Public Service Commission reduces public meetings on NorthWestern Energy plan
The Montana Public Service Commission has reduced the number of public meetings for NorthWestern Energy's Integrated Resource Plan, which addresses major data center electricity loads. Advocacy groups, including the Montana Environmental Information Center, have voiced concerns over the limited opportunities for public input. The PSC cites staffing shortages and a shortened review period mandated by a new state law for the reduction.
The Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) has decided to reduce the number of public meetings for NorthWestern Energy's Integrated Resource Plan, a 20-year roadmap for the utility's energy needs. Unlike previous plans which saw five public meetings across the state, the PSC is planning only two hearings in Helena on July 21 and 23 for public comment.
This reduction comes despite calls from the Montana Environmental Information Center and 18 other groups for more opportunities for public engagement. These groups emphasized the importance of transparency, especially given recent scrutiny around NorthWestern's decision-making, including a proposed merger with Black Hills Energy and the utility's plans for serving major data center loads. PSC spokesperson Jamey Petersen attributed the truncated schedule to limited staff, increased workloads, and a shortened review period mandated by House Bill 55 from the 2025 Montana Legislature.
NorthWestern Energy itself held public meetings in January and February in Great Falls, Missoula, Helena, and Bozeman, with attendance ranging from 30 to 89 people. The utility's draft resource plan acknowledges data centers as a concern and suggests evaluating their loads through site-specific feasibility studies. The groups advocating for more public meetings assert that commissioners, as elected officials, should directly hear concerns from ratepayers regarding the utility's plans.