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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:
This process helps ensure projects are appropriately planned before they are connected to the electric system.
Reliability comes first.
Before a large-load customer is connected, NorthWestern Energy evaluates system impacts, infrastructure needs and operational requirements. The proposed framework also notes that certain large-load customers can improve system efficiency through high-load factors and, in some cases, provide operational flexibility that supports reliable service.
The goal is to ensure growth occurs in a way that maintains reliable service for all customers.
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.
Protecting existing customers is the primary goal of the large new load tariff rule. Montana customers will never subsidize data center energy costs. Those costs will not be shifted to Montana households, small businesses, farms or ranches.
Under the Large New Load Tariff, data centers will pay their fair share of infrastructure costs. Your rates only reflect the energy you use — new growth will not increase what you pay.
The proposed framework is built around a simple principle: existing customers should not pay for infrastructure needed to serve new large-load growth. Instead, the large-load customers are responsible for the grid and other energy infrastructure investments needed to serve their projects.
Regulatory oversight ensures no cost-shifting occurs for other customers.
Montana is attracting interest from businesses that can bring jobs, investment and long-term economic opportunities to the state.
A large new load tariff rule provides a transparent framework for serving these customers, planning for future energy needs and helping ensure costs are assigned appropriately. The framework is designed to support growth while protecting existing customers and maintaining system reliability.
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.
Date: Oct 5, 2026
TYPE: News
Butte, Mont. – Oct. 5, 2026 – NorthWestern Energy and Smart Wires are selected for grant funding through the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity's Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and Other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) program for a project that will deploy advanced transmission technologies to increase transfer capability between Montana and Wyoming using existing transmission infrastructure.
The project will use advanced flow control and dynamic line rating technologies to address transmission constraints and increase the utilization of an existing southeast Montana transmission corridor without requiring new transmission line construction or major substation expansions.
The project will improve transfer capability between Montana and Wyoming and support the movement of electricity across the regional transmission system.
"The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity's support for projects such as this reflects the importance of transmission infrastructure in meeting growing electricity demand while maintaining reliability and affordability for customers," said NorthWestern Energy Vice President Planning, Development and Asset Management Bleau LaFave. "This project focuses on increasing the capability of existing transmission assets through the application of advanced transmission technologies. Increasing transfer capability in southeastern Montana will improve system reliability, provide access to additional energy resources and support transfers between regional electricity markets.
“Across the country, utilities need to move more power on the lines they already have, and they need to do it quickly,” said Joaquin Peirano, General Manager, Americas, Smart Wires. “By deploying SmartValve™ advanced power flow control to address the corridor’s limiting element, NorthWestern Energy will unlock additional capacity on the path while gaining greater control over how power flows across it. SmartValve’s modular design also allows the solution to scale or be redeployed as the corridor’s needs evolve, strengthening reliability for customers in Montana and across the region.”
The project will increase transfer capability between Montana and Wyoming and demonstrate the application of advanced transmission technologies to address transmission constraints using existing infrastructure. The project also aligns with broader efforts to improve the use of existing transmission assets and support reliable operation of the regional transmission system.
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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 850,300 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.
About Smart Wires
Smart Wires helps utilities and transmission operators solve urgent grid reliability and capacity challenges by unlocking firm, controllable capacity from existing transmission infrastructure. Using advanced power flow control, the company enables a faster, lower-cost path to connect new loads, reduce congestion and improve system performance without waiting for new lines or major substation builds. With more than a decade of deployments in 15+ countries and across four continents, Smart Wires has delivered more than 5 GW of firm, controllable capacity on more than 40 transmission circuits worldwide. The technology is operating on critical networks in the U.S., Europe and Australia, supporting load growth, reducing congestion costs and strengthening grid reliability.
Headquartered in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Smart Wires partners with utilities and transmission owners to deliver flexible, proven solutions that perform under real-world operating conditions and continue to create value as the grid evolves.
Media Contacts:
NorthWestern Energy
Jo Dee Black
866-622-8081
Smart Wires
Roberto Castro
919-294-3999
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