NorthWestern Energy

The Montana Supreme Court Friday affirmed a lower court ruling finding that state environmental regulators failed to assess the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a fossil fuel power plant.

Montana’s largest utility company announced Thursday that it plans to purchase a share of a new transmission line. This first of its kind high-voltage line could allow energy companies to trade power across the country and lower costs.

Customers of the state’s largest utility will see a temporary seven percent decrease in their electricity bill costs starting this month.

Climate groups and members of the public are calling on a consumer advocacy group led by the Legislature to oppose increases to their power bills.

The country’s highest court ruled to uphold new federal standards limiting arsenic, lead and mercury emissions from coal plants on Friday.

NorthWestern Energy customers will see lower electricity bills this month.

The state’s largest utility explained to lawmakers this week why it wants to expand ownership of the Colstrip power plant. NorthWestern Energy plans to own more than half of Colstrip by 2026.

NorthWestern is the largest electric and gas utility in the state, and is asking to increase power bill rates by at least 8%.

Two of the energy companies that own Colstrip want the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and pause new federal emissions standards passed earlier this year.

Montana’s largest electric and gas utility wants to charge customers more. NorthWestern Energy says the cost to generate power is increasing and that means bills need to go up, too. The decision is up to state regulators who, for the second time this month have found major holes in the company’s request.