utility rates

Viewpoint: "Fielder was the deciding vote against a $9.1 million dollar rebate for NorthWestern Energy customers, and then she voted to increase utility rates for those same customers by 28%."

NorthWestern still hadn’t adequately explained its “cost of service” studies, or how it allocates costs among different types of customers, such as residential or businesses, regulators said at their meeting Tuesday.

NorthWestern Energy said it is “under earning” and needs more money from customers, but the Montana Public Service Commission said Tuesday the materials it filed fail to meet the minimum standards to make the case.

NorthWestern Energy has announced it will go to Montana regulators to ask for authority to raise rates for electric and natural gas customers – about two years after they filed for their last rate review.

Monica Tranel writes, "As the first snow is falling, and freezing temperatures hit, we are getting pummeled with another huge energy rate increase, thanks to the five Republicans on the Montana Public Service Commission."

Residential customers of Montana-Dakota Utilities will be paying nearly $100 a year more in electric rates with a 3-2 vote Tuesday by the Public Service Commission.