We should have sticker shock

This past week, Montana’s Senate passed SB 379, 27-21. It’s a bill that’s equivalent to a “Get Out of Jail Free’’ card for NorthWestern Energy. This bill legitimizes the “business plan” of NWE to directly charge its ratepayers for the buy-out and repair costs for its deteriorating Colstrip plant. ‘Mom and Pop’ ratepayers would pay a minimum of an additional $600/year for 20 years. Yep! You read that right. So even if the Colstrip plant closes – expected by 2030 - each NWE ratepayer would continue to pay out a total of $12,600 through 2042. Hospitals or businesses that draw larger than average kilowatt hours would pay accordingly.