energy efficient lighting design and installation, but business owners, facility managers, and trade allies serving commercial facilities, will have the opportunity to hear from regional experts on ways to add to the bottom line of a business through energy management strategies.

Registration is currently open through www.regonline.com/NWEnergyconference2011. The cost of the conference is $75 and includes two and a half days of information, training, exhibits, plus all meals. In conjunction to the conference, the 2011 Montana BetterBricks Awards banquet will be held Wednesday evening recognizing some of Montana’s energy efficiency champions.

The conference has been brought to Montana through a partnership between NorthWestern Energy, NEEA’s BetterBricks initiative, and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

To see the complete schedule and to register, visit the web site.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081
claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Files Application for Approval to Purchase and Operate Montana Wind Farm

web@northwestern.com — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:29:54 GMT

Butte, MT. – June 1, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) is asking the Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC) for approval to purchase and operate the yet to be developed Spion Kop Wind Project located in Central Montana.

NorthWestern announced its intent to purchase the 40 megawatt project in April. If approved by the MPSC, the proposed $86.1 million project is to be developed by Compass Wind and placed into utility rate-base for NorthWestern’s Montana electric retail customers. Both the energy and associated renewable energy credits will be used to meet the renewable portfolio standards obligations in Montana law.

“The Spion Kop Wind Project is a valuable, cost-effective addition to the utility’s rate-base that is consistent with our most recent electricity supply resource plans,” said John Hines, vice president – supply. “The project helps NorthWestern maintain a balanced, environmentally responsible portfolio of generation resources that enhances rate stability for customers over the long-term and positively contributes to the economic base of Judith Basin County and Montana.”

For comparison purposes the Project represents a levelized price of $53.78 per megawatt hour (MWh) for a 25-year period, which was the lowest competitive bid price offered through a recent competitive solicitation process undertaken by NorthWestern and is significantly less than the current Qualifying Facility rate for a project with similar attributes of $69.21/MWh.

If the MPSC fails to grant approval for the Project on or before April 1, 2012, then either party may terminate this agreement. Construction would commence upon a favorable ruling, with commercial operation projected to begin by the end of 2012.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081
claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Names New Executive Officers

web@northwestern.com — Fri, 27 May 2011 10:01:35 GMT

Butte, Mont./Sioux Falls, S.D. – May 27, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) announced today the appointment of two new members to the executive management team following the death of a senior executive in March.

Mike Cashell has been promoted from Chief Transmission Officer to Vice President - Transmission and John Hines has been promoted from Chief Energy Supply Officer to Vice President – Supply, effective immediately. The Board of Directors approved the appointments today in a special board meeting.

“In both natural gas and electricity, our key operational areas are supply, transmission, and distribution. These appointments maintain the alignment of the operational areas at the executive level and provide the high visibility and focus necessary to provide our customers the best possible service now and in the future,” said Bob Rowe, President and CEO.

Rowe explained, “Mike and John are effective and respected leaders both inside and outside NorthWestern. Together with their teams, they are responsible for numerous complicated and important tasks such as ensuring the adequacy and reliability of our extensive gas and electric transmission systems that tie together our service territory, keeping our network stable and in balance, and ensuring reliable energy supplies from diverse sources.”

Within the Supply area, Bill Rhoads, General Manager - Generation, and his team are now expanding their responsibility to include much of NorthWestern’s environmental compliance work. “We have significant work in both Montana and South Dakota which requires the focus of a dedicated team,” Rowe said.

In addition to the two new appointments, Curt Pohl’s title has been changed from Vice President – Retail Operations to Vice President – Distribution, better reflecting the scope of responsibilities, which include electric and natural gas distribution in Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota.

The position of Vice President – Wholesale Operations has been eliminated. Rowe said, “Heading up both supply and transmission, Dave Gates helped us develop to the point where our customers would best be served by having separate executive-level leads for each area.”

Cashell, a Butte Native, joined Montana Power in 1986 and has held various positions of increasing responsibility in the areas of transmission system and balancing authority operations, planning and maintenance, hydroelectric and thermal power system operation, independent power production, gas transmission and storage system operation and business management.

Cashell graduated from Montana Tech of the University of Montana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science and attended the Public Utilities Executive Course at the University of Idaho. He is active in state and regional transmission and energy forums and represents NorthWestern Energy at the Western Electricity Coordinating Council. He currently serves on the board of the United Way in Butte – Silverbow. He and his wife Kathy have one daughter and live in Butte.

Hines joined NorthWestern Energy in 2005 as Director, Energy Supply Planning, and was responsible for leading the company’s energy supply planning and long-term procurement activities. Prior to joining NorthWestern, Hines was appointed to serve as one of Montana’s two representatives to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council from 2002 through 2004. Hines also worked as a senior economist at the Council.

