NorthWestern News

NorthWestern Energy Boosts and Extends Corporate Revolving Credit Facility

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:51:50 GMT

Sioux Falls, S.D. – June 30, 2009 – 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 $250 million from the current $200 million and to extend the maturity date to June 30, 2012 from the existing November 1, 2009.

“This amendment provides NorthWestern with the liquidity necessary to support its growth plan,” said Brian Bird, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. “The fact that we obtained a three-year extension and increased the availability of the existing facility in this difficult banking environment demonstrates the company’s strong financial profile.”

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

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 656,000 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 Notifies the Billings Area of a Potential Water Hazard on the Yellowstone River

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:40:47 GMT

Billings , Mont. – June 30, 2009 – NorthWestern Energy is notifying the public of a potential water hazard south of the Laurel Yellowstone River Bridge. A power line located on an island in the river is down and crews are in the process of installing a new pole and resetting the wires.

Those navigating the Yellowstone River today and tomorrow, should avoid the North Channel area as crews work to repair the line. The line is de-energized; however, it could become a potential hazard to those trying to navigate the affected stretch. The affected area is approximately three to four miles downstream (east) of the Laurel Yellowstone River Bridge, which is located on Highway 312 south of the CHS refinery. The South Channel of the Yellowstone River is clear for watercraft to navigate.

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

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 656,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. For more information about NorthWestern Energy, visit the company’s Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

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

NorthWestern Energy Notifies Billings Customers of Maintenance Work

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:02:46 GMT

Billings, MT – June 25, 2009 – NorthWestern Energy is installing replacement underground electric cable in the Woodward Way Subdivision in the Lockwood area of Billings. This replacement of aging underground cable is part of our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional service and reliability for all of our electric customers.

Beginning June 29 and continuing through July and August, crews will be accessing utility rights of way along property lines in the residential neighborhoods to install the cable. The project will start with properties on Westgate Drive. The entire cable replacement project is expected to take up to two months and will eventually include cable replacement in backyards of Lockwood property owners on Kingswood, Fleetwood, Brookwood, Noblewood and Tanglewood Drives.

Underground locates will be done in advance of the work. It is important that homeowners do not remove the underground locates on their property. In many cases, the new cable will be installed by boring under the surface to minimize disrupting the landscaping. Customers should experience little or no disruptions to their electric service.

Crews will be clearly identified, but should landowners in the area have any questions about our work, or our access to rights of way, please do not hesitate to call our Customer Contact Center at (888) 467-2669.

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 Responds to FERC Orders on Transmission Projects

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:02:37 GMT

Butte, Mont. – June 23, 2009 – NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE:NWE) plans to conduct “Open Seasons” as planned for two major transmission projects following the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) recent action on the company’s petitions.

FERC affirmed its support of the company’s efforts to build new transmission on congested pathways. FERC encouraged the company to develop the Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI Project) on a cost of service basis by requesting appropriate tariff waivers to provide for the flexibility to efficiently and effectively facilitate the project development. FERC also agreed with the company’s proposed pricing for the Collector Project and the general approach for the Collector open season process.

“The FERC Orders are complex and required time to fully sort through all of the details,” said Dave Gates, Vice President – Wholesale Operations. “However, after careful review, we regard the Orders as providing necessary guidance from FERC and supporting the development of both projects. Accordingly, we will continue to develop the projects without delay or interruption.”

In requesting market-based rates for MSTI, NorthWestern Energy followed the approach that FERC has approved for similar projects in the region, including the Montana-Alberta Tie Line and TransCanada’s proposed Chinook project. NorthWestern Energy believed that this approach would provide it with flexibility to meet market conditions and would best insulate its native load customers from the costs and risks of the project. Although FERC denied the company’s request, it provided strong encouragement for continuing with the project using a more traditional approach.

To quote the Order, “ We also recognize the Petitioners’ desire to insulate native load customers from the costs and risks associated with an export-only project…we believe that NWE has ample opportunity to accomplish its objectives and construct a project comparable to the MSTI proposal on a cost-of-service basis by requesting appropriate tariff waivers.” In support of the MSTI Project, FERC further noted “…we acknowledge the need for innovative proposals to develop new transmission projects, especially in regions rich in potential to deliver renewable energy to load centers.”

As to the Collector, FERC approved NorthWestern’s proposal to directly assign the cost of the project to the generators. This has the effect of insulating native load customers from the cost of the project. While FERC deferred ruling on NorthWestern’s request for waivers, FERC specifically found the proposed open season process to be a reasonable means of accommodating a large number of interconnection requests in the queue.

The open seasons for the MSTI and Collector projects will be conducted on a transparent basis in order to ensure fairness and non-discriminatory access. The results of the open seasons will be used to size the projects according to customer demand. The open season process will also ensure that the projects have sufficient contracts with credit-worthy shippers to support financing.
With more than 5,000 megawatts of proposed new electric generation – much of it wind energy - that has sought access to the transmission system in Montana, the company has proposed two major projects – MSTI and the Collector Project - to facilitate development of these projects.

The Collector Project consists of up to five new transmission lines in Montana that would connect new generation, primarily wind farms, to the existing NorthWestern Energy transmission system and to the proposed Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI). Most of the new proposed wind generation that would be served by the collector system would be located in north central, central, south central and eastern Montana.

MSTI is a proposed 500kV transmission line that would run near Townsend, Montana to near Midpoint, Idaho. The project is currently undergoing environmental review with a draft Environmental Impact Statement due in late-2009.

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 Unveils Hybrid Bucket Truck in Missoula

web@northwestern.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:01:21 GMT

Butte , Mont. – June 10, 2009 – NorthWestern Energy’s (NYSE: NWE) commitment to environmentally responsible practices extends to its vehicle fleet. The company has added hybrid vehicles to its fleet in recent years and today unveiled its first hybrid bucket truck, which will begin working the streets of Missoula and surrounding communities later this week.

The hybrid technology saves fuel and also allows the truck’s diesel engine to be shut down while crews perform line repair and maintenance work relying on the vehicle’s batteries to operate the aerial lift. Drawing on the battery power eliminates both noise and diesel exhaust.

“This new hybrid bucket truck costs about $45,000 more than a standard truck, but will go about twice the distance before needing to refuel depending on driving and work conditions,” said Ron Anderson, NorthWestern Energy’s manager of fleet and equipment. “It also produces about half the emissions of a conventional vehicle, which is – quite literally – a breath of fresh air for a work truck.”

The 40-foot, 26,000-pound hybrid bucket truck has an aerial lift of 42 feet and replaces an older vehicle that NorthWestern will retire from its companywide fleet of 947 vehicles. The company began adding hybrid service vehicles to its fleet three years ago. It plans to continue replacing service vehicles with hybrids as appropriate and plans to add another hybrid bucket truck to the fleet later this year.

“While this is the first hybrid bucket truck in the fleet,” Anderson said, “we continue to operate our other conventional trucks with safety and environmental responsibility in mind. The crews are mindful of idling trucks only to the extent necessary to do their work safely and we’ve implemented various operational changes over the years to reduce fuel consumption. We are always looking for new approaches to sustainable and cost-effective fleet management practices.”

Media Contact:
Susan Malee
(866) 622-8081
susan.malee@northwestern.com

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

NorthWestern Energy Addresses Proposed Butte-Silver Bow Ordinance on Underground Electric Transmission Lines

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:06:05 GMT

Butte, MT — June 9, 2009 — On Wednesday, June 10, the City and County of Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners will discuss a proposed ordinance requiring that all electric transmission lines be placed underground within the county. Attached is a letter that was sent to the commissioners and the Chief Executive outlining the company's concerns with the proposed ordinance along with a fact sheet on burying high voltage power lines.

