The Montana Public Service Commission is the authority for reviewing and approving electric tariffs in Montana. NorthWestern Energy’s March 31, 2026 application initiates a public regulatory proceeding that will include opportunities for review and public comment consistent with Montana Public Service Commission procedures. NorthWestern Energy’s priority throughout the process is to provide safe, reliable energy service to customers at affordable rates.

Large-load projects require careful planning and oversight.

Serving large customers may require system studies, infrastructure upgrades, customer commitments and regulatory review. The key challenge is making sure growth occurs in a way that supports reliability, affordability and customer protection.

That is why NorthWestern Energy’s proposed framework includes new large load customer-funded studies, development agreements, standardized review processes and additional requirements for the largest projects.

The proposed framework is subject to regulatory oversight.

In addition, projects larger than 50 MW require regulatory approval of an electric service agreement that must be approved before service begins. This oversight helps ensure transparency and customer protections are maintained.

Yes. Large-load projects go through a structured review process before service begins. Depending on the project, that process may include:

• A development agreement.
• A large new load customer-funded development deposit for engineering and planning studies.
• Study queue requirements that help ensure projects are reviewed in an orderly manner.
• Commission review of electric service agreements for loads greater than 50 MW.

This process helps ensure projects are appropriately planned before they are connected to the electric system.

No.

Under the proposed framework, large-load customers are not assigned a dedicated resource. They receive service from NorthWestern Energy's overall energy portfolio, just like other bundled customers.

• Direct assignment of project-specific costs to the large-load customer.
• Surcharges and reservation fees to cover system upgrades and help prevent cost shifting.
• Minimum billing requirements help ensure customers pay for infrastructure built to serve their project.
• Long-term commitments and exit provisions designed to reduce the risk of stranded costs.
• Financial assurances, such as collateral requirements, based on the customer's financial standing.
• Regulatory oversight and commission review of certain large-load agreements.

• Support responsible economic growth and investment in Montana.
• Create a transparent process for evaluating and serving new large-load customers.
• Help ensure costs are assigned to the customers driving new infrastructure investments.
• Maintain regulatory oversight and accountability.
• Support long-term affordability by spreading fixed system costs across additional energy use.
• Strengthen the grid through planned and structured growth.

Your tree is being trimmed because it is located on a distribution circuit that was identified through outage data analysis or on a circuit located in an area identified as having an elevated wildfire risk. Vegetation management helps reduce the risk of power outages, equipment damage and wildfire-related impacts while maintaining safe and reliable electric service.

Your tree was inspected by one of our certified arborists and identified as being too close to NorthWestern Energy's overhead power lines. To help maintain safe and reliable service, we work to maintain appropriate clearance between trees and electrical facilities. Ideally, we maintain approximately 12 feet of clearance between trees or branches and our facilities.

Keeping customers informed is important to us. Before vegetation management work is performed, we make every effort to provide advance notice. Depending on the location and scope of the work, notification may include phone calls, mailed notices, door tags or in-person visits.

Trees may be marked to identify planned removal work. Ribbon is typically used to identify trees approved for removal after customer permission and a signed authorization have been obtained. Spray paint generally indicates that removal authorization has been received and the work has been scheduled. If a tree is removed as part of NorthWestern Energy's vegetation management program, there is no cost to the customer.

In most cases, branches and debris created during pruning or tree removal are processed through a woodchipper and removed from the property. If the material is too large to be chipped, it may be cut into firewood-length sections and left for the customer to keep, use or give away.

NorthWestern Energy is responsible for pruning and removing trees that impact the overhead electric lines running pole to pole on the distribution system. Property owners are responsible for trees that impact the service line, which runs from the utility pole to a home or business. To help customers complete this work safely, NorthWestern Energy offers a free disconnect and reconnect service so that the tree service hired can do the work safely and without obstruction. To schedule this service, call 888-467-2669 at least three business days before the work is planned.