Hines is a member of Edison Electric Institute’s ‘Energy Supply Executive Advisory Committee’ and the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee. Hines, a native of Bozeman, Montana, received his B.A and M.A. in Economics from the University of Montana. He and his wife Siobhan have two children, and live in Helena.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081
claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com

Media Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

Planned Power Outage in Missoula, Mont.

web@northwestern.com — Wed, 25 May 2011 08:59:33 GMT

Butte , Mont. – May 25, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy has scheduled a planned power outage for portions of the city of Missoula, Mont., to accommodate a house move. The outage will begin Thursday, May 26, 2011, at 9 a.m. and will last approximately one hour.

The outage will primarily affect customers located in the Petty Creek and Nine Mile areas. Some intermittent outages may follow as the house moves through the service area.

This brief outage will ensure that the house is clear of any overhead power lines while it is being transported. If weather prevents the move, the outage will be rescheduled.

Customers with questions may call the Contact Center at (888) 467-2669.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Claudia Rapkoch
(866) 622-8081
claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Files Natural Gas Rate Adjustment with South Dakota Public Utility Commission

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 24 May 2011 11:30:31 GMT

Falls, S.D. – May 24, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) announced today that it has filed an application to adjust its rates for natural gas services in South Dakota.

NorthWestern Energy is requesting an increase of $4.1 million annually due to increased operations and maintenance costs and to complete the company’s remediation of manufactured gas plant (“MGP”) sites in South Dakota.

Approximately $1.4 million of the requested increase relates to the annual estimated MGP remediation costs. In the event MGP costs are lower than estimated during the time period, the difference would be subject to a refund to customers. Accordingly, while gross margin and operating expenses will fluctuate based on actual results, this portion of the rate request would have no change on operating income.

If approved by the South Dakota Public Utility Commission in its entirety, the average residential bill for natural gas service would increase $8.31 per month.

“Maintaining and operating a safe, reliable and adequate natural gas system for our customers and the communities we serve is our highest priority. We do everything we can to manage the costs that are under our control. Like many others, we are experiencing higher costs associated with operating and maintaining the natural gas system in South Dakota,” said Bob Rowe, President and CEO. “As we work to ensure the safe and reliable operation of our system and to meet our responsibility for ongoing environmental stewardship, we keep in mind customers’ concerns about rate increases.”

Natural gas customers in Nebraska are not affected by this filing. The rate filing covers operations and maintenance costs associated with the natural gas delivery service and do not affect the cost of the commodity. Commodity costs are adjusted monthly based on the price of natural gas.

There are several old MGP sites in NorthWestern Energy's system including Aberdeen, Huron, Mitchell and Yankton that date back to the early 1900s and pre-dated the introduction of natural gas systems. These plants converted coal and oil to gas for heating, lighting and cooking. Byproducts of this process included coal tar and purifier wastes which must be remediated. Over the years, NorthWestern Energy completed much of the remediation work at the Huron, Mitchell and Yankton sites. Remediation efforts are currently underway at the Aberdeen site.

Customers with questions about our natural gas services, the proposed rate increases, or how to sign up for bill payment programs may call Customer Service at 800 245-6977, or stop by one of our local offices for assistance or visit www.northwesternenergy.com.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Tom Glanzer
(877) 410-0154
tom.glanzer@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Announces Planned Outage in Menno, S.D.

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 12 May 2011 11:32:30 GMT

Huron, S.D. – May 12, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy has scheduled a power outage in a portion of the city of Menno, S.D., beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2011. The outage will last approximately 2.5 hours.

“This outage is needed to complete some upgrades in our system in Menno,” said Brad Wenande – Yankton Area Manager. “The electric outage will impact customers and businesses located in the northwest corner of Menno, north of Highway 18. The upgrades are also in conjunction with the Highway 18 construction project that is currently underway,” Wenande said.

Customers with questions may call the Contact Center at (800) 245-6977.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. For more information about NorthWestern Energy, visit our Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Tom Glanzer
(877) 410-0154
tom.glanzer@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Reports First Quarter 2011 Financial Results

web@northwestern.com — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Reports improvement in diluted earnings per share of 12.7% over Q1 2010
Reaffirms guidance for 2011 of $2.25 - $2.40 per fully diluted share
Announces quarterly dividend of 36 cents per share

Sioux Falls, S.D. – April 26, 2011 – NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

Significant achievements for the quarter include:

Net income improved $3.9 million to $32.6 million, or $.89 per fully diluted share, for the first quarter of 2011 compared with $28.7 million, or $.79 per fully diluted share, in the first quarter of 2010 due primarily to:
- An increase in gross margin of $14.9 million primarily due to the addition of the Dave Gates Generating Station at Mill Creek (DGGS), and an increase in electric and natural gas volumes largely due to colder winter weather;
- Lower income tax expense of $3.0 million, primarily due to the regulatory flow-through treatment of accelerated depreciation deductions;
- Offset by an increase of $13.9 million in our operating expenses due primarily to increased operating costs, property taxes, and depreciation related to the addition of DGGS. In addition, we had increased labor costs and increased operating and maintenance costs primarily for proactive line maintenance.
The Company’s Board of Directors declared a common stock dividend of 36 cents per share, payable on June 30, 2011, to common shareholders of record as of June 15, 2011;
In March, NorthWestern received an accounting order from the Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC) to defer and amortize certain incremental operating and maintenance costs up to $16.9 million on our Distribution System Infrastructure Project for 2011 and 2012 over a 5 year period beginning 2013; and
Finally, we recently signed an asset purchase agreement, contingent on the MPSC approving the project into rate base, to develop a 40 megawatt wind project in central Montana.

