Contact NorthWestern Energy

Residential customer service

1-888-467-2669

Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. MT

Electric outage (24/7)

1-888-467-2669

Same line, press 1 for emergencies. Report online via the outage map.

Gas emergency / odor (24/7)

1-888-467-2669

Smell gas? Leave the building first, then call from outside.

Pay by phone

English 1-833-970-2262

Español 1-833-970-2263

Utility fact sheet

Type
Investor-owned utility (IOU)
Ticker
NYSE: NWE
MT electric customers
~400,000
MT gas customers
~220,000
Communities served (MT)
191
Retail choice?
No (regulated)
Regulator
Montana PSC + FERC
Rate base
Reset Jan 1, 2026

What you can do here

  • 1

    Start service

    Call 1-888-467-2669 at least 3 business days before move-in. Have your new address, move-in date, and SSN or photo ID ready.

  • 2

    Manage your account

    My Energy Account (web and mobile app) handles bills, usage, autopay, and outage reports without a phone call.

  • 3

    Check the 2026 rate

    The MT PSC approved a settlement in December 2025; the new electric supply rate took effect Jan 1, 2026. Read more below.

All Montana utilities

About NorthWestern Energy

NorthWestern Energy is a publicly traded utility (NYSE: NWE) headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with a major operating presence in Butte, Montana. It is the successor to the regulated utility operations of the former Montana Power Company, picked up out of bankruptcy in 2002. NWE owns and operates the wires and gas mains that move energy to most cities and towns in Montana, plus parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park.

As an investor-owned utility, NWE earns a regulated return on its rate base set by the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC). That structure is the reason NWE bills look the way they do: a fixed monthly service charge, a per-kWh delivery charge, a separately tracked supply charge, and a handful of small adders.

The Black Eagle facility at 1501 N River Road is one of several Montana service centers. It is not a walk-in payment office; for in-person payment, NorthWestern directs customers to authorized walk-in pay agents (CheckFreePay locations) or to the online and phone channels.

The 2026 Montana rate change in plain English

In November 2025 the Montana PSC voted on NWE's rate-case settlement. The order issued in December 2025 reset the company's revenue requirement and electric supply rate effective January 1, 2026.

Typical residential impact

+$4.63/month

Roughly +4.21% vs. July 2024

Effective date

Jan 1, 2026

Electric supply rate reset

Regulator

MT PSC

Final order December 2025

What it means for you

For an average household using ~750 kWh per month, the new rate translates to a small but real monthly increase. It does not change your ability to shop suppliers (you cannot in Montana), and it does not change who delivers your electricity. The lever that matters: shave 5% off your usage and you offset most of the increase. Check your last 12 months on My Energy Account before reacting.

Source: NWE Montana Rate Review; Montana PSC docket D2024.05.057.

NWE service area around Great Falls

The Black Eagle service center supports the Greater Great Falls area in Cascade County. Beyond Cascade, NWE delivers to most of the populated corridor along Interstates 90 and 15.

Cascade County corridor

Great Falls, Black Eagle, Sun Prairie, Vaughn, Cascade, Belt, and Sand Coulee. Electric and natural gas distribution.

Statewide footprint

Butte, Billings, Helena, Bozeman, Missoula, Kalispell area, plus the I-90 and I-15 corridors. 191 Montana communities in total.

How to pay your NorthWestern Energy bill

Auto-pay (free)

Recurring bank draft via My Energy Account. No card fees.

My Energy Account

One-off web or app payment by bank account (free) or card (fee applies).

By phone

English 1-833-970-2262. Spanish line available.

In person

Cash at authorized CheckFreePay walk-in agents. Find the closest one in My Energy Account.

If you cannot pay your bill

NWE participates in two federally funded programs and runs its own Energy Share emergency fund. Apply before a shut-off notice arrives.

LIHEAP

Federal heating assistance, administered by Montana DPHHS. Can cover part of winter bills.

Weatherization

Free insulation and air sealing for eligible households via the federal WAP program.

Energy Share of MT

Emergency fund for households not eligible for LIHEAP. Funded by NWE customer donations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I switch to a cheaper electricity supplier?
No. Montana repealed full residential retail choice in 2007. NWE handles delivery and supply for residential customers, and rates are set by the Montana PSC. Large commercial customers have limited choice; households do not.
Is Black Eagle a walk-in payment office?
No. 1501 N River Road is an operations and dispatch facility. For cash or in-person payments, use an authorized CheckFreePay walk-in agent (drugstores, grocery stores). The closest agents are listed inside My Energy Account.
My bill went up in January 2026. Why?
The MT PSC approved a settled rate case in December 2025 that took effect January 1, 2026. The average residential impact is roughly +$4.63/month or +4.21% compared to July 2024 rates. The increase covers higher delivery costs and recovery of recent infrastructure investments.
Who do I call for a downed power line?
Call NWE 24/7 at 1-888-467-2669. If a wire is on the ground or anyone is hurt, dial 911 first, then NWE. Do not approach a downed line; assume it is energized.
What do I do if I smell gas?
Leave the building immediately. Do not flip switches, light matches, or use a phone inside. Once safely outside, call NWE at 1-888-467-2669 or 911.
Does NWE serve all of Montana?
Most populated areas, yes: about 191 communities. Rural counties and many small towns are served by member-owned cooperatives (Fergus, Beartooth, Southeast Electric, and 22 others) rather than NWE.
18 deregulated jurisdictions

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