During wildfire season, NorthWestern Energy takes proactive steps to ensure safety while balancing reliability. These prevention measures and response activities can result in power outages. NorthWestern makes the electric system more sensitive to potential hazards, such as a tree touching a line, and then automatically turns off power to prevent fires. The resulting outage is unplanned.

A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is a measure of last resort to protect our communities from potential wildfires. Public Safety Power Shutoffs are used only extreme situations during severe fire weather. PSPS are planned outages with advance communications to the area that will be impacted. Our Wildfire Mitigation Plan includes numerous strategies to prevent our power lines from sparking a wildfire. Public Safety Power Shutoffs are used only in extreme situations during severe fire weather.

Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings make the electric system more sensitive to potential hazards and automatically turn off power to reduce the risk of sparking a fire.

In normal conditions, NorthWestern Energy uses devices called “automatic reclosers”. These devices will attempt to reconnect the power when confronted with a hazard, such as a tree branch brushing against a line, in case the hazard is no longer an issue. When EPSS are enabled, the reclosers’ settings are changed to no longer attempt to reconnect power to protect against potential sparks. Enabling EPSS helps keep you safe, but this also means that customers in these areas may experience more frequent unplanned power outages.

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Get an email or text notification if your power goes out, when it is restored and more.

Login to My Energy Account and select “Notifications” from the menu. If you aren’t registered for My Energy Account, sign up today! It’s free and easy.

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The Electric Technical Advisory Committee (ETAC) is established under Montana Code Annotated § 69-3-1208 and the Administrative Rules of Montana 38.5.2023. It serves as an advisory body to NorthWestern Energy, providing input and recommendations on various issues related to our electricity system, particularly in the areas of portfolio planning, resource management and procurement as part of the development of the integrated resource plan (IRP) process.

Learn more about ETAC

Planning construction? A new build or a remodel? Demolition or an addition? We can help you move existing utility lines or install new ones. Visit our Construction Application for your service area and apply online or learn more about our Construction Services. 

We offer many ways to connect with us:

• Call us at 888-467-2669 in Montana or 800-245-6977 in South Dakota/Nebraska.
• Log in to My Energy Account, where you can check your balance, pay your bill and more.
• Visit Customer Service for additional resources.

During a Public Safety Power Shutoff, NorthWestern Energy will shut off power to certain lines in areas where wildfire risk is unacceptably high due to extreme weather conditions. This is done proactively before a wildfire starts burning.

This is different than a rolling blackout, when power is shutoff to stabilize the grid during periods of peak demand.

• Make a plan for medical needs such as refrigerated medicine or electrically powered medical equipment. This could mean finding a place you can go during an outage or using a backup generator.
• For medical emergencies, call 911.

Be sure NorthWestern Energy has your current phone number and email address. Update your contact information by logging in to My Energy Account or by calling us at 888-467-2669.

Make a plan:

• Prepare for medical needs, such as refrigerated medicine or electrically powered medical equipment.
• Build a summer outage kit that includes bottled water, non-perishable food, baby food or formula and diapers, pet food, medications and other necessities. Keep a block of ice in the freezer.
• Plan for a way to feed and water pets or livestock in case well pumps don’t have power.

Stay safe if the power goes out:

• Turn off all but one light, so you will notice when we have restored your electricity.
• Unplug computers, chargers, TVs, VCRs and other sensitive appliances to avoid possible damage when electricity is restored.
• When power resumes, reset clocks and check automatic alarms and timers. Plug in only essential items. Wait 10 minutes before connecting the remainder of your items to let the electrical system stabilize.
• Do not open freezers or refrigerators more than necessary. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
• If you see a downed or damaged power line, keep your distance and call 911 immediately. Assume all power lines are energized. Never touch a power line or any object, including trees, that is in contact with a line.

Learn more about Public Safety Power Shutoffs

If you will be impacted by a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff, NorthWestern Energy will notify you directly multiple times throughout the process. You will receive an automated phone call and email from us before power is turned off and after it is restored.

However, we can only contact you if we have your correct contact information. Update your contact information by logging in to My Energy Account or by calling us at 888-467-2669.

NorthWestern Energy will also post information on our website and social media accounts about Public Safety Power Shutoffs. For the most up-to-date information during an event, visit NorthWesternEnergy.com.

Public Safety Power Shutoffs can vary in length. We will not restore power until weather conditions have improved to the point where we can safely operate the electrical grid. After the extreme weather conditions have passed, we will patrol electrical lines to make sure no branches, trees or other items have fallen into the lines. Once any damage has been repaired, NorthWestern Energy will restore power. A Public Safety Power Shutoff, plus the time to patrol and make repairs, could last several hours or even days. If storm damage occurs, restoration could take longer.

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At least 48 hours before most Public Safety Power Shutoffs, NorthWestern Energy will notify customers who may be impacted. We will continue to update our customers as we monitor the situation and determine whether a power shutoff is necessary. Before power is turned off, all impacted customers will be contacted via phone and email (if we have your email address on file). Power will remain off until weather conditions have improved to the point where we can safely operate the electrical grid.

Customers will also be notified when their power has been restored.

Be sure NorthWestern Energy has your current phone number and email address. Update your contact information by logging in to My Energy Account or by calling us at 888-467-2669.

All customers should be prepared for outages, including Public Safety Power Shutoffs. Public Safety Power Shutoffs are most likely to occur where homes and other structures are built in wildfire-prone areas. This can include forested areas on the outskirts of larger towns or cities, or rural forested areas. However, a Public Safety Power Shutoff could also be needed near prairies, grasslands and farms. The least likely place to have a Public Safety Power Shutoff is in a populated, urban area.