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NorthWestern Energy to Host 2026 Integrated Resource Plan Meetings in Montana
Date: Jan 16, 2026
TYPE: News
Butte, Mont. – Jan. 16, 2026 – NorthWestern Energy invites customers, community members, and stakeholders to attend public meetings on the draft 2026 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).
The meetings will be held at:
Great Falls - 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27, the Great Falls Public Library, 301 2nd Ave. N.
Missoula - 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28, Missoula College, 1205 E. Broadway St.
Helena - 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, Lewis & Clark Library, Large Community Room, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch
Bozeman - 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, Bozeman Library, Community Room, 626 E. Main St.
The draft IRP, a list of public meetings, an informational video and more available online at: NorthWesternEnergy.com/IRPMeetings
The IRP is a long-term planning study that evaluates how NorthWestern Energy can meet Montana customers’ electricity needs over the next 20 years under a variety of future scenarios, while balancing reliability, affordability, and risk. It provides a transparent analysis of potential scenarios to guide future decisions.
What the IRP examines:
- Forecasts of future customer demand (including population growth, energy efficiency, and net metering)
- Existing generation and transmission resources
- Potential capacity options
- Cost, reliability, and risk trade-offs across multiple future scenarios
Goal: Identify the most cost-effective capacity to meet reliability needs while managing risk and cost for Montana customers.
The IRP is not a construction plan or a final decision document.
The meeting will include a 20-minute presentation followed by time for public comments on the draft IRP.
Learn how NorthWestern Energy plans to meet Montana’s future energy needs and how reliability and cost are evaluated.
Submit comments via the online form or email IRP@northwestern.com.
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 842,000 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:
Jo Dee Black
866-622-8081