by Michael J. Marino
NorthWestern Energy (NWE) is requesting to raise their electricity rates by as much as 25.6%, according to an August 12, 2022 application filed with the Public Service Commission (PSC). “A residential electric customer using 750 kilowatt-hours per month would see a total monthly increase of $22.76,” the filing states, or $273.12 more per year.
Shortly after the NWE-proposed rate increase was announced, Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op (YVEC) contacted media and wanted to make sure that their customers know that they are not increasing rates.
The NWE application comes just nine days after PSC Commissioners Tony O’Donnell and Randy Pinocci sent out a shocking press release which predicted Montana may experience “rolling blackouts” this winter if Colstrip Power Plant “prematurely shutters its last two baseload generating plants.” When Montana experiences below-zero temperatures, the release stated, “NorthWestern Energy might be unable to buy power from any other source (besides Colstrip) to keep Montanans from freezing in the night.” The two commissioners called upon state leaders “to do all that is necessary to retain” the Colstrip plant. (See YCN’s 8/12/22 edition, p. 4 to read the entire PSC document, entitled: “Public Service Commission Requests Retention of Colstrip Power Plant.”)
NWE public relations director Jo Dee Black confirmed these predictions in an Aug. 17 interview with YCN. “We (NWE) have been concerned for a long time,” Black stated, and said the reason is because after the “retirement of some of our generation resources,” Montana now must import much of its energy instead of export, as she said the state once did.
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