Montana’s largest electric utility has temporarily pulled back on increasing customer bills.
NorthWestern Energy raised customer rates by 17% in May but has now agreed to apply a smaller increase for at least the next few billing cycles. The change comes as part of a settlement with the Montana Consumer Counsel and several of the utility’s largest customers.
The utility originally raised rates without prior approval from state regulators, using a rarely invoked law that allows such increases if the state’s utility oversight board takes more than nine months to act on a request.
The Montana Public Service Commission is now reviewing NorthWestern Energy’s request. The temporarily lower rates will remain in effect until the commission makes a final decision.
The May rate increase pushed the average customer’s monthly bill to about $118. Under the reduced rate, the average bill is expected to be about $114.
