By Kathleen Shannon - Producer, Contact - News
Big Sky Connection - Montana’s utility monopoly NorthWestern Energy is scheduled Monday, June 9, to argue before the Montana Public Service Commission for a significant rate increase, after implementing one without approval in May. Opponents are gathering Monday in Helena to show their disapproval. Comments by Dick Maney [MAIN-ee], a ratepayer and resident of Butte, Mont.
Click on the image above for the audio. Montana’s utility monopoly NorthWestern Energy is scheduled Monday, June 9, to argue before the Montana Public Service Commission for a significant rate increase, after implementing one without approval in May. Opponents are gathering Monday in Helena to show their disapproval. Comments by Dick Maney [MAIN-ee], a ratepayer and resident of Butte, Mont.
Kathleen Shannon
June 6, 2025 - Groups opposed to NorthWestern Energy's latest rate-hike proposal plan to rally on Monday in Helena.
In an unusual move, the utility giant used a legal loophole to increase electric rates for its Montana customers without approval, just weeks before it was scheduled to argue for approval. Montana's Public Service Commission regulates utilities, including NorthWestern, which serves two-thirds of the state.
After the Public Service Commission failed to act within nine months of a request, NorthWestern announced a 17% rate increase, or more than $200 a year per customer.
Dick Maney, a resident of Butte, said while Montanans elect Public Service Commission members, he worries the commission is not always acting on the consumers' behalf.
"That is the problem," Maney asserted. "I don't think it has a lot to do with NorthWestern Energy. I think it has a lot to do with the regulators on the outside, not on the inside of the company."
The move follows a 28% rate increase in 2023 and precedes arguments starting Monday for another 20% increase. The Monday rally to oppose the hikes is being hosted by a coalition of groups: Montana Conservation Voters, Families for a Livable Climate, Forward Montana, Big Sky 55+, Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, Montana Sierra Club and Helena Interfaith Climate Advocates.
Maney noted the rate increases are troublesome on top of the many other increasing costs of living in the state. For example, the median residential property in 2023 saw a 21% higher tax bill than the previous year, according to the Montana Free Press.
"We have to deal with property taxes, which have increased substantially over the last couple of years and that is really affecting everyone," Maney pointed out. "An increase in electricity affects us a lot."
In the final days of the legislative session, state lawmakers passed property tax relief measures for most Montanans by raising taxes on second homes.
