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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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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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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Stay safe if the power goes out:
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.
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.
Date: May 11, 2026
TYPE: News
NorthWestern Energy Vice President Operations Jason Merkel and NorthWestern Energy Vice President Planning, Development and Asset Management Bleau LaFave
Montanans depend on safe, reliable energy every day and meeting those needs — now and into the future — requires thoughtful planning and strong resources. As energy demand grows and infrastructure needs increase, NorthWestern Energy’s proposed merger with Black Hills Corp. is about being better prepared so we can meet future energy needs, maintain reliability and continue delivering the service customers count on.
Recent commentary has raised questions about the purpose of this merger, particularly related to data centers. It’s important to be clear: this merger is not about large new energy users. It is about strengthening the enterprise that supports our local energy company so it can better serve customers across Montana — today and in the decades ahead.
Separate from the merger is a different issue: how Montana should serve large new energy users. NorthWestern Energy submitted a proposed Large New Load Tariff Rule to the Montana Public Service Commission to consider how a solution that is right for this state should be put in place.
Montanans deserve clear, accurate information about these important but separate issues— not commentary that blurs the facts or exploits fears.
The proposed Large New Load Tariff Rule is designed to protect existing customers and support responsible economic growth.
First and foremost, it protects customers. The framework is built on a clear principle — new large-load customers must pay the cost of serving their energy needs. That includes the cost of generation, transmission, and local infrastructure required to serve them. It also includes minimum demand and energy requirements to ensure those investments are used, financial assurances to guarantee payment, and provisions that require large-load customers to cover costs if they reduce usage or leave early.
These safeguards are not incidental — they are the core of the proposal. They are designed specifically to prevent cost shifting, so that existing customers don’t subsidize new, energy-intensive users.
The proposed tariff rule also requires upfront studies and formal service agreements before any new large load is connected. This ensures infrastructure needs, system impacts and long-term costs are fully understood before commitments are made. It replaces uncertainty with a structured, transparent process and keeps energy service reliability for existing customers at the forefront.
At the same time, the proposed tariff rule supports economic growth in a way that aligns with Montana’s interests. Investments that new large customers can bring to Montana’s energy system should be a benefit to all customers.
That balance matters.
The Montana Public Service Commission will evaluate the tariff rule, consider stakeholder input and determine whether it meets the standards for fairness, reliability and customer protection.
The merger is a separate question.
The merger is about building a stronger company to serve Montana for the long term. Our energy system must perform through extreme weather, growing demand and evolving needs. Strengthening the organization helps ensure long-term investments can be made responsibly and efficiently — supporting reliability, helping keep energy affordable and ensuring homes stay warm and the lights stay on.
The Montana Public Service Commission will continue to oversee rates, reliability and customer protections in Montana. That does not change. Any future rate adjustments must go through the transparent, public Montana Public Service Commission review process.
Our more than 1,350 Montana employees live, work and raise their families in the communities we serve. They understand what reliable energy service means in everyday life, and that local commitment remains at the core of how we operate. They are and will remain the heart of NorthWestern Energy and the foundation of our ongoing commitment to Montana’s communities. We are proud to serve Montana and will continue to serve with the same dedication as part of the new company.
These are important discussions. They should be grounded in facts.
Our commitment is straightforward: protect customers, support responsible growth and ensure Montana’s energy system is ready for the future.
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