NorthWestern Energy Announces Organization Changes

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:37:12 GMT

Sioux Falls, S.D. – June 9, 2009 – NorthWestern Energy (NYSE:NWE) today announced that Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Brian Bird, has assumed the treasurer position vacated by Paul Evans, who is leaving the company to pursue other interests.

Evans will remain in a consultant’s role through mid-August to facilitate the transition. “Paul joined the company during reorganization and has been instrumental in helping it to regain the solid financial foundation that we enjoy today,” said Bird. “We wish Paul and his family all the best.”

With Evans' departure, the company also made changes to the reporting structure with his former team now reporting either to Bird or other appropriate functional leaders in the finance and legal departments.

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 Annual Natural Gas Inspections Underway Across Montana

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:58:15 GMT

Butte , Mont. – June 8, 2009 – NorthWestern Energy’s natural gas distribution and transmission systems are undergoing their annual safety inspections across Montana.

The company owns and operates more than 6,000 miles of natural gas pipelines that transport and deliver natural gas to approximately 179,200 customers in 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.

Contractors working on behalf of the company are currently conducting annual leak surveys on the distribution systems in each community. Commercial districts are surveyed annually while residential areas are surveyed every four 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.

In addition, the company has individuals conducting pipe-to-soil surveys that test steel pipes for adequate protection. 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.

On the transmission system, contractors and employees are patrolling the pipelines looking for anything out of the ordinary that might suggest a leak, damage, or potential problem such as a washout.

In all cases, NorthWestern Energy employees and contractors 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 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: (800) 467-2427 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.

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

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

NorthWestern Energy Annual Natural Gas Inspections Underway Across South Dakota and Nebraska

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:44:40 GMT

Huron, SD – June 8, 2009 – NorthWestern Energy’s natural gas distribution and transmission systems are undergoing their annual safety inspections across South Dakota and Nebraska.

The company owns and operates more than 2,200 miles of natural gas pipelines that deliver natural gas to approximately 84,500 customers in South Dakota and Nebraska. 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 four 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 make any fixes that may be necessary.

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 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: (800) 245-6977. 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.

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 to Send Scratch and Sniff Odorant Cards as Customer Safety Reminder

web@northwestern.com — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:28:43 GMT

Huron, S.D./Butte, Mont. – May 27, 2009 – NorthWestern Energy will include scratch and sniff cards in June monthly bills to remind customers of the distinctive smell that is used to help identify natural gas leaks. To help customers detect natural gas-like leaks more easily, NorthWestern adds mercaptan, a chemical odorant, which gives natural gas its distinctive, sulfur-like aroma. Natural gas itself has no odor.

If people smell natural gas inside or outside of a house or building, they should leave the premises immediately and call the company’s 24-hour emergency service line from a neighbor’s house or other safe location, toll-free, at (888) 467-2427 in Montana and (800) 245-6977 in South Dakota and Nebraska or 911. Calls can be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week – NorthWestern will respond promptly – at no charge.

“We are reminding our customers of this important safety measure as part of our long-standing commitment to providing them safe, reliable natural gas service,” explained Bob Rowe, President and CEO of NorthWestern Energy.

In case of a natural gas leak or other emergency situation, NorthWestern Energy urges that customers:

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 the lights or any battery-powered, rechargeable or electrical device, including telephones, garage door openers, televisions, computers or any electrical appliance that could create a spark.

From a safe distance, watch for the NorthWestern truck so you can let the service representative into your home or building.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 656,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. For more information about NorthWestern Energy, visit our Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

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

Tom Glanzer (S.D., Neb.)
(877) 410-0154
tom.glanzer@northwestern.com

MPSC Issues Final Order Approving NorthWestern's Mill Creek Generating Station

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:50:47 GMT

Sioux Falls, S.D./Butte, Mont. – May 19, 2009 – The Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC) has formally approved the Company’s construction of the Mill Creek Generating Station (MCGS) near Anaconda, Montana.

“We appreciate the commission’s thoughtful and thorough deliberation. This is our first new electric generating resource in Montana, and is a key step towards our vision of being a fully integrated, regulated utility. It will enable us to integrate additional wind and other resources on the system,” said Bob Rowe, NorthWestern Energy’s President and CEO.

The 150 megawatt Mill Creek Generating Station is intended to provide regulating resources to balance the company’s energy supply and transmission system in Montana to maintain reliability and enable additional wind power to be integrated onto the network to meet its current renewable energy portfolio needs. The facility is designed to enable increasing or decreasing energy production within seconds to follow load fluctuations on the system.

“This plant will help us achieve many of the objectives that are important to us and to our customers including energy supply and transmission stability and reliability as we integrate renewable energy on to our system. We also intend to work with local residents throughout the construction process to ensure that we continue to be a good neighbor,” Rowe added.

Among other actions, the commissioners determined the $81 million cost of the turbines was prudent, approved the plant’s return on equity at 10.25 percent and debt at 6.5 percent with a 50/50 capital structure and accepted the plant’s carbon offset plan as filed. The plant is estimated to cost approximately $201 million; the remainder of the costs will be submitted to the MPSC for review and approval once the plant is complete.

The company is in the process of obtaining bids and contracts from vendors and will commence construction this fall. The plant is scheduled to go into operation by December 31, 2010.

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 Rick Hoffman as Huron Area Manager

web@northwestern.com — Fri, 08 May 2009 09:43:29 GMT

Huron, S.D. – May 8, 2009 – NorthWestern Energy announced today that Huron native Rick Hoffman has rejoined the company as Area Manager in Huron, South Dakota. Hoffman will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the company’s natural gas and electric retail operations in the Huron Area.

Hoffman has 36 years of experience in the utility industry including 27 years with NorthWestern in various roles including Area Manager of the Mitchell Area.

“Rick’s safety and utility operating experience, as well as his ability to work with people, will contribute to successful leadership for NorthWestern Energy in the Huron Area,” said Mike Sydow – General Manager Retail Operations for South Dakota and Nebraska.

“I am looking forward to working with the Huron community leadership in a progressive aspect where NorthWestern Energy and our community can assist each other in development and economic excellence,” said Hoffman. “It has also been a very rewarding homecoming of sorts to work alongside NorthWestern personnel that I have worked with in the past; it makes this transition very smooth on the company operations, and on me.”

A graduate of Huron High School and Huron University, Hoffman is a certified loss control professional regarding safety and risk management. His professional affiliations include the Quad States Instructors Group and the National Utility Training and Safety Educational Association.

Hoffman and his wife Wanda have two grown children. He is very active in the local community, and serves on the Advisory Board for Mitchell Technical Institute’s Electrical Construction and Maintenance Division.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 650,000 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

MPSC Gives Nod of Approval to Mill Creek Generating Station

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:09:37 GMT

Sioux Falls, S.D. – May 4, 2009 – The Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC) voted four to one today in favor of NorthWestern Energy’s application for approval to construct the Mill Creek Generating Station (MCGS) near Anaconda, Montana. A final order on the request is expected by May 22.

After considerable discussion on the proposed construction costs of the plant, the MPSC commissioners also voted unanimously that the $81 million for the turbines were prudent. The commission will determine the prudency of the other MCGS costs at a later time. Among other actions, the commissioners approved the plant’s return on equity at 10.25 percent and debt at 6.5 percent with a 50/50 capital structure and accepted the plant’s carbon offset plan as filed.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 650,000 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

Thank You, Butte!

