Ratepayers To See Decrease In Utility Bills
The Montana Public Service Commission has approved lower rates effective Jan. 1 for customers of NorthWestern Energy and Montana Dakota Utilities.
“As Montanans are seeing higher prices at the pump and in the stores this holiday season, the Public Service Commission is excited to announce a decrease in Montana ratepayers’ utility bills in the new year.” said James Brown, chairman of the five-member commission.
Approximately 307,000 residential electric customers of North-Western Energy will share a $14.4 million rate reduction, cutting the average customer’s monthly bill by 1.9 percent or $21.12 annually. NorthWestern Energy’s 177,000 natural gas customers will share a reduction of $2.3 million, resulting in a decrease in the average monthly bill for customers of 1.3 percent or $13.56 annually.
Approximately 19,800 residential electric customers of Montana Dakota Utilities will share a rate reduction of $630,000, cutting the average customer’s monthly bill by 1.0 percent or $10.31 annually. The utility’s 77,000 natural gas customers will share a reduction of $819,000, resulting in a decrease in the average monthly bill of 0.8 percent or $7.47 annually.
Montana law allows public utilities an automatic rate adjustment annually for taxes and fees. Changes in these taxes are passed through directly to consumers and appear separately on customer bills. This year, the adjustments will result in lower rates for customers of the state’s two largest utilities.
The commission regulates private investor-owned natural gas, electric, telephone, water, and sewer companies, certain motor carriers, and oversees natural gas pipeline safety and intrastate railroad safety. The Commission works to ensure that Montanans receive safe and reliable service from regulated utilities while paying reasonable rates. For more information, visit psc.mt.gov or contact the Commission at 800646-6150. Follow the Commission at Twitter.com/@MT_PSC or visit Facebook.com/MontanaPSC.
