Our Natural Gas and Electric Service
NorthWestern Energy serves 337 communities in Montana, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park with safe and reliable electricity. We serve natural gas to 202 communities in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska.
Our Company
For more than 100 years, NorthWestern Energy has been committed to delivering safe, reliable and innovative energy solutions.
We serve gas and electric to customers in the western two-thirds of Montana and eastern South Dakota. We also have gas service in Nebraska, and serve electricity to Yellowstone National Park.
We own and operate a diverse generation fleet of wind, water, natural gas and coal-fired resources and the high-voltage electric transmission system and distribution system. We also own and operate natural gas production, transmission and distribution systems.
We serve gas and electric to customers in the western two-thirds of Montana and eastern South Dakota. We also have gas service in Nebraska, and serve electricity to Yellowstone National Park.
We own and operate a diverse generation fleet of wind, water, natural gas and coal-fired resources and the high-voltage electric transmission system and distribution system. We also own and operate natural gas production, transmission and distribution systems.
Enriching Lives Through a Safe, Sustainable Energy Future
Enriching Lives Through a Safe, Sustainable Energy Future
NorthWestern Energy has provided reliable and affordable electricity and natural gas to customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska for more than 100 years.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
Sustainability means meeting today’s needs while planning for tomorrow’s as well. It is not just a matter of good environmental practices, being a sustainable enterprise must also incorporate social and governance best practices.
NorthWestern Energy at a glance
775,300
customers served across Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Yellowstone National Park
1,573
employees working across our service territory
55%
carbon-free electric generation
Our vision
Enriching lives through a safe sustainable energy future.
Our mission
Working together to provide safe, reliable and innovative energy solutions that create value for customers, communities, employees, and investors.
Our values
SERVICE: Safety, Excellence, Respect, Value, Integrity, Community, Environment
Our Hydro Facilities
Our carbon-free hydro system is the foundation of our energy generation portfolio in Montana. In 2023, 35.7% of our electricity for Montana customers came from our hydro facilities.
Giving Back to Our Communities
NorthWestern Energy is committed to being a good corporate citizen of all the communities we serve. In 2023, we gave nearly $2 million in charitable donations and community support.
Where Does Your Energy Come From?
We provide safe, reliable energy through a balanced mix of clean energy and traditional resources.
NorthWestern Energy implements fire season precautions
Date: Jul 23, 2021
TYPE: News
Category: Investors
Butte, Mont. – July 23, 2021 – Late on Wednesday, July 21 about 2,250 Bozeman area customers lost power after a thunderstorm with strong winds rolled through the area. If the outage had occurred in a different time of the year, NorthWestern Energy personnel would have reenergized the line remotely to restore service quickly.
But this is fire season.
A lineman was sent out to patrol the line between Bozeman and the Four Corners area in Belgrade, looking for things such as tree branches in the power lines or for any downed power lines, situations that create a fire risk. Once he confirmed that the lines were clear and undamaged, services was restored for the customers at 12:42 a.m. July 22.
Patrolling before lines are reenergized is among the fire-season precautions employed by NorthWestern Energy. Project and maintenance work generally begins and finishes earlier in the day to minimize the time crews are in the field during the hottest hours when fire risk increases. NorthWestern Energy works closely with local agencies to determine those field hours.
NorthWestern Energy’s formal response team is prepared to work with wildfire management if fires are a threat to the electric or gas system, which could disrupt critical energy service.
“During wildfire season, attention is focused on fire prevention and working closely with local officials and fire commands to protect infrastructure to minimize service disruptions and maintain communication channels,” said NorthWestern Energy Vice President Curt Pohl. “But our fire mitigation work is a year-round effort.”
NorthWestern Energy conducts power line and equipment inspections, including aerial inspections in remote areas, throughout the year. Trees are trimmed and cleared along the 20,000 miles of overhead power lines in Montana. Investments are ongoing in the infrastructure such as power poles, power lines and substations to make the systems stronger and more resilient.
State of the art software is used to create a visual inventory of power lines and equipment, along with a history of the performance of each system segment. That data is used to make strategic investments in the system and to identify critical infrastructure during active wildfire fighting efforts.
“As summer continues and the weather gets hotter and drier, there are some common actions that we all can do to prevent wildfires and support those on the front line fighting fires,” said Pohl.
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About NorthWestern Energy (Nasdaq: NWE)
NorthWestern provides electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 743,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska. We have generated and distributed electricity in South Dakota and distributed natural gas in South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and have generated and distributed electricity and distributed natural gas in Montana since 2002. More information on NorthWestern is available on the company’s website at www.northwesternenergy.com.
Media Contacts:
Jo Dee Black
866-622-8081