The Montana Public Service Commission is investigating a spike in NorthWestern Energy electric bills for August, after hundreds of customers contacted the commission reporting charges they couldn't explain.
The PSC confirmed it is reviewing the complaints, describing the increase as "significant" and noting that customers are expressing confusion over what drove the higher bills. The review comes as a separate consumer report warned that Montanans shouldn't expect utility cost relief heading into summer — a combination of rising electricity prices and hotter temperatures that puts additional pressure on household budgets across the Helena Valley.
NorthWestern Energy serves the majority of Helena and the surrounding area, making the bill spike a kitchen-table issue for a large share of local residents. The commission has not yet identified a single cause for the August increases, and the review is ongoing. Customers who believe their bills are incorrect or unusually high can file complaints directly with the PSC.
The timing of the review matters: if the commission finds a billing error or a rate application issue, customers could be eligible for credits or adjustments. If the increases reflect legitimate usage and rate changes, the PSC review will at minimum give customers a clearer explanation of what they're paying for. The commission has not announced a timeline for completing its review.