Montana Storm

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UPDATE July 26 7:45 p.m.:

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UPDATE July 26 7:45 p.m.:

We’ve made significant progress in the downtown, University District, Target Range, South Hills, Hillview Heights, Bonner, Alberton and the Lolo areas.

The crews made great advancements today, yet there’s still more to accomplish. Work is ongoing and will continue until all customers have power restored.  Right now, our primary focus is to energize the essential main lines of the system. These serve as the backbone of the system and need to stabilize first. 

We understand and recognize that in many of the areas where power has been restored, some individuals and small pockets of customers may still be without power. After we have completed these initial critical tasks, those single sites and severely damaged zones will be addressed and tended to.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as our dedicated NorthWestern Energy field and support crews work tirelessly to restore power as quickly as possible, safely.

UPDATE July 26 4 p.m.:

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UPDATE July 26 4 p.m.:

We have 22 tree crews working in the greater Missoula area removing trees from powerlines ahead of the 35 electric line crews working to make repairs and restore power.

UPDATE July 26 1:40 p.m.:

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UPDATE July 26 1:40 p.m.:

Meter bases on customers’ homes and buildings may have been damaged during the extreme weather in the extended Missoula area July 24.

If a customer’s meter base is damaged, the property owner needs to contact an electrician to make repairs before service can be restored. 

Customers affected by outages are encouraged to look at their meter bases now. If there is damage, contact an electrician to make repairs so that service can be restored as quickly as possible, safely.

UPDATE July 26 11:48 a.m.:

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UPDATE July 26 11:48 a.m.:

NorthWestern Energy has more than 160 personnel, 34 line crews and 22 tree crews, working in the extended Missoula area, making repairs to restore service. 

Thank you for giving crews and equipment plenty of room for their safety and for yours. Your kind words, encouraging smiles and waves are appreciated.

UPDATE July 26 9:23 a.m.:

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UPDATE July 26 9:23 a.m.:

Our line crews are tirelessly working to make repairs and restore service to NorthWestern Energy’s customers in the extended Missoula area affected by outages after the July 24 extreme storm.

NorthWestern Energy and contracted crews from across Montana are in the Missoula area with additional powerline, power poles, equipment and other supplies to enhance the repair work. More resources will arrive today.

Currently, over 20 dedicated tree crews are diligently clearing trees and debris from powerlines in the extended Missoula area so line crews can concentrate on repairs.

System patrols, both from the ground and by helicopter, were completed in daylight Thursday. They revealed widespread damage, including downed and damaged powerlines and poles throughout our extended Missoula service areas.
Work will be continued until all of our customers have power restored safely, although we anticipate some outages will not be repaired until early next week. 

The damage from the storm is extensive and widespread across the extended Missoula area due to wind-damaged trees and other debris, significantly challenging our efforts.

Our professional, experienced crews are executing the restoration work as efficiently as possible, but it will take several days to complete. 

Unfortunately, the volume of outages is currently impacting the performance of NorthWestern Energy’s Outage Map. We are actively working on finding a solution with additional resources and personnel; however, the Outage Map might not reflect the most current information on outage locations and estimated restoration times for the extended Missoula area. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.

We thank you, our customers affected by extended outages, for your patience and your support of our crews working on the restoration effort. We thank the first responders and personnel working to keep our community safe while our crews conduct their work. We are humbled and grateful for the support this community has extended to our personnel. 

UPDATE July 25 7:26 p.m.:

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UPDATE July 25 7:26 p.m.:

Wednesday night's powerful storm resulted in power outages to nearly 40,000 NorthWestern Energy customers in the extended Missoula area. At the time of this message, approximately 20,000 of those affected now have their service restored. 

Thank you to all still without power for your patience and your support of our crews continuing to work to restore service. Additional crews and contractors are working with the Missoula-based crews to restore service as quickly as possible, safely.
 
The assistance from Missoula-area emergency personnel and first responders is invaluable. Their efforts allow NorthWestern Energy crews to remain focused on repairing powerlines and equipment damaged in the severe weather and restoring service.
 
We will continue to work until all customers have power and we thank you all for your support.

UPDATE July 25 1:43 p.m.:

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UPDATE July 25 1:43 p.m.:

Crews continue to repair damage after the extreme storm in the extended Missoula area Wednesday evening. 