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:02:47 GMT

Guest Opinion
Bob Rowe, President and CEO, NorthWestern Energy

Butte, MT — April 27, 2009 — Last week, NorthWestern Energy celebrated its history in Butte. We could not have been prouder! With warm temperatures, blue skies, and fresh snow on the mountains, even the weather was on its best behavior – at least for a few days.

Our annual Shareholders’ Meeting was held in Butte for the first time. Shareholders’ meetings are serious and formal affairs, as they should be, but they are also opportunities to bring shareholders, employees and customers together. This is why we decided to hold the meeting in our largest employee location within our service territory. Next year we’ll do the same thing in South Dakota.

As importantly, our Board of Directors spent two days in Butte, working hard, meeting with our employees and retirees, and getting to know Butte’s community leaders, citizens and history. Several of our Board members also attended a legislative reception in Helena, or traveled to meet with our employees in Cut Bank, Havre and Lewistown.

We have a hard working, national-caliber Board of Directors, with experience in energy, finance, human resources and corporate governance. Our two newest members, Dorothy Bradley and Dana Dykhouse, bring first-hand experience in Montana and South Dakota with the economic development, public policy, and other opportunities and challenges that face our communities.

Montana Tech and Chancellor Gilmore hosted our Board meeting, Shareholders’ meeting, and a community discussion with our Board and executive team. From there, we marched up Park Avenue to the Museum of Fine Arts Butte, for a reception honoring our retirees and employees. From the MOFAB, we crossed the street to the Motherlode, for a special showing of Butte America, Pam Robert’s remarkable history of the workers who made Butte the Richest Hill on Earth. Former Congressman Pat William’s introduction, including his own story of growing up in Butte, helped connect history to today’s events. Our Board members ended the day eating pasties at the Copper King Mansion.

Many of our employees had family who worked in the underground mines (my grandfather worked underground in the Anselmo until a ripe old age), and Butte America was filled for them with familiar faces and important stories. Although Butte America is about mining and Anaconda, not energy, there are important connections and key distinctions. Butte became “the richest hill” based mainly on copper to transmit electricity. The Montana Power Company’s fortunes rose and fell in significant part based on Anaconda’s business plans. “The Company” (Anaconda) was “the Power’s” largest customer. When mining shut down, it was a tough blow for the Montana Power Company, as well as for Butte and for Montana.

I was struck by some important differences between then and now as well. NorthWestern Energy honors and respects its employees – both union and nonunion. We try to do our work, providing energy infrastructure and service, in an environmentally responsible way. Our business is focused on providing value to our customers, both retail and wholesale, in our service territory. We serve 349 communities in Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota. Our Montana employees live in 53 communities across our Montana territory.

Butte was at technology’s cutting edge in the early years of the Twentieth Century providing electricity to the mines, natural gas to the community, and copper to the world. With its academic base and technology firms, including NorthWestern Energy, we are prepared to contribute in the Twenty-first Century as well, in key areas such as renewable resources, and helping the nation address its energy and environmental challenges.

In Butte, we have over 500 employees, in locations from uptown to the flats making it the largest employee presence anywhere in the company. Our largest network operation center and customer service center are here. Retail gas and electric service, energy supply, transmission, and other key aspects of operational support are based in our uptown office. Our Butte district office is responsible for gas and electric delivery to much of southwest Montana. Our Butte-Silver Bow payroll is $37 million (of an $80 million total Montana payroll). Our local tax payments are $6.8 million (of $77 million in Montana taxes). As importantly, our employees are active contributors to most every major civic project in the area.

I’m proud of both our Butte history and our current role in this extraordinary community. It was an honor last week to be able to share and celebrate NorthWestern Energy’s place in Butte, and especially our great people. Thanks Butte!

NorthWestern Energy Opens Recovery Office in Downtown Bozeman

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:46:58 GMT

Butte, Mont. – April 23, 2009 – NorthWestern Energy today announced that is opening a temporary office in Downtown Bozeman to provide local business owners and residents with easy access to information related to the recovery effort.

The company is leasing the space located at 308 Main Street to provide the public with information about the company’s natural gas system including system integrity and safety programs. It also will serve as a meeting place for people actively engaged in the recovery process for the next several months.

“We’re opening this temporary office in response to comments that we’ve received from Downtown business owners and local residents for ongoing information and regular contact,” said Bob Rowe, President and CEO. “This step is part of a broader effort to inform, educate and demonstrate our level of commitment to our customers and communities.”

NorthWestern Energy has been working with local residents and business owners to understand their questions and concerns following the March 5 explosion. The company has developed, through more than four-dozen interviews, a comprehensive response plan to restore confidence in the company’s natural gas system. The plan includes a public outreach effort to inform and educate customers about the company’s natural gas system.

“We continue to investigate the incident and expect that it will take between three to six months to gather the necessary facts and analyze the pipe, soil, weather conditions, and customer piping in order to determine what caused the fracture at a coupling in a two inch service line,” added Rowe.

NorthWestern Energy has published a website specific to the recovery effort at http://www.bozemanrecovery.com/ and updates the site regularly as information is available. The Downtown Bozeman office is specific to the recovery effort and is not a customer payment location. The office is expected to open to the public on May 1.

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

Community Relations Contact:
Mel Kotur (406) 582-4637
melvin.kotur@northwestern.com

NorthWestern Reports First Quarter 2009 Results

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Apr. 23, 2009 – NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

Highlights for the quarter include:

Reports net income of $22.8 million, or $.63/diluted share, compared with net income of $23.5 million in 1Q 2008, or $.59/diluted share;

The increase in EPS was due primarily to the share buy back concluded in the third quarter of 2008.

Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) upgraded the senior secured to Baa1 from Baa2 and unsecured credit ratings to Baa2 from Baa3;
Issued $250 million of First Mortgage Bonds at 6.34% due in 2019;

As of March 31, 2009, total net liquidity was approximately $260.0 million, including $83.2 million of cash and $176.8 million of revolving credit facility availability.

Total net liquidity increased to approximately $260 million as of March 31, 2009;
Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC) conducted hearings related to our proposed Mill Creek Generation Station and a decision is expected in the second quarter of 2009;
Placed our ownership interest in Colstrip Unit 4 into utility rate base at a value of $407 million, pursuant to a 2008 MPSC order; and
Gross Margin increased to $162.9 million for the first quarter of 2009 compared with $156.9 million for the same period of 2008.

First Quarter Financial Results

Consolidated net income was $22.8 million or $.63 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, compared with consolidated net income of $23.5 million or $.59 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. Computed diluted shares were 36.3 million at March 31, 2009 compared with 39.4 million diluted shares at March 31, 2008. The decrease in the number of computed diluted shares is due to a share buyback conducted in the third quarter of 2008.

“During the first quarter of 2009, our gross margin, electric volumes and our customer counts all improved when compared with the first quarter of 2008,” said Bob Rowe, President and CEO. “Also, indicative of our continued improving financial condition and the fact that we have essentially completed our goal of exiting all non-regulated business activities, Moody’s upgraded our debt in January 2009.”

