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.
Montana Digital Meter Upgrade
Moving Toward a Sustainable Energy Future
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Moving Toward a Sustainable Energy Future
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: July 2022 – January 2024
• Lewistown District: February 2024 – July 2024
• Havre District: April 2024 – October 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?
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?
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?
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Kirt Mayson, NorthWestern Energy Employee of 27 Years, Finishes Term as Chair of National Industry Group
Date: Jul 12, 2024
Butte, MT — July 12, 2024 As a Senior Engineer in NorthWestern Energy’s Network Engineering and Operations Department, Kirt Mayson works behind the scenes to make sure all NorthWestern Energy’s infrastructure works correctly and communicates as needed.
Mayson handles many critical systems for NorthWestern Energy, including radio frequency networks, microwave networks, fiber optic networks, mobile radio networks and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or SCADA, networks. It’s not lost on Mayson that his area of expertise is niche.
“Historically, our area is one that is little-known,” Mayson said. “It’s key and integral to everything we do. We’re a key stakeholder in most projects and company initiatives, as each has some level of technology requirements to make them successful.”
Mayson has worked in the field for nearly four decades, including 27 years with NorthWestern Energy, and has found a unique specialty in the world of utility communications and networking. Mayson has a petroleum engineering degree from Montana Tech and has learned a lot on the job.
“There’s some amount of trial by fire,” Mayson said. “There aren’t books to fall back on.”
Mayson also gained knowledge from his involvement in the Utilities Technology Council (UTC), a national trade association dealing with emerging utility technologies and the communications and networks that support them. Mayson has been involved with UTC for about 20 years and recently climbed to the highest leadership position in the organization. For the last year, he has served as the chair of the UTC’s Board of Directors. On May 22, he completed his term as chair.
“The big benefit of UTC is you’re forming professional relationships with folks from across the industry to bring insights from around the nation to our service areas,” Mayson said. “Ongoing education is essential. We’re truly in a niche world.”
During this time as chair of the UTC, Mayson led the hiring process for a new CEO, which was the biggest challenge of his tenure. Although he’s done with his term as board chair, Mayson plans to stay involved with the organization. He’ll continue to serve on the Leadership Advisory Committee and help mentor future UTC leaders.
Mayson has also mentored many other engineers at NorthWestern Energy, a part of his role he values to keep the company energized and connected.
During his 27 years with NorthWestern Energy, Mayson has seen many changes. When he started the company, the analog-to-digital revolution was just beginning. Now Mayson is engineering the replacements for some of the digital systems he designed because they have reached the end of useful life.
Mayson still has a few years to go before retirement, but looking back, he’s proud of all he’s accomplished.
“It’s a very rewarding career,” he
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 775,300 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.
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