Montana’s High Power Bills Are Getting A Closer Look

Montana Power Bills Are Getting A Closer Look

These days, opening up just about any bill is enough to make you do a double take when you see the amount due.

For plenty of Montana residents, their recent power bill from NorthWestern Energy wasn't just big. It was big enough that they reached out to the Montana Public Service Commission.

Why Some Montana Energy Bills Are Suddenly Higher

The Daily Montanan is reporting that the Montana Public Service Commission is looking into what it calls a "significant increase" in some customers' August energy bills after hundreds of people reached out with questions. While the first reports came out of East Helena, officials say it appears to be happening in other parts of Montana too.

Here's the interesting twist with this story. Usually, the PSC will tell customers to start by contacting NorthWestern Energy for answers. This time, because of the large number of people reaching out, the commission is taking complaints directly.

The PSC says some customers have already talked to NorthWestern and were told their higher bills were likely caused by increased energy use, including air conditioning during the hot weather.

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What To Do If Your Montana Power Bill Seemed Too High

NorthWestern spokesperson Jo Dee Black told the Daily Montanan that the company typically gets more questions about high bills after long stretches of hot or cold weather, and changes in weather are often the biggest reason energy bills change.

Regardless of that, the PSC still wants to take a closer look.

If you feel like your August bill was too high, the PSC is asking you to send in a copy of your bill, along with your account information and any other documentation that might help.