Montana Meter Upgrade

NorthWestern Energy is upgrading our electric meters and gas modules.

  • This technology upgrade will allow two-way communication between NorthWestern Energy and its meters on customer homes and businesses.
  • In most cases, the system will notify NorthWestern Energy of an outage. 
  • Crews can restore service faster.
  • Current energy use information is available for customer questions about bills, energy use and opportunities for energy savings
  • System voltage information identifies problems before those problems cause outages.
The energy landscape is changing — and so are our customers’ expectations. As we modernize the energy grid, including using two-way communicating meters, also known as smart meters, our customers will benefit.

Moving Toward a Sustainable Energy Future

Moving Toward a Sustainable Energy Future

The energy grid is evolving, driven by the need to support more renewable resources as we transition to an even cleaner energy future. Smart metering provides more data on grid operations, which will allow opportunities for new customer programs and technology that will help balance the energy grid with renewable resources.
Learn about our other clean energy initiatives

Advanced Meter FAQs

NorthWestern Energy began installation in Montana in 2021. Here is a list of approximate dates for the Montana Meter Upgrade project by area:

  • Missoula Division: completed August 2022
  • Butte Division: completed June 2022
  • Bozeman Division: completed May 2024
  • Billings Division: completed October 2024  
  • Lewistown District: completed October 2024
  • Havre District: completed November 2024
  • Helena Division: June 2024 – May 2025
  • Great Falls Division: August 2024 – 2028

A NorthWestern Energy employee will install your new meter or module.

No. The electric meters and gas modules are purchased and owned by NorthWestern Energy. They are part of our infrastructure, similar to our power poles and transformers.

Most of the installations will occur during business hours, though there will be cases when evening or weekend installations may be necessary. Customers don't need to be home.

A door hanger will let residents know their upgrade was successful. If the technician cannot perform the upgrade, a door hanger will be left with instructions to call to make an appointment.

NorthWestern Energy has a contract to recycle the electric meters and gas modules in use now when new meters and modules are installed.

Yes. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates the safety limits for all RF emissions, and smart meter and module emissions make up a small portion of the limit. The RF emissions of old one-way communication meters and the new two-way communication meters are both approved by the FCC. Radio frequency emissions are also produced by common household devices such as microwaves, baby monitors and TVs.

Yes. Customer privacy and security are NorthWestern Energy priorities. The company’s strict security standards have contributed to protecting the energy grid and customer privacy for years. The meters do not collect, store or transmit any personally identifiable information.

The meters measure total energy and cannot differentiate energy usage by appliance or anything else within a home or business. The transmitted energy use information is encrypted.

Customers who want to keep their existing meters can call NorthWestern at 888-467-2669 or email NorthWesternEnergyMeters@northwestern.com to be added to the bypass list. Customers who previously requested an opt out do not need to contact NorthWestern again to be bypassed and keep their meters.

NorthWestern will be reaching out to customers who received an advanced meter despite their request to opt out. For those who still wish to opt-out, NorthWestern will ensure that the advanced meter is removed and replaced with a meter similar to the one that was there before. Customers will not be charged for this service. 

Customers who have questions about the advanced meter opt-out program can contact NorthWestern at 888-467-2669
or the Montana Public Service Commission at 1-800-646-6150 or pschelp@mt.gov.

If you have a non-communicating electric or gas meter, you can find information about how to read it and submit a self-read here. 
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Dynamic Renewables receives strategic investment from Ares Management, also receives minority investment from NorthWestern Energy

Date: Jul 26, 2023

MENASHA, Wis. – July 26, 2023 — Dynamic Renewables (“Dynamic” or the “Company”), a full-service developer, owner and operator of waste management and anaerobic digestion renewable fuel projects across the U.S., announced today that a fund managed by Ares Management’s Infrastructure Opportunities strategy (“Ares”) has made a strategic investment to acquire the Company. In addition, an unregulated affiliate of NorthWestern Energy (“NorthWestern”) has acquired a small minority stake in the Company. The investment from Ares, a leading infrastructure investor with approximately $14.9 billion in infrastructure equity and debt assets under management as of March 31, 2023, is intended to support Dynamic in the further development and construction of its broader pipeline of renewable natural gas (“RNG”) assets located throughout the U.S.