Consolidated gross margin for the first quarter of 2009 was $162.9 million compared with $156.9 million for the first quarter of 2008. The improvement in consolidated gross margin was primarily due to the transfer of our interest in Colstrip Unit 4 to Montana utility rate base and represents our return on rate base. Gross Margin (Revenues less Cost of Sales) is a non-GAAP financial measure due to the exclusion of depreciation from the measure. The presentation of Gross Margin is intended to supplement investors’ understanding of our operating performance. Our Gross Margin measure may not be comparable to other companies’ Gross Margin measure.

Consolidated operating, general and administrative expenses increased to $65.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 as compared with $60.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The increase was due primarily to increased insurance reserves, higher pension expense related to our Montana plan, and increased labor and benefit costs due to a combination of compensation increases and severance costs.

Property and other taxes were $24.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 as compared with $23.6 million in the first quarter of 2008. The increase was due to higher estimated property valuations.

Depreciation expense was $22.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 as compared with $21.1 million in the first quarter of 2008. This increase was primarily due to 2008 plant additions.

Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $15.1 million, a decrease of $1.0 million, or 6.2%, from the first quarter of 2008. This decrease was primarily related to lower interest rates on our variable rate debt.

Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $13.1 million as compared with $13.2 million in the first quarter of 2008. Our effective tax rate for 2009 was 36.4% as compared with 36.0% for 2008.

Results from Operations

Regulated electric gross margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 was $113.2 million, up 20.9%, compared with $93.6 million for the same period of 2008. This improvement is primarily due to the transfer of Colstrip Unit 4 to the regulated utility, which is reflected as an increase in retail revenue and a reduction to cost of sales. Prior to the transfer of Colstrip Unit 4, its results were reflected in the unregulated electric segment through December 31, 2008,

Regulated retail electric volumes for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 totaled 2,663,000 megawatt hours compared with 2,634,000 megawatt hours for the quarter ended 2008, a 1.1% increase. The increase was due primarily to residential and commercial customer growth. Wholesale electric volumes were 243,000 megawatt hours for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, an increase from 49,000 megawatt hours for the same period in 2008. The increase was primarily due to the transfer of Colstrip Unit 4 to the regulated utility from the unregulated electric segment.

Regulated natural gas gross margin was $49.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared with $50.3 million during the first quarter of 2008. Regulated retail natural gas volumes were 13,870,000 dekatherms for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared with 14,172,000 dekatherms for the same period in 2008. The decline in gross margin and volumes is primarily due to warmer winter weather in Montana and Nebraska. Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2009, cash and cash equivalents were $83.2 million compared with $11.3 million at Dec. 31, 2008. The Company had $176.8 million available from credit facilities at March 31, 2009 compared with $74.9 million at Dec. 31, 2008. The increase in credit revolver availability was due primarily to issuance of $250 million of Montana First Mortgage Bonds in March 2009. The proceeds were used to redeem the $100 million term loan held by Colstrip Lease Holdings LLC and repay outstanding borrowings on the credit facility.

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $65.1 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2009, compared with $78.0 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2008. This decrease in operating cash flows is primarily related to increased pension funding of approximately $21.3 million, offset by improvements associated with the timing of energy supply costs collections in the first quarter of 2009 as compared with 2008.

The Company used $18.2 million for investment activities during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared with $14.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. Capital expenditures for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 were $18.5 million as compared with $14.0 million in 2008.

The Company’s financing activities provided $25.0 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared with financing activities using $43.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. During the first quarter of 2009 the Company issued debt of $250 million, made debt repayments of $211.3 million, and paid dividends on common stock of $12.0 million. During the first quarter of 2008, we made debt repayments of $30.0 million and paid dividends on common stock of $12.9 million.

Dividend

NorthWestern’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly common stock dividend of 33.5 cents per share, payable on June 30, 2009, to common shareholders of record as of June 15, 2009.

2009 Earnings Outlook

NorthWestern reaffirms its earnings for 2009 to be $1.85 - $2.00/fully diluted share.

The major assumptions include, but are not limited to, the following expectations:

2009 net income will increase by approximately $9 million or $.25 per share as a result of the inclusion of our interest in Colstrip Unit 4 in regulated electric rate base;
Pension expense is estimated to be flat with the 2008 pension expense;
Planned insurance recoveries will offset our Q1 insurance reserve expense increase;
Retail electric volumes will be flat compared to 2008 volumes;
Wholesale electric volumes in South Dakota will decrease due to a planned outage in 2009;
Residential and commercial natural gas volumes will be relatively flat compared with 2008 volumes;
Fully diluted average shares outstanding of 36.5 million; and
Normal weather is assumed in the Company’s electric and natural gas service territories for the rest of 2009.

Results of Annual Shareholder Meeting

At its 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held yesterday, NorthWestern’s stockholders elected E. Linn Draper, Jr., Stephen P. Adik, Dorothy M. Bradley, Dana J. Dykhouse, Julia L. Johnson, Philip L. Maslowe, D. Louis Peoples and Robert C. Rowe to a one-year term on the Board.

Stockholders approved a proposal to create the NorthWestern Energy Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or ESPP. The ESPP is a broad-based plan that allows eligible employees to purchase shares of our common stock at a discount (to be determined in accordance with the terms of the ESPP, but not more than 15 percent) to the average high and low price on the date of the purchase. The number of common shares available for purchase under the ESPP will be 500,000 shares.

Stockholders also ratified Deloitte & Touche, LLP as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009.

Company Hosting Investor Conference Call

NorthWestern will host an investor conference call today at 11:00 am Eastern Time to review its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

The conference call will be webcast live on the Internet at http://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 noon today through May 22, 2009, at 800-475-6701, access code 996081.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 656,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD—LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, the information under “2009 Earnings Outlook”. Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” or “will.” These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual future business and financial performance may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including, but not limited to:

potential adverse federal, state, or local legislation or regulation or adverse determinations by regulators could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition;
unanticipated changes in availability of trade credit, usage, commodity prices, fuel supply costs or availability due to higher demand, shortages, weather conditions, transportation problems or other developments, may reduce revenues or may increase operating costs, each of which would adversely affect our liquidity;
unscheduled generation outages or forced reductions in output, maintenance or repairs, which may reduce revenues and increase operating costs or may require additional capital expenditures or other increased operating costs; and
adverse changes in general economic and competitive conditions in the U.S. financial markets and in our service territories.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent and forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

# # #

NorthWestern Energy Reminds Customers of Programs and Services for Earth Day

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:19:02 GMT

Butte , Mont. – April 20, 2009 – In honor of Earth Day, NorthWestern Energy is reminding its Montana customers of the variety of programs and services that encourage Earth-friendly energy practices including a new special offer for residential electric customers, the Earth Day Lighting Coupon.

“In less than a minute, people can change out a high use incandescent bulb to a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) and save energy this Earth Day,” said Bill Thomas, Manager of Regulatory Support Services.

“The coupon has been mailed to all residential electric customers and is now showing up in mail boxes around Montana. The coupon enables customers to save $2 off the price of each CFL purchased at participating retailers.” The coupon is valid from April 22 through June 14, 2009.

CFLs use one-quarter of the electricity of a traditional bulb and last up to ten times longer. By shopping for CFLs with the 4L’s – Label, Light, Location, and Less Energy, customers can choose the right CFL for the right location and immediately start saving energy.