Some customers can expect their power back by Thursday night. Restoration efforts will continue until 10 p.m. tonight and resume at 6 a.m. Friday. However, most will likely face prolonged outages into the weekend. Currently, there's no set time for full restoration. We will provide more detailed updates as we receive them.

The American Red Cross is staffing the Elections Center, 140 N. Russell St., Missoula, for residents who need to charge essential personal devices. The center will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to provide electricity, air conditioning, a shower (bring towels) for people who otherwise don't have these services. No medical services will be available. Find updates and more information at missoula.co/storm

UPDATE July 25 10:31 a.m.:

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UPDATE July 25 10:31 a.m.:

Customers reporting outages using our Customer Service line 888-467-2669 are experiencing longer-than-typical wait times due to high call volumes related to multiple outages in the greater Missoula area after a severe storm Wednesday evening.

Thank you for reporting outages and for your patience. We appreciate your assistance during this time.

Additional personnel are staffing the Customer Service line.

Calls about safety issues, such as downed power lines and gas leaks, are prioritized, but every call is important. Your reports of outages assist our crews in identifying the scope of affected customers and determining a restoration plan.

Electric outages can also be reported online

UPDATE July 25 9:15 a.m.:

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UPDATE July 25 9:15 a.m.:

Additional crews from other Montana divisions and contract crews are working with Missoula-area crews to restore service as quickly as possible, safely, for customers affected by outages after severe weather in the area Wednesday night. 

Crews are working to repair damage to lines and equipment serving the largest numbers of customers and will work to repair distribution lines and equipment next. 
Learn more about how NorthWestern Energy restores power during widespread outages

UPDATE 7 a.m.:

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UPDATE 7 a.m.:

Safety Reminder: Recognizing a Gas Pipeline Leak

Uprooted and downed trees in the Missoula area have damaged natural gas meters and natural gas line.

If you smell natural gas or notice any signs of a pipeline leak, leave the area immediately and when at a safe distance, call 911 or NorthWestern Energy’s emergency line at 888-467-2669.

Signs of a pipeline leak are: an unusual blowing or hissing sound coming from the ground; dirt or dust blowing from a hole in the ground; bubbling pond; or a fire close to a buried pipeline.

UPDATE 6 a.m.:

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UPDATE 6 a.m.:

Missoula, St. Regis and Bitterroot Valley area outages

Crews are working to restore service as quickly as possible, safely, for customers affected by outages resulting from damage from extreme weather with high winds that began Wednesday evening in central western Montana.

Overnight more than 20,000 customers’ service was restored.

Trees and other debris damaged powerlines and power poles in the Missoula and extended surrounding area. Stay at least 30 feet away from any downed or damaged powerlines and never touch anything, including tree branches, that is in contact with a powerline. 

ATTENTION: Missoula customers

The Red Cross is staffing the Elections Center, 140 N. Russell St., for residents who need to charge essential personal devices. 

It is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to provide electricity, air conditioning, a shower (bring your own towels) for people who otherwise don't have these services. No medical services will be available. 

Find updates and more information at missoula.co/storm

 

Call 911 and NorthWestern if you smell gas or see an electrical hazard

If you smell gas or there is an electrical hazard that is causing an unsafe environment please ensure you retreat to a safe and secure area and dial 911 and one of the following NorthWestern Energy emergency numbers:

Montana: 888-467-2669
South Dakota: 800-245-6977
Nebraska: 800-245-6977

Stay away from downed power lines

Coming into contact with a power line can be deadly. That's why it's important to assume that all power lines, whether in the air or on the ground, are energized.

Strong winds, ice and heavy snow can lead to downed power lines. If you see a downed or damaged power line, keep your distance and call 911 immediately. Never touch a power line or any object, including trees, that is in contact with a line.

Stay safe on the road

Find the latest road conditions in Montana.

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HOW WE RESTORE POWER DURING AN OUTAGE

During a widespread outage, we prioritize repairs to restore power to the largest number of customers possible, as quickly as possible while keeping everyone safe.

 

Learn More

WHAT TO DO DURING A POWER OUTAGE

Find tips on how to stay safe, keep food in your fridge and freezer safe, and more.

 

Learn More

Outage Resources

Powering Through the Storm

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Powering Through the Storm

NorthWestern Energy crews continue to work to restore service in Montana for customers affected by outages resulting from damage from extreme weather with high winds that began Wednesday evening in central western Montana.

Thank you to all customers affected by outages for your patience.

Our dispatch, warehouse and other departments are doing everything possible to support our crews in the field working to restore your power.