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Montana PSC orders NorthWestern to take closer look at low-income programs – Daily Montanan

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Montana PSC orders NorthWestern to take closer look at low-income programs – Daily Montanan


NorthWestern Energy will need to provide more information to regulators about how well its energy assistance programs are helping low-income customers in the wake of double-digit utility rate increases.

The monopoly utility also will need to identify barriers low-income customers face to using those programs and determine the best way to reach those customers.

“Evidence in the record regarding affordability is limited,” said the Montana Public Service Commission.

Tuesday, the Public Service Commission unanimously voted to approve an order that largely keeps in place a settlement agreement it greenlighted this fall with Northwestern Energy.

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That agreement resulted in a rate increase of 24% for residential electricity customers and 25% for small businesses compared to rates in August 2022 — and commissioners didn’t specifically discuss rate changes.

But the Public Service Commission received three motions to reconsider its earlier decision, and after hearing legal and rate analyses from staff at a meeting Tuesday, it rejected two of the three motions.

However, the PSC bought into arguments made by one group of parties, the Human Resource Council District XI, Natural Resources Defense Council, and NW Energy Coalition.

The Human Resource Council and its partners argued the “effects of any utility rate increase are disproportionately felt by