Comment to PSC re: Northwestern Energy's rate increase and plans

Take Action to Oppose NorthWestern Energy's Rate Increases and Push for a Cleaner, More Affordable Energy Future

NorthWestern Energy has proposed a 25% electricity rate increase (see article in the BDC: NorthWestern Energy Rate Increase). This increase is impacting ratepayers across the state and is an opportunity for the Public Service Commission to force NorthWestern to pursue cleaner, more affordable electricity generation.

There is a window to submit public comment to the Montana Public Service Commission until April 11th.

Send you comments to : pschelp@mt.gov or use this form: https://svc.mt.gov/psc/web/PublicComment Include this information:
Comment on a Proceeding
Regulatory Docket | Tracking #: 2022.07.078 | Tracking name: Application for Authority to Increase Rates

Sample comment:
​Dear Commissioners James Brown, Jennifer Fielder, Randy Pinocci, Tony O'Donnell, and Annie Bukacek,

I strongly urge you to decline NorthWestern Energy's proposed 25% retail electric utility rate increase.

The interim 12.6% rate increase is costing us ratepayers across Montana an additional $135 from October 2022 through September 2023 in electricity bills, while the full 25% increase would cost us $270 annually.

NorthWestern’s uncompromising commitment to the Colstrip generation plant is inextricably tied to this rate increase, while economically negligent investments into future natural gas plants such as the Yellowstone County Generating Station near Laurel will have NorthWestern continuously seeking higher rates.

This rate increase seeks to prop up NorthWestern Energy’s dirty and expensive investments into units 3 and 4 of the Colstrip power generation plant, while units 1 and 2 have already been closed permanently citing that they were “no longer economically viable.” NorthWestern seeks to pass on the costs of increasingly expensive coal electricity to ratepayers. This is not affordable and reliable electricity for Montana’s ratepayers.

Utility-scale wind and solar electricity generation are now drastically cheaper than coal electricity and marginally cheaper than natural gas electricity, while the costs of coal generation in particular continues to rise. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits making renewable energy generation and storage more economically competitive than ever against NorthWestern’s fossil fuel generation infrastructure, though NorthWestern refuses to take these credits into account in their economic calculations.

In declining the rate increase, you could force NorthWestern to pursue a cleaner, more affordable generation future. In 2019, the Montana State Legislature passed House Bill 0467, which creates a financially viable way out for NorthWestern to shutter Colstrip early while remaining financially solvent to reinvest and continue providing reliable electricity to Montanans.

As the Public Service Commission, it is your responsibility to hold NorthWestern Energy accountable and decline this rate increase.

Sincerely,
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