NorthWestern Energy has released its latest draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) in January, and if you care about your energy bills and the climate, you need to know what’s in it.
Under Montana law, regulated monopoly utilities such as NorthWestern Energy must prepare and submit to the Public Service Commission (PSC) an IRP every three years. These plans are supposed to detail how utilities plan to supply reliable and affordable electricity to their customers over the next 20 years.
In the past, NorthWestern Energy has put its finger on the scale in this process to justify expensive and unneeded resource development – putting the burden on ratepayers who are already feeling the weight of increased bills. In addition, NorthWestern Energy has a constitutional duty to protect our right to a clean and healthful environment, which includes a stable climate.
In this webinar recorded on Jan. 22, MEIC’s Nick Fitzmaurice and Kyle Unruh of Renewable NW talk about NorthWestern’s draft IRP before community meetings begin on Jan. 27.
Links shared during this webinar:
– MEIC’s analysis is on our website: https://meic.org/northwestern-energys-2026-integrated-resource-plan/
– If you’re new to writing public comments or speaking up at meetings, we have a great page on our website with tips to get you started: https://meic.org/resources/
– You can send your comments directly to NorthWestern Energy on their website (0r in person at one of the meetings): https://northwesternenergy.com/about-us/gas-electric/montana-electric-supply-planning
– WRAP is the Western Resource Adequacy Program: https://www.westernpowerpool.org/about/programs/western-resource-adequacy-program
