Montana News Roundup: NW Energy Touts $1-billon Investment

Northwestern Energy says it has spent a billion dollars in the past couple of years, investing in new capacity and generation, as well as armoring its system to be resilient against Montana's fires and blizzards.

     🔌 Now, Northwestern is asking the Public Service Commission to settle a rate case that's been lingering over those details for more than a year.

Sarah Norcott, Director of Regulatory Corporate Counsel, says those investments are already benefiting customers and will continue to do so.

"These are not abstract numbers," Norcott said in her opening statement. "They represent real improvements that help prevent outages, reduce wildfire risk, and ensure that we can meet demand during Montana's coldest nights and hottest days."

But consumer groups and large customers are expected to question the retroactivity of those investments, as well as significant rate increases just 2 years ago, including a generating station in Yellowstone County.

     The hearing could last two weeks. 

Read More: Sudden Rate Hike Caught PSC Off Guard

Montana Tuesday Trivia

How many miles of power lines are in Montana? Answer below. 👇

Missoula's Reserve Street claims another victim

Nick Chrestenson reports Missoula Police now say it was an 80-year-old man on a mobility scooter who was killed when he was hit by a car while trying to cross one of the busiest streets in the state.

Police say that the location where the victim was crossing was not a designated crosswalk.

Senior dies in latest Lolo S Curves crash

Montana Highway Patrol reports it was also an elderly man who was killed in a crash Monday morning in the Lolo "S" curves.

Troopers say the 85-year-old victim was attempting to turn northbound, crossing traffic on Highway 93. And an oncoming driver in a Toyota truck was unable to avoid the turning SUV and slammed into the 4Runner, landing on its side.

      Both drivers were wearing seatbelts, but the senior died from his injuries later at St. Patrick.

Missouri claims a drowning victim

One man drowned, but Great Falls rescuers were able to save another woman in a pair of rescues on the Missoula within just a few hours of each other on Sunday.

Just before noon, Great Falls Fire Rescue was called after a woman got into difficulty when she jumped off the Warden Bridge. The GFFR managed to reach her in time.

But just after 4, a man went into the river trying to recover his remote-controlled boat. He was seen struggling to swim, but went under and never made it back up. Searchers found his body after a search.

     Authorities are pleading with people to use proper safety precautions are the rivers, which are still running fast and cold.

Montana Tuesday Trivia

     ⚡️ Northwestern Energy has 28,920 miles of power lines in Montana. But Montana's rural electric co-ops actually have more, with an estimate 48,000 miles strung across the Treasure State.