In addition to the CFL promotion, NorthWestern Energy provides rebates for qualifying insulation improvements, ENERGY STAR programmable thermostats, and energy efficient heating equipment and improvements for its home-heating customers. Rebates are also offered when replacing a hot water tank with a high efficiency unit. Residential customers heating their homes or domestic hot water with Northwestern Energy electricity may be eligible for incentives to switch to natural gas. Rebates for lighting efficiency improvements and premium efficiency motor purchases are available to commercial electric customers. The custom incentives are offered for site-specific, cost-effective energy savings are now available for both electric and natural gas measures in new or existing commercial facilities.

Customers building new homes are encouraged to work with a builder who will build a Northwest ENERGY STAR certified home. These homes meet strict standards to be more efficient and are tested for efficiency and comfort. Visit www.northwestenergystar.com for features and a listing of Montana builders who are trained as Northwest ENERGY STAR builders.

After reducing the energy footprint through efficiency and conservation measures, renewable energy options provide other paths to pursue. NorthWestern Energy offers incentives to qualifying photovoltaic systems that maximize the use of the sun and small-scale wind projects through its Renewable Generation Programs. If installing a renewable system is not a fit, the E+ Green Power program allows customers to offset their electric usage with the environmental benefits of renewable energy generated in the Northwest for as little as $2 a month.

“Every day is Earth Day and NorthWestern Energy’s Efficiency Plus, or E+ Programs, provide many opportunities for our customers who are looking to take action,” said Thomas.

NorthWestern Energy is participating in the 2009 Energy Conservation Fair in the Capitol Rotunda from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Earth Day, April 22. The event is sponsored by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. NorthWestern Energy will have information about its energy efficiency and renewable generation programs at the event.

Visit www.northwesternenergy.com for details and qualifications on any of the above-mentioned programs or call (888) 467-2669. NorthWestern Energy’s E+ Programs are funded through supply rates and the Universal System Benefits Charge (USBC) paid by NorthWestern Energy’s Montana customers and thus, available only to our customers in Montana.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 650,000 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 to Host First Quarter 2009 Financial Results Conference Call

web@northwestern.com — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 08:17:02 GMT

NorthWestern to Hold Annual Stockholders Meeting

Sioux Falls, S.D. – April 10, 2009 – NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) today announced that it will host an investor conference call on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. The Company also plans to issue a news release detailing its first quarter 2009 financial results the morning of April 23 before the market opens.

The conference call will be webcast live on the Internet at http://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 noon on April 23, 2009, through May 22, 2009, at 800-475-6701, access code 996081.

Annual Stockholders Meeting to be Held on April 22

NorthWestern will hold its annual stockholders meeting on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time at the Montana Tech Student Union Building, 1300 West Park Street, Butte, Montana.

The annual stockholders meeting will be webcast live on the Internet at http://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.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 656,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. For more information about NorthWestern Energy, visit our 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

The EIS Process is Working

web@northwestern.com — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:21:17 GMT

Guest Opinion
Dave Gates — Vice President, Wholesage Operations

NorthWestern Energy is proposing to build a 500kV transmission line from Townsend to Midpoint, Idaho. We’ve been working on this project for a few years now and have held more than 60 public meetings and open houses in communities that may be impacted by proposed line, including here in Butte.

The Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI) is intended to carry power generated in Montana – mostly from proposed large wind farms – to markets around the West that want that power to meet their renewable energy needs. It is not going to be part of our Montana utility rates– therefore it is not a cost that will be borne by our retail Montana customers.

As a regional transmission operator in an interconnected grid, we are required by the federal government to provide open, non-discriminatory access to all customers and we’re obligated to build transmission to meet the changing needs of our region.

Electrical grid “modernization” is one of the Obama Administration’s highest priorities. Just as the existing grid was designed to meet the needs of the past century, MSTI and our other transmission projects are engineered to meet the needs of this century.

Montana, thanks to its abundance of natural resources and open spaces, has always provided needed commodities to the rest of the country and to the world. We are proud exporters of copper, gold, beef, wheat, and energy in all of its various forms. It’s the fuel of our economic engine and the production and export of renewable energy is another viable and important addition to our economy.

NorthWestern currently pays approximately $8 million in property taxes to Butte Silver Bow (BSB) – this line is expected to add as much as another $2 million depending on how much of it is built within the county and up to $4.8 million in new property tax revenue to Deer Lodge County by building through BSB to Mill Creek.

MSTI is currently in the siting phase, which is a federal and state governmental review process that involves a significant amount of public input for the purpose of determining the route with the least amount of environmental impacts. The process requires NorthWestern to choose a preferred route and two alternative routes and there has never been a situation when the preferred route is chosen, in its entirety, as the final route. The proposed routes all have existing transmission lines within the corridor.

Opposition to major projects such as this is inevitable and understandable – there will never be a route that satisfies everyone. The Major Facility Siting Act (MFSA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) – all of which have requirements that must be fulfilled within the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process recognize that fact. The process removes the human emotional component from the equation and focuses on facts, data and science.

Health concerns are evaluated as part of the EIS process as are impacts to all aspects of the environment including water, air, livestock, economy, wildlife, land use, cultural and socioeconomic. Electromagnetic fields (EMF’s) concerns are always raised in opposition to power lines. We, as do many other utilities, support further research in this field and, to date, the scientific evidence has never proven health risks associated with EMFs emitted by high-voltage power lines.

Much of the current research is looking at effects of EMFs in daily life since all electrical appliances emit EMFs often in much greater concentration that what you’ll find at the edge of a utility right of way. Montana is one of the few states that has regulations requiring utilities like NorthWestern to meet certain EMF levels on and near a power line right of way. Our high voltage lines are always engineered to fall within these regulations and MSTI will be no exception.

Currently, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and Bureau of Land Management are reviewing all of the data and working with an independent 3rd party contractor, PBS&J, on a draft Environmental Impact Statement. This draft EIS is expected to be completed by the end of the year at which time it will go through another public process to gather input on the proposed final route. The route is subject to change until the final EIS is published next year.

We encourage public participation in this process because that is how the best route is ultimately chosen. To learn more about the project visit www.msti500kV.com.

Dave Gates is the NorthWestern Energy’s VP of Wholesale Operations including the company’s transmission operations headquartered in Butte. Gates lives South of Butte.

NorthWestern Energy to Conduct Maintenance on 500kV Colstrip Transmission System

web@northwestern.com — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:59:26 GMT

Butte , Mont. – April 3, 2009 – Beginning April 6, NorthWestern Energy crews begin the routine annual maintenance cycle on the 500kV Colstrip Transmission System. This year’s work will include the replacement of conductor spacers, which are brackets that keep the lines from inadvertently making contact, on the spans between Broadview and Colstrip, Montana.

Landowners and residents in the area may notice men and equipment on the towers and traveling the lines in spacer carts. NorthWestern Energy vehicles and equipment, as well as clearly marked contractor vehicles, will be accessing rights of way throughout this period. Helicopters will also be working in the area delivering material and providing support to the crews working on the towers and lines. The work is done on live lines during daylight hours Monday through Friday and occasionally on Saturday, weather permitting, through May 9.

The company makes every effort to control the spread of noxious weeds by washing all vehicles and equipment daily prior to entering the right of way. Upon completion of the work, the right of way technicians inspect the area and apply an herbicide to further minimize the potential spread of seeds.

Landowners with questions or concerns about right of way access should contact Wayne Clark 406-860-1757.

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 Prices First Mortgage Bond Offering

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:49:04 GMT

Sioux Falls, S.D. – March 23, 2009 – NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) today announced it priced the sale of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.34% First Mortgage Bonds (the “Bonds”) due April 1, 2019.

