High interest in data center discussion at Public Service Commission

NorthWestern Energy has submitted a proposal to the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) to establish a new tariff for data centers. This initiative aims to define the terms and costs associated with providing electricity to data centers, with NorthWestern Energy stating its goal is to protect existing customers from subsidizing the new large loads. The proposal has garnered significant interest, with numerous parties seeking to intervene in the case before the PSC.

Among the intervenors is Governor Greg Gianforte, acting on behalf of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The DEQ's intervention emphasizes balancing economic growth, including high-paying jobs from data centers, with ensuring fairness for current residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Concerns have been raised by senior citizens regarding potential rate increases for those on fixed incomes and by industrial customers about fair costs and hidden impacts.

Community and conservation groups, including Earthjustice, Big Sky 55+, Butte Watchdogs for Social and Environmental Justice, and Montana Environmental Information Center, are advocating for low-income ratepayers and greater transparency in data center development, citing heavily redacted documents. The City of Missoula and Missoula County are also intervening, seeking to protect residents from infrastructure costs and to understand the impact of significant load growth on their "Green Power Program." The Montana Consumer Counsel, representing consumer interests, will also participate in the proceedings. The PSC's role is to ensure that service to data centers does not adversely affect other customers in the long term, and a hearing date for the proposal has not yet been set.