Founded in 2011, Dynamic is a leading fully integrated origination, development, financing and operations platform that provides waste recovery solutions focused on the dairy and food processing industries. Dynamic has a material project development pipeline and is currently overseeing the construction of six assets, which are expected to be operational by the end of 2023 and forecasted to generate a combined total of more than 4,000 MMBtu per day of renewable natural gas. These six projects are projected to mitigate more than 300,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

Dynamic is also the owner of BC Organics, a flagship asset developed by the Company. Located in Brown County, Wisconsin, BC Organics is a large-scale biorefinery facility that sources dairy manure feedstock from eleven multigenerational farms and comprises sixteen anaerobic digester tanks capable of processing 900,000 gallons of manure per day. BC Organics will produce carbon negative transportation fuel and provide its partner dairy farms with a long-term, sustainable manure management solution that converts the feedstock into clean water and reusable animal bedding.

Dynamic is led by its co-founders – Chief Executive Officer Duane Toenges, Chief Technology Officer Dan Nemke and Executive Vice President of Special Projects Karl Crave – who have worked together in the anaerobic digestion industry for nearly two decades.

“We are excited about the business we have built in Dynamic and our current momentum,” said Mr. Toenges. “Ares brings a wealth of experience in investing and developing projects in the renewable natural gas industry. They have expressed their support for the Company and our strategy in achieving our next phase of growth. Further, the recent commissioning of our BC Organics project is a tremendous milestone for Dynamic, and we look forward to completing additional projects this year for our strategic partners.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Dynamic, and our investment is aligned with Ares’ commitment to accelerate the transition to a lower-carbon economy through the Company’s innovative waste management and anaerobic digestion capabilities,” said Andy Pike, Partner and Co-Head of Ares Infrastructure Opportunities. “Dynamic has a demonstrated track record of leadership in the rapidly growing renewable fuels sector, and we look forward to working together to build out its pipeline while supporting local communities in delivering more sustainable waste management practices.”

 

“We are pleased to further our existing relationship with Dynamic with this minority investment in the Company,” said Brian Bird, President and Chief Executive Officer of NorthWestern. “The investment in Dynamic is a positive step for NorthWestern in meeting its net zero goals and a great opportunity to expand the RNG production capabilities of our service territory and its surrounding area. We are excited about the growth of the RNG industry, the carbon negative fuel that Dynamic’s assets will generate, and the complementary nature of this investment with our long-term goals.”

Lazard acted as financial advisor to Dynamic on the transaction. Husch Blackwell served as legal counsel to Dynamic. Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal counsel to Ares.

About Dynamic Renewables

Dynamic Renewables was founded in 2011 and is a full-service development company that provides leading-edge waste recovery solutions to the agricultural and food processing industries. Dynamic Renewables has finance, design, development, and operations capabilities which support its portfolio of operating and development-stage renewable natural gas assets. In 2023, Dynamic Renewables commissioned the BC Organics asset, one of the largest dairy-based anaerobic digestion projects in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.dynamic-renewables.com.

About Ares Management

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, private equity, real estate and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of March 31, 2023, Ares Management Corporation's global platform had approximately $360 billion of assets under management, with more than 2,600 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (Nasdaq: NWE) provides essential energy infrastructure and valuable services that enrich lives and empower communities while serving as long-term partners to our customers and communities. We work to deliver safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions that create value for customers, communities, employees, and investors. We do this by providing low-cost and reliable service performed by highly-adaptable and skilled employees. We provide electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 764,200 customers in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park. We have provided service in South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and in Montana since 2002. For more information, please visit www.northwesternenergy.com.

 

Contacts

Dynamic Renewables

Madysen Schmidt, +1 920-215-4121 x1009

madysen.schmidt@dynamic-renewables.com

Ares

Jacob Silber, +1 212-301-0376 media@aresmgmt.com

NorthWestern Energy

Investor Relations Contact: Travis Meyer, +1 605-978-2967, travis.meyer@northwestern.com

Media Contact: Jo Dee Black, +1 866-622-8081, jodee.black@northwestern.com
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