The entire net proceeds from this offering will be used to (i) repay the outstanding balance of the Colstrip Lease Holdings, LLC (an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) in the principal amount of $100,000,000 plus accrued interest through the date of repayment, (ii) repay the outstanding balance on the Company’s revolver, (iii) pay a portion of the costs of the proposed Mill Creek generation project (if approved) and/or (iv) fund future capital expenditures.

Pending the use of proceeds as described above, the Company may invest the net proceeds from the offering in short‑term marketable securities.

The Bonds will pay interest semiannually in arrears at a rate of 6.340% per year. Interest is payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2009.

The Bonds are expected to be rated by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, Moody’s, and Fitch Ratings as A-, Baa1, and BBB+, respectively. All three ratings are investment grade for the Bonds.

For more information on NorthWestern Energy, please visit our Website at www.northwesternenergy.com.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 656,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. For more information about NorthWestern Energy, visit our 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 Launches New Web Site to Update Bozeman Residents on Recovery Efforts and to Help Promote Downtown Economy

web@northwestern.com — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:31:26 GMT

Butte, MT – March 20, 2009 – NorthWestern Energy has launched a new Web site to provide information to Bozeman residents about the recovery efforts following the March 5 explosion in Downtown Bozeman.

www.bozemanrecovery.com includes past and present press releases, an open letter to the community, answers to frequently asked questions and will be where the company provides ongoing updates as the investigation, cleanup and restoration efforts continue. It also provides residents and other concerned citizens with the ability to ask questions or provide comments to the company.

“We’ve never created a Web site dedicated to providing information about a single event before, but this is a unique situation,” said Bob Rowe, President and CEO of NorthWestern Energy. “This site provides people all over the country with a single point of contact to get information about what we’re doing to help the community recover from this tragic event.”

The site also includes information about NorthWestern’s natural gas safety programs and procedures to reassure residents of the work we do to maintain a safe and reliable distribution system. The company is in the process of gathering input and feedback from downtown business owners to learn how they think the company can participate in the recovery process.

“The local, state and national economy was the primary concern before March 5 and we share the concern voiced by nearly everyone we’ve talked to about the additional impact this event may have on the local economy,” added Rowe. “More than anything we want to assure people that Downtown Bozeman is a safe and enjoyable place to shop, dine and relax. Downtown Bozeman is most definitely open for business.”

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

Dorothy M. Bradley to Stand for Election at NorthWestern Energy’s 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

web@northwestern.com — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:54:16 GMT

Sioux Falls, S.D. – March 19, 2009 – NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE:NWE) today announced that Dorothy M. Bradley will stand for election to the Board of Directors at the Company’s 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 22, 2009, in Butte, Mont. Bradley resides in Clyde Park, Mont., and will fill the vacancy on the Board left by Montana resident Jon Fossel, who chose not to stand for re-election at this year’s annual meeting.

According to NorthWestern President and CEO Bob Rowe, “Dorothy’s strong background in public policy and her lifelong commitment to Montana and its people will strengthen NorthWestern’s ability to serve Montana, and indeed all of our stakeholders.”

“My selection to serve on the Board of NorthWestern Energy is an immense honor, opportunity, and responsibility,” said Bradley. “At no other time have energy and utility issues been so critical for Montana and the nation. NorthWestern is working in new ways to reach out to its Montana stakeholders, to hear from them, and to be a respected part of the Montana family. I look forward to joining this worthy effort alongside CEO Bob Rowe, a long-respected Montana leader, as well as a group of exceptional Board members.”

“I thank Jon Fossel for his service on the Board over the past four-plus years,” said Rowe. “Jon provided great wisdom and experience as a Board member and helped NorthWestern through difficult times to become the sound company it is today. I will continue to look to him for good counsel.”

As a citizen legislator and community leader, Bradley has spent most of her life working for the people of Montana. She was elected as the only woman in the Montana House of Representatives in 1971 at the age of 23 and has proven herself to be an independent leader who is not afraid to address hard problems. Throughout her career in public service and 16 years in the House, Bradley has tackled complex and controversial issues including tax reform, natural resources policy, telecommunications modernization, science-and-technology-based economic development, and health care, and gained recognition for her consensus-building approach. During her later sessions, she chaired the Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Services, beginning its enduring tradition of an equal partisan membership.

Bradley left the state legislature in 1992 to run for Montana’s governorship. After winning the Democratic primary, she lost the November election by a small margin. Bradley continued her service to the people of Montana, spending half a year teaching in a small, rural school in Ashland, next to the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. In the summer of 1993, Bradley was appointed to the newly formed Montana Health Care Authority, and was elected by the members to serve as Chair. Also in 1993, Bradley was hired by Montana State University to become Director of the University System Water Center, a post she held for seven years. The mission of the Center is to promote research, education, and outreach on Montana water issues. Beginning the effort with an office of two and growing to eight, the Center developed a number of distinguished programs under her directorship, including whirling disease research, a national wild fish partnership, and a drinking water education program.

From 2000 to 2007, Bradley was the District Court Administrator for the 18th Judicial District and staff for the County’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). The CJCC is composed of 10 key officials in Gallatin County’s criminal justice system along with 12 advisors, whose mandate is to serve as the central criminal justice planning body and make recommendations to public policy boards regarding deficiencies and needed changes. Changes brought about through the leadership of the CJCC include a Re-Entry Facility and a new department of Court Services with pretrial, post trial and treatment programs.

Bradley grew up in Bozeman, Mont., received a B.A. in Anthropology from Colorado College in 1969 (Phi Beta Kappa and Distinction in Anthropology), and acquired a law degree from American University in 1983. She has been recognized with an Honorary Doctorate from Colorado College, Business Woman of the Year from the Bozeman Chamber and MSU Alumni Association, and Woman of Achievement from the Montana Business and Professional Women.

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

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

Winners of the First Annual Montana BetterBricks Awards Announced

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:24:23 GMT

Butte, Mont. – March 16, 2009 – At the first annual Montana BetterBricks Awards, three outstanding leaders in the green building industry were honored for their efforts by BetterBricks, the commercial initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, along with NorthWestern Energy and the Montana Electric Cooperative Association (MECA). The winners were announced at the Montana Ambassadors Annual Conference, which was held in February at the Great Northern Hotel in Helena.

The BetterBricks Awards salute individuals pioneering high performance commercial buildings with an emphasis on energy efficiency in the Northwest. For this award, high performance buildings are commercial structures with a substantial level of energy savings as well as some or all of the following characteristics: incorporate day lighting with electrical lighting; reduce operating and maintenance costs; enhance productivity; consider local climate; support early design team decision-making; support commissioning. The result of these efforts: a greater number of buildings that offer improved energy efficiency and bottom line benefits.

The BetterBricks Awards also take place in three other Northwest cities: Portland, Seattle, and Boise. NorthWestern Energy and other Montana utilities encouraged BetterBricks to create a program for the Montana audience and helped facilitate the first annual Montana Awards.

Winners and finalists were selected in the following categories:

Owner/Decision Maker: Those who make decisions about strategic direction regarding investments in high performance buildings. These executives, developers, owners and managers support, authorize and generally enable high performance buildings to be built and operated.

Winner — Gary Griffith, Facilities Director (retired) Bozeman School District. Gary focused on energy conservation for the District, and through a combination of retrofits, repairs and operational practices, he dramatically decreased the District's natural gas consumption by 50 percent. Two of the District's elementary schools are believed to be the only ENERGY STAR ® certified schools in Montana, achieved under his direction.
Finalist — Tom Schussler, Director of Facilities, Providence St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center and Tim Chopp, Manager of Facilities Engineering, Providence St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center in Missoula. Because of Tom and Tim’s efforts, St. Patrick is the only hospital to certify (twice) under the ENERGY STAR program in the state of Montana.

