As Oklahomans wonder just how much their natural gas or electric bills will increase with the latest rate hike request made by utilities, other state residents are doing the same.
In Montana, a settlement by Northwestern Energy could result in a more than 9% monthly increase in ratepayers bills or another $4.74 more a month, depending on the final approval by the Montana Public Service Commission.
Just as consumers are represented in Oklahoma by various groups, they are the same in Montana where Northwestern Energy reached the settlement with the Montana Consumer Counsel which represents consumers in hearings before the state regulators. The settlement also was made with the Montana Large Customer Group which includes Ash Grove Cement Company, Calumet Montana Refining, Enbridge (U.S.) Inc., GCC, Par Montana, Phillips 66, REC Silicon Inc., and Stillwater Mining Company, the Federal Executive Agencies, which includes Malmstrom Air Force Base and other federal agencies with offices in NorthWestern Energy’s Montana service area, and Walmart Inc., which has 16 retail stores and 4,900 employees in Montana.
If the electric settlement and NorthWestern’s proposals for the new generation resource, the Yellowstone County Generating Station, state property taxes and supply costs are approved, a typical electric residential customer would see a monthly bill increase of $4.63, or 4.21% from rates on July 1, 2024.
“Our customers deserve the most reliable energy service available,” said NorthWestern Energy President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Bird. “Our employees work every day to deliver this service safely, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, while keeping bills as low as possible. The cost of delivering safe, reliable energy includes maintaining a vast natural gas and electric infrastructure network.”