Montana Meter Upgrade
NorthWestern Energy will install 590,000 new electric meters and gas modules in Montana.
- 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.
Montana Digital Meter Upgrade
590,000
meters and modules will be replaced.
5 years
The project began in 2021 and runs through 2025.
60%
of all U.S. electric customers have smart meters today.
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.
Advanced Meter FAQs
What is the advanced meter project timeline in Montana?
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 – May 2025
Who will change my meter?
NorthWestern Energy contracted with Tru-Check to install the new digital meters, the same company that installed the first generation, one-way communication digital meters in 1998 that are in use today.
Tru-Check technicians will wear apparel with the Tru-Check logo and will carry a NorthWestern Energy contractor identification badge.
Will I have to pay for the meter?
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.
When will the meters be installed and do I need to be home?
Most of the installations will occur Monday through Friday 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.
If you are both an electric and natural gas NorthWestern Energy customer, the new electric meter will be installed first and the new gas module will be installed during a follow-up visit to your home or business in about eight weeks.
What happens to the meter on my home or business now?
NorthWestern Energy has a contract to recycle the electric meters and gas modules in use now when new meters and modules are installed.
Are radio frequency (RF) emissions coming from the meters and modules?
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 the one-way communication meters in use now and the two-way communication meters that are being installed for this technology upgrade are both approved by the FCC. Radio frequency emissions are also produced by common household devices such as microwaves, baby monitors and TVs.
Is customer information protected?
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.What if I don’t want an upgraded meter?
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.
How do I read my meter?
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.
NorthWestern Energy Smoke Detection Cameras Aids Community for Jericho Mountain Fire
Date: Jul 2, 2025
TYPE: News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Helena, Mont. – July 3, 2025 NorthWestern Energy has installed smoke detection cameras across our Montana service territory to help identify wildfires as soon as they start. These cameras use AI technology to detect potential fire starts and can differentiate smoke from clouds, dust, haze or other particulates in the air that could be otherwise confused with smoke.
The cameras are placed in strategic locations to provide 360-degree visibility. One location where a camera was strategically placed is at the top of MacDonald Pass, near Helena. The cameras consistently serve a critical purpose for detecting of wildfires, but the MacDonald Pass camera proved invaluable as it allowed community members to observe the Jericho Mountain Fire without needing to enter into the closure area.
“The cameras were purchased from AlertWest by NorthWestern Energy. NorthWestern Energy collaborated with fire responding agencies, dispatch centers, and emergency managers on selecting camera locations and providing in-depth access to the real-time video feed” said Charles Tuss, Wildfire Situation Awareness Specialist with NorthWestern Energy. Members of the public also can view real-time video of the cameras by visiting: northwesternenergy.com/safety/wildfire-safety/wildfire-mitigation-plan/smoke-detection-cameras. Individuals can also see camera feeds on wildfire information apps, such as Watch Duty.
“For the public to be able to view the fires is really beneficial. Many times, people are curious about what a specific fire is doing and they want to drive closer to the fire area to get a view. During the Jericho Mountain fire, for example, people were able to see a live-feed of what the fire was doing without actually having to go to near the location. This helps reduce traffic in the area and keep members of the public and firefighters safe,” said Chiara Cipriano, Public Affairs Officer, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.
NorthWestern Energy will continue to work with fire managers and emergency managers on implementing additional camera locations across the state to help with the early detection and rapid response to wildfires.
For more information on the Jericho Mountain Fire, please visit: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mthlf-jericho-mountain-fire
For more information about how NorthWestern Energy is working to improve wildfire safety, please visit: northwesternenergy.com/safety/wildfire-safety
Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn and Instagram: @NorthWesternEnergy
NorthWestern Energy - Delivering a Bright Future
NorthWestern Energy, 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 787,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park. Our operations in Montana and Yellowstone National Park are conducted through our subsidiary, NW Corp, and our operations in South Dakota and Nebraska are conducted through our subsidiary, NWE Public Service. We have provided service in South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and in Montana since 2002.
Media Contacts:
Max Rebholz
406-880-3471
Max.rebholz@northwestern.com