Montana Public Service Commission Investigates NorthWestern Energy Billing Spikes

The Montana Public Service Commission is investigating reports from hundreds of NorthWestern Energy customers who experienced sudden and significant spikes in their summer power bills. Some affected customers claim their costs tripled or quadrupled between July and August.

NorthWestern Energy attributes the increases to a general rate hike of approximately 6% and higher energy usage driven by extreme heat in July. Sarah Allen, a manager of customer service interactions at the company, noted that the temperature difference between June and July made the increase noticeable.

However, meteorologist Curtis Greventiz reported that average temperatures and cooling degree days show no significant difference compared to the previous August. The regulatory agency is currently collecting billing documentation and account details from affected customers through its consumer affairs unit to determine the cause of the spikes.