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.
From Microfiche to Advanced Meters: Celebrating Nancy Heath’s 35-year Legacy at NorthWestern Energy
Date: Apr 10, 2025
TYPE: News
Kimball, S.D. – April 10, 2025 – Nancy Heath brightens her hometown of Kimball, S.D., along with the community of Chamberlain, S.D. 22 miles down the road, greeting NorthWestern Energy customers who stop in with a caring, familiar smile.
“Our customers share their news, joyful and heartbreaking, and I’ve tried to be a bright spot, a listening ear and to give some encouragement, if possible,” said NorthWestern Energy Customer Associate Nancy Heath, who works in Kimball two days a week and commutes to Chamberlain the other three days.
Heath is retiring at the end of April. NorthWestern Energy’s Kimball office will no longer have customer walk-in hours at the end of her tenure. Customers continue to have several ways to stay connected with NorthWestern Energy – by phone and online. The Chamberlain, S.D. office has walk-in hours and a payment drop box.
The change is bittersweet for everyone.
“Nancy is irreplaceable, we will miss her, our customers will miss her,” said NorthWestern Energy Customer Associate Supervisor Tiffany Skinner. “She’s been dedicated to work in both the Kimball and Chamberlain offices, but her retirement is well-deserved. We want to assure our customers we will continue to be here for them, even though we won’t be able to offer walk-in service in Kimball.”
Nancy's journey with NorthWestern Energy began in 1990 shortly after her fifth child was born. "Before that, I owned a restaurant with my mom. I loved it, but the hours were tough on my family," she recalls.
She began working in the office and was also a meter reader at one time. One memorable year, the snow was so deep that meter readers had to wear snowshoes.
Customers and opportunities have made Nancy’s NorthWestern Energy career long and enjoyable, Heath said.
“When I first started in Kimball we received microfiche in the mail each day and that is what we’d look up people’s accounts with,” she said. “Today, we have Advanced Meters. There’s been a lot of changes. I love our customers and I love the variety of the work I’ve been able to do.”
Retirement will give Nancy the flexibility to travel, help out at her family's lumber business, and spend more time with her grandchildren. But she will miss serving NorthWestern Energy, especially her regular customers. "There's one gentleman in Chamberlain who always includes two king-sized candy bars with his bill when he makes a payment. Our customers are the best, and I appreciate all of them," she says.
Nancy Heath's retirement marks the end of an era for NorthWestern Energy's Kimball office. Her legacy of kindness and dedication is appreciated by NorthWestern Energy and will be remembered by all who have the pleasure of knowing her.
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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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Jo Dee Black
866-622-8081