Our utility operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations concerning service areas, tariffs, issuances of securities, employment, occupational health and safety, protection of the environment and other matters.

Federal

• Public utility as defined within the Federal Power Act
• Subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations
• Standards of Conduct
• NorthWestern Energy OATT

Montana

• Regulated by the Montana Public Service Commission
• Customers have choice of electric and natural gas suppliers; NorthWestern Energy is the  supplier for customers who have not chosen an alternative supplier.
• Nonexclusive municipal franchises to transport and distribute natural gas in the Montana communities we serve
• Recover electricity and natural gas purchases through a monthly cost tracking process as approved by the Montana Public Service Commission  
• General rate filing to the Montana Public Service Commission seeking approval to change several components of our delivery services charges for Montana electricity and natural gas customers
  Click here to download the natural gas rate filing documents.  
  Click here to download the natural gas rate filing (phase two) documents.
• Electric Supply Resource Procurement Plan filed biannually with Montana Public Service Commission; electric supply tracker filed annually.   
  Click here to download the 2015 Electric Plan. 
  Click here to download the 2019 Electric Plan. 
  Click here to download the 2016 Electric Tracker.
• Natural Gas Supply Resource Procurement Plan filed biannually with Montana Public Service Commission; natural gas supply tracker filed annually.
  Click here to download the 2012 Natural Gas Plan. 
  Click here to download the 2016 Natural Gas Tracker.
• The Electric Technical Advisory Committee advises NorthWestern Energy in the preparation of its biennial Resource Procurement Plan.

South Dakota

• Regulated by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission  
  Click here to view the Energy Efficiency Program Plan recently submitted to the South Dakota PUC.  
• Exclusive right to serve assigned electric service areas and nonexclusive municipal franchises to serve cities with natural gas
• Electric business operates as a vertically integrated generation, transmission and distribution utility. Bundled packages of generation, transmission, distribution, meter reading, billing and other services
• Competition exists for natural gas supply 
• Fuel adjustment clauses in electric and natural gas rate tariffs allow us to pass commodity costs through to our customers
• Click here for the 2014 Application for Authority to Increase Electric Utility Rates 
• Click here for the 2020 South Dakota Integrated Resource Plan 
• Click here for the 2018 South Dakota Electricity Supply Resource Procurement Plan 

Nebraska

• Regulated by the Nebraska Public Service Commission
• Nonexclusive municipal franchises to serve cities with natural gas
• Competition exists for natural gas supply
• Fuel adjustment clauses in natural gas rate tariffs allow us to pass commodity costs through to our customers