PSC declines to reverse NorthWestern Energy rate hike

The NorthWestern Energy rate hike that the Montana Public Service Commission adopted in October will stand following a decision from the commission this week. The increase was originally forecast to raise residential customers’ electricity bills by 28%, but a reduction in NorthWestern’s property tax bill and a “true-up” process designed to square NorthWestern’s forecasted market power purchases with its actual expenditures have brought that figure down slightly.  The rate increase the PSC adopted in October was forwarded to the commission by NorthWestern, the Montana Consumer Counsel an