Montana PSC schedules Helena listening sessions on NorthWestern Energy’s 20-year plan

The Montana Public Service Commission scheduled two public listening sessions in Helena as part of its review of NorthWestern Energy’s 20-year integrated resource plan, a state regulatory proceeding concerning the utility’s long-range planning.

The sessions were scheduled for July 21 and July 23, 2026, at the commission’s office, 1701 Prospect Avenue in Helena. The deadline for written public comments was July 28, 2026.

Review is at the utility-planning stage

The matter concerns NorthWestern Energy’s integrated resource plan, which covers a 20-year planning horizon. The Public Service Commission is the state body overseeing utility matters, and its review is part of the regulatory process for long-term utility planning.

The scheduled sessions gave members of the public an in-person Helena venue to comment during that process. Written comments provided an additional avenue for public input before the July 28 deadline.

The review can inform later commission decisions involving electricity generation, transmission and potential ratepayer impacts. Those subjects are part of the long-term planning issues identified for commission review, rather than an announced final outcome from the proceeding.

No final outcome established in available record

The available record does not establish that the commission approved or rejected NorthWestern Energy’s plan. It also does not establish a final commission decision on the integrated resource plan.

Likewise, the record does not identify the exact number or types of generation and transmission projects under review. No rate increase or decrease can be inferred from the scheduled listening sessions or the comment deadline without a commission order or a utility filing establishing that result.

The July meetings and written-comment deadline marked public-input steps in the commission’s review, not final action on the plan. Any later commission decision would be distinct from the scheduling of the Helena sessions and from comments submitted by members of the public.

Why the proceeding matters

NorthWestern Energy’s 20-year plan places long-term electricity planning before Montana’s utility regulator. The commission’s review can inform later decisions on generation and transmission, as well as decisions with potential implications for ratepayers.

For Helena residents, the scheduled sessions at the PSC office provided a local opportunity to participate in the regulatory proceeding. The formal written-comment deadline was July 28, 2026.