Architecture: Those who design buildings and lead the design team on projects that consistently achieve high levels of energy efficiency in both new construction and major renovations.

Winner — Randy Hafer, President and co-owner of High Plains Architects in Billings. Randy led his team to reinvent a professional office building called, “Home on the Range.” This project received LEED® Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, currently Montana’s only Platinum project.

Engineering: Those who have contributed significant solutions to the energy efficient design of mechanical and/or electrical systems for new buildings and major renovations.

Winner — Mark Hines, Mechanical Engineer, Montana state Architecture and Engineering Division, Dept. of Administration. The State Buildings Energy Conservation Program relies on Mark's expertise to design the state’s energy efficiency projects. The program regularly saves 15-30 percent of a building’s energy costs and is reporting over one million dollars in savings a year.

Winners received beautiful ceramic sculptures representing commercial buildings, created by Northwest artist, Natalie Warrens. A panel of judges comprised of industry professionals selected the winners, including Rick Edwards, NorthWestern Energy; John Jennings, BetterBricks; Tom Wood, Bozeman Integrated Design Lab; Ken Sugen, Flathead Electric; Dave Bausch, NorthWestern Energy; and Ken Phillips, Montana DEQ.

About the Montana Ambassadors
The Montana Ambassadors is a volunteer, not-for-profit organization of leaders in business, education, and the professions with a common dedication to living and doing business in Montana and furthering the best interests of the state, serving at the pleasure of the Governor. For more information, visit http://www.montanaambassadors.com.

About the Montana Electric Cooperative Association (MECA)
MECA is a not-for-profit, statewide trade association representing 26 consumer-owned electric distribution cooperatives and three generation and transmission cooperatives serving more than 250,000 people across Montana and in the Dakotas, Wyoming and Idaho. The cooperatives' service areas cover all 56 Montana counties. Each cooperative is customer-owned, locally controlled and not-for-profit. MECA is headquartered in Great Falls, Montana along the banks of the Missouri River. For more information, visit http://www.mtco-ops.com.

About BetterBricks
BetterBricks is the commercial building initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), which is supported by local electric utilities, including NorthWestern Energy and Montana electric cooperatives served by the Bonneville Power Administration. Through the BetterBricks initiative, NEEA advocates for changes to energy-related business practices in Northwest buildings. In this era of heightened appreciation for the impact climate change is having on our environment and our economy, energy efficiency is a crucial component in addressing global warming. On http://www.BetterBricks.com, find information, tools, training and resources to help buildings make a difference to the bottom line and the environment.

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

NorthWestern Energy Responds to Investigation Findings

web@northwestern.com — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:06:32 GMT

Butte , Mont. – March 13, 2009 – NorthWestern Energy has learned that investigators with the City of Bozeman Fire Department and the US Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) have determined that a separation on a two-inch gas service line caused last Thursday’s explosion.

NorthWestern Energy officials have not yet had a chance to fully review the incident report, but they have been working in coordination with the investigation team. The company has brought in independent experts to help with its own investigation. The NorthWestern Energy service line in question has not yet been fully excavated and will be sent to a laboratory for further metallurgical testing to determine what caused the break.

Company investigators are seeking to understand all the evidence gathered to date including gas readings in the vicinity of the separation. However, the company has not examined the gas lines and appliances inside of the involved structures due to the recently completed fire investigation; it must now receive approval from property owners in order to gain access into the explosion site to finish its investigation.

"Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Tara Bowman. Her loss will be felt throughout the Bozeman community. Our corporate family also wants others who were affected by the explosion to know you are in our thoughts and prayers. We will continue to work side-by-side with the affected businesses and the city of Bozeman to restore the downtown area to good economic health as soon as possible,” said Bob Rowe, President and CEO of NorthWestern Energy.

“We will continue to cooperate fully with the city, state and federal officials as they seek answers to a number of questions that still surround this terrible event. We will continue to examine the situation before the explosion and seek answers about why this occurred.”

The company is conducting a complete and thorough examination of the scene and the services in question to understand all of the contributing factors that may have led to this incident as part of ongoing system integrity activities. The additional testing is expected to take approximately three to six months, if all of the parties involved are able to cooperate.

NorthWestern Energy assures all our natural gas and electric customers that we are committed to ensuring the highest level of safety. The company strives to operate its electric and natural gas systems in compliance with all existing federal and state rules and regulations.

The company does annual leak inspection surveys and several other routine maintenance activities including corrosion control per DOT regulations in downtown commercial areas and along its major transmission pipelines. Residential areas are surveyed every five years, in accordance with DOT regulations.

Anyone who believes they smell natural gas should immediately leave the area and call NorthWestern Energy or 911 from a safe location. NorthWestern’s Gas Emergency number is 888-467-2427.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 650,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. For more information about NorthWestern Energy, visit our Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

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

Community Relations Contact:
Mel Kotur
(406) 582-4637
melvin.kotur@northwestern.com

News Brief: NorthWestern Energy Details Explosion Response

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:43:34 GMT

Butte, Mont. - March 10, 2009 - 12 p.m. — When disaster strikes, NorthWestern Energy mobilizes to secure electric and natural gas services that may be affected. An incident team is organized, comprised of front line responders, engineers, and others from throughout the company. The team is typically led on site, and remains together through a post-incident evaluation.

The recent explosion in downtown Bozeman is an example of what NorthWestern’s front line crews and other employees do to help ensure public safety. The following is a breakdown of the company’s response to this disaster.

The First 24 Hours
NorthWestern Energy electric and natural gas service employees were on the scene within minutes after the explosion. The company was asked to respond by the Bozeman Fire Department, which is standard procedure in any fire or emergency situation, but employees who felt and/or heard the blast were already en route to assist.

In any emergency situation, the scene is chaotic. This explosion blew out windows in the surrounding area. Shards of glass, splintered wood, brinks and mortar, roofing nails and building material was strewn around a two-block perimeter. Employees quickly coordinated with Bozeman Fire and Police to deenergize the electric service to the downtown area to help protect the safety of emergency workers fighting the fire, and assisted with the evacuation of residents and businesses in the immediate area.

As the linemen and engineers further assessed the situation and the area, they were able to narrow the scope of the electrical safety shutdown to restore electrical service to all but the most affected area, including turning on service to City Hall and emergency services located just blocks from the scene.

Gas service technicians shut off natural gas at the meters to buildings in the area that were most at risk of fire. This, too, is standard procedure in any emergency situation. Several natural gas service lines were damaged in the blast, and blowing natural gas created flames eight to ten feet high. The first priority was to help fire fighters secure the scene and provide whatever assistance they needed with immediate response.

NorthWestern Energy quickly assembled a team of employee-experts to help address the crisis, including those with experience in gas transmission operations and maintenance, pipeline safety, engineering, planning, supply procurement, communications and customer service. This team began reviewing maps and engineering plans to determine how best to isolate and stop the flow of natural gas to the damaged lines.

The company brought in employees from Butte and Deer Lodge to assist with the effort. Approximately a block west of the explosion, Bozeman Division employees exposed the buried 8” steel gas main located in the alley to reach a valve that had been installed in 2007. This valve enables a piece of equipment called a “stopper fitting” to be inserted that seals off the pipeline.