Award Winner Celebrating Earth Day Thanks to Bright Future Challenge

web@northwestern.com — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 08:50:50 GMT

Huron, S.D. – April 22, 2011 – Dave Stahl of Huron will be enjoying a shopping spree while saving energy thanks to his winning entry in NorthWestern Energy’s Bright Future Challenge Contest.

The contest encouraged the installation of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in high use locations in homes. The challenge was for NorthWestern Energy customers to join together and save 10 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity by switching from traditional incandescent bulbs to CFLs.

Today, NorthWestern Energy awarded Mr. Stahl a $2,000 gift card to Menard’s.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Thomas Glanzer
(877) 410-0154
tom.glanzer@northwestern.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Dan Rausch
(605) 978-2902
daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Energy Reminds Excavators that April is National Safe Digging Month

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:26:36 GMT

BUTTE, Mont. – April 18, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy reminds anyone who is going to excavate, trench, plow, drill, auger, blast, strip topsoil or level land is required by law to call 811 at least two working days before digging. Customers will need to have information ready when calling, such as:

Municipality, county, city
Street address or nearest intersection of streets
and roads, or township, range, section
and quarter
Type of work
Extent of work
Your name
Date and time excavation is scheduled to begin
Contractor or contact person and address
Phone number and call back times

Once the customer calls, they will need to wait for the site to be marked with paint, flags or stakes. If a contractor was hired, they must wait for the site to be marked before beginning work. Following safe digging helps to prevent injuries, property damage and inconvenient outages. “Our mission as a board is to protect personal safety and minimize damage to utility lines in our state,” said One Call Board President Bleau LaFave of NorthWestern Energy.

Excavators who damage underground facilities without first calling to request and obtain locates must pay the full cost of repairs. In the case of personal injury or loss of life, as the excavator, you may be subject to a civil suit. When electrical, natural gas, and other service lines are ruptured or damaged, the responsible excavator is charged for the repair.

NorthWestern Energy reminds customers to notify us immediately at (888) 467-2669 or to call 911 if they hit an electric or natural gas line or if they smell natural gas.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:

Claudia Rapkoch

(866) 622-8081

Investor Relations Contact:

Dan Rausch

(605) 978-2902

NorthWestern Energy Annual Natural Gas Inspections Underway Across Montana

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:04:05 GMT

BUTTE , Mont. – April 18, 2011 – NorthWestern Energy’s natural gas distribution and transmission systems are undergoing their annual safety inspections across Montana. Federal and state regulations require the company to conduct regular, routine inspections of the facilities as part of the company’s operation, maintenance and safety programs.

Employees are currently conducting annual leak surveys on the distribution systems in each community. Commercial districts are surveyed annually, while residential areas are surveyed every five years. Surveyors using equipment that looks similar to a metal detector walk above the pipelines placing the “sniffers” to the ground every few feet. The sensitive equipment alerts the surveyor if it detects even the smallest presence of natural gas in the soil. Servicemen follow up on any positive readings to find the source and to make any fixes that may be necessary. Employees also use 4 X 4 ATVs and Gators by driving over the lines, and also use a tool with an infrared light allowing workers to aim and detect leaks without walking on top of lines.

In addition, employees are conducting pipe-to-soil surveys that test steel pipes for potential corrosion. This also involves an individual walking through residential areas and occasionally entering yards to conduct field tests and measurements. The pipe-to-soil survey is part of the company’s cathodic protection program that is designed to protect underground steel pipes from corrosion.

In all cases, NorthWestern Energy employees drive vehicles and wear clothing that identify them as official company representatives and carry some form of company identification (i.e., business card, access key card, etc.). However, please alert NorthWestern Energy or law enforcement immediately if you witness suspicious individuals or activities near or around our facilities.

As a reminder, customers are responsible for the maintenance of gas pipes that lead from the gas meter to various locations or appliances on the property such as a detached garage or barbeque grill. If you find anything out of the ordinary on your property, such as smelling a rotten egg odor, bubbling ponds or dead/discolored vegetation in an otherwise green area near a location of an underground pipe, you should contact a qualified service technician to perform any needed repairs.

If you smell natural gas, please notify NorthWestern Energy or call 911. From a safe location call NorthWestern Energy’s emergency number: (888) 467-2669. Calls can be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week – we will respond promptly – at no charge.

Do NOT attempt to locate the leak.
Do NOT use any phone (even your cell phone) within the house or building.
Do NOT turn on or off any battery-powered, rechargeable or electrical device, including telephones, garage door openers, televisions, computers or any electrical appliance that could create a spark.

About NorthWestern Energy

Media Contact:

Claudia Rapkoch

(866) 622-8081

Investor Relations Contact:

Dan Rausch

(605) 978-2902