Responding together after Montana’s severe windstorm

By NorthWestern Energy President & CEO Brian Bird, Vice President Transmission Mike Cashell and Vice President Distribution Jason Merkel

On Dec. 17, the severe windstorm that tore across Montana left widespread damage throughout the state. Trees toppled onto vehicles, houses and into powerlines, roofs and fences were shredded and trampolines flew like frisbees. There was significant damage to the electric system that powers our state.

At NorthWestern Energy, our focus is always on our customers. When the lights go out, life gets harder. We prepare in advance, staging crews, contractors, equipment and supplies across the region. When the storm hits, we respond immediately.

This challenge was immense. In some areas, winds were dangerously strong, and crews were forced to pause overnight for safety. In others, fallen trees blocking roads had to be removed to allow crews access. Despite these obstacles, our Montana teams restored service to 35,000 customers on Dec. 17 alone. By the evening of Dec. 18, more than 90% of outages caused by the windstorm were resolved.

But some communities and customers remain without power. Know we are working tirelessly. Crews are in the air assessing damage, on the ground replacing poles and lines, and in neighborhoods reconnecting homes and businesses. Every decision we make prioritizes restoring service as quickly and safely as possible.

Here's how that process works:

This isn't the first statewide weather event we've faced, however investments in advanced technology are making a difference.

Our new Advanced Metering Infrastructure means we have real-time data about outages, allowing us to plan repairs more efficiently than ever before. Alongside this technology, proactive efforts like year-round maintenance, strategic tree trimming, and continuous system upgrades strengthen our network and keep it resilient-even in extreme weather.

But when your home or business is dark for 24 hours or more, we understand it doesn't feel that way.

Technology helps us track and attack outages, but it's people who do the work.

We are incredibly grateful for NorthWestern Energy employees' dedication and commitment to safety. The sheer volume of repairs, and in some cases remote work locations, meant delays in some cases in providing updates about estimated restoration times, information provided by the same crews working in the field and in neighborhoods. We know that's frustrating, and we appreciate your patience.

Montana is a challenging place to deliver energy - with rugged terrain and more power poles than customers. But it's also home to the best customers anywhere. Serving you is our privilege.