The “Westliners,” NorthWestern Energy’s highly specialized gas transmission response team based in Deer Lodge, began work east of the explosion to install another valve. The line is worked “hot” – in other words, pressurized gas is present in the line while it is being worked. The fitting is welded around the pipe, and then a “Mueller Tapping Machine” (the name of the piece of equipment) is attached which very slowly drills a hole in the top and bottom of the pipeline. Once the holes are drilled the stopper plug is inserted and the flow of gas is stopped.

This work began shortly after the crew arrived from Deer Lodge around 11 a.m. and the valve and fitting was finished around 5:30 p.m. that night. When pressure to the damaged gas line didn’t decrease as expected, the main was further excavated and another gas main, which ran perpendicular to this main, was found just east of the western-most valve. Crews determined that the best, and safest, approach was to install another stopper fitting on the alley main closer to the site of the explosion. That fitting was installed by 11:30 p.m. and by midnight that night the flow of gas was stopped.

Shortly after the initial response and once the area was evacuated, NorthWestern Energy employees working in coordination with Bozeman Fire began testing the ground (called pegging and bar holing) to look for gas leaks. They worked from the outside edge of the perimeters towards the center (the site of the explosion) looking for anything that might indicate the presence of a gas leak. They also inspected buildings and meters to ensure they were in good working condition and that there were no leaks.

By 7 p.m., although the flow of natural gas had not been stopped at the site of the explosion, Bozeman emergency officials determined that all but the immediately-affected area was safe, and allowed business owners and residents the opportunity to go into their property to secure the locations. By this time fire fighters had the fire contained, but used the flames to ensure that the blowing natural gas was safely consumed. Electric service crews were able to restore service to all but a handful of customers on the block.

After the Immediate Crisis
NorthWestern Energy employees remain on an incident scene long after the immediate crisis is over. In this case, NorthWestern linemen repaired and inspected explosion-damaged electric services, transformers, insulators, and line equipment, enabling electric service to be restored to all customers, except those businesses destroyed or severely damaged by the explosion by 2:30 a.m. the next morning.

Natural gas service technicians accompanied business/property owners as they entered their buildings to test for any potential problems and to relight their pilot lights. The company also continued to work on the natural gas main to place secure caps on the pipeline so that temporary, aboveground, services could be run to nearby businesses. This was critically important to those businesses that needed heat in order to reopen and to ensure that an approaching cold front didn’t result in broken water pipes and potentially more problems.

The installation of the caps also secured the services at the explosion site, enabling the investigation into the cause of the explosion to continue. Working in coordination with the Montana Public Service Commission and the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline Safety Administration, along with other investigating officials from US Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and Bozeman Fire, the company is assisting with tests of the main, service lines and meters and other equipment at the site. The company is cooperating fully and doing all it can to provide whatever information is needed by the investigating authorities.

NorthWestern Energy operates its electric and natural gas systems in compliance with all existing federal and state rules and regulations. The company does annual leak inspection surveys per DOT regulations in downtown commercial areas and along its major transmission pipelines. Residential areas are surveyed every five years, in accordance with DOT regulations. The company also runs advertisements and statement notices educating people on how to recognize the smell of natural gas and what to do if they smell natural gas. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of natural gas lines from the meter onto their property.

Anyone who believes they smell natural gas should immediately leave the area (without turning on or off lights or picking up a telephone – which may spark an explosion) and call NorthWestern Energy or 911 from a safe location. Gas odor calls are assigned highest priority and are promptly responded to around the clock, seven days a week.

How to report Natural Gas emergencies (including gas odor, carbon monoxide and no heat calls) :

In Montana: 888-467-2427
In South Dakota/Nebraska: 800-245-6977

Moody's Investors Service Upgrades NorthWestern's Credit Ratings

web@northwestern.com — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:40:46 GMT

Sioux Falls, S.D. – March 10, 2009 – NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) today announced that Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) has upgraded NorthWestern’s ratings.

	From	To
Senior Secured Rating	Baa2	Baa1
Senior Unsecured Rating	Baa3	Baa2
Outlook	Positive	Positive

Moody’s cited several reasons for the upgrade including the Company's 2008 financial performance, and the positive benefits of supportive rate case decisions in all three jurisdictions that addressed various operating cost pressures and utility infrastructure additions. Moody’s also acknowledged the fact that NorthWestern has essentially completed its goal of exiting all non-regulated business activities, following regulatory approval by the Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC) to place the company’s 30% ownership interest in the 740 megawatt coal-fired generation plant (Colstrip Unit 4) into utility rate base at a value of approximately $407 million.

NorthWestern is rated investment grade on all senior secured and unsecured debt with Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s Rating Group, and Fitch Investors Service.

“Achieving and maintaining strong credit ratings has been our goal because it is in the interest of our customers, investors and employees. It has also been a key objective of our regulators since the company emerged from bankruptcy, because they recognize the long-term benefits to customers,” said President and CEO Bob Rowe. “It is especially important in a time of market turbulence and instability, and will help us manage our investment commitments even better, and produce benefits to our customers through lower borrowing costs.”

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

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

News Brief: Update on NorthWestern Energy’s Response to Downtown Bozeman Explosion

web@northwestern.com — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:30:00 GMT

Butte, Mont. - March 6, 2009 - 1:30 p.m. — As of midnight Thursday, NorthWestern Energy crews stopped the flow of the natural gas through a pipeline near the blast site in downtown Bozeman allowing firefighters to extinguish the fire fully.

Electricity has been restored to all customers with the exception of those in buildings destroyed or seriously damaged by the explosion and ensuing fire. In addition, NorthWestern has restored natural gas service to all customers except those between Mendenhall and the south side of East Main and Rouse and Bozeman Streets. The Bozeman Hotel was not included in the service disruption and still has gas service.

NorthWestern Energy employees are coordinating with city officials and business owners to complete service inspections and relight pilots.

Natural gas service to the affected area is expected to remain off for several days while workers complete inspections.

NorthWestern Energy is working with city fire officials, the Department of Transportation and the Montana Public Service Commission on the investigation of the incident.

NorthWestern Energy Begins Shiloh Road Transmission Line Relocation Project in Billings, Mont.

web@northwestern.com — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:19:58 GMT

Billings, Mont. – March 2, 2009 - NorthWestern Energy and its contractor Mountain Power Construction Company will be starting a project to relocate the existing overhead 100kV transmission line located on the west side of Shiloh Road in Billings. This project is part of the utility services relocation necessary to accommodate the Montana Department of Transportation’s Shiloh Road widening project, which will begin later this spring.

Beginning the week of March 2, and continuing until late May, crews will be accessing utility right of way areas along the west side of Shiloh Road between King and Grand Avenue to install new transmission poles and wires. Once the new line is installed, the contractor will then begin removing the existing 100kV poles and overhead wire that currently exists near the roadway. The majority of the relocation work will be occurring off the main road or traffic areas.   However, as the work progresses and nears intersections, the Mountain Power crews may be working next to the roadway and there is the possibility of partial road closures in the traffic lane nearest to the work zones.

Underground locates will be done in advance of the work. It is important that property owners do not remove the underground locates on their property. Customers in the area should experience little or no disruptions to their electric service.   Crews will be clearly identified, but should landowners in the area have any questions about our work, or our access to rights of way, please do not hesitate to call our customer contact center at (888) 467-2669.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 650,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. For more information about NorthWestern Energy, visit our Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

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