NorthWestern Energy said flexible natural gas is one of the resources it needs to provide electricity to customers in the next couple of decades — but the Montana Public Service Commission is holding listening sessions starting next week on the monopoly utility’s plan.

The first of five sessions is scheduled for Monday in Great Falls.

“The 2023 plan evaluates different potential generation resources that could meet the needs of NorthWestern’s electric service customers in Montana over the next 20 years,” said the PSC in a notice of five listening sessions this month.