Montana utility board: NorthWestern can put $246 million of its new gas plant into customers’ rates

Montana’s utility board is poised to incorporate approximately $246 million for NorthWestern Energy’s recently constructed gas plant into its customers’ rates.

On Wednesday, the Montana Public Service Commission gave Montana’s largest utility tentative authorization to begin recovering costs for the 175-megawatt plant near Laurel in the new year.

In its original request, NorthWestern Energy, which provides electricity service to about 413,000 Montanans, asked its regulators for approval to collect approximately $289 million for the Yellowstone County Generating Station from its customers. The commission balked at that figure, arguing that some of the costs associated with the plant could have been avoided.

Prior to the commissioners’ discussion of key issues surrounding the plant, PSC r