NorthWestern Energy Announces Bid To Buy Energy West

On July 30th, NorthWestern Energy released details about them entering an agreement with Hope Utilities to buy Energy West Montana.

This news comes on the heels of NorthWestern Energy recently asking the Public Service Commission for two more rate hike approvals taking effect in October 2024 and April 2025.

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What Happened To Deregulation Leading To More Choices

Energy West Montana is currently servicing 33,000 customers located in Great Falls, Cascade, Cut Bank, and West Yellowstone.

The proposed deal will cost NorthWestern Energy $39 million, and customers are rightly concerned if the rate hikes that took place in October 2023 allowed this purchase to happen.

I can't help but think back to 1997, when an electrical deregulation bill was passed in Montana, and wonder, "Are we really better off now when it comes to power?"

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Montana Used To Have The Cheapest Power In America

The Montana Power Company supplied Montana customers some of the lowest electrical rates in America from 1912 to 1997.

Months after the electrical deregulation bill passed, they announced plans to sell off all of their electrical generation facilities; within six years, they were bankrupt after restructuring into a telecommunications company.

The deregulation bill was touted as giving customers more choices on the free market, but today we have less, and with this new sale, some people are claiming it's now a monopoly.

An article discussing the deregulation bill from HighCounty News, which was written in 1998, said, "It won’t be known for years if deregulation will benefit or hurt small power consumers."

One look at your monthly statement each month, and I think we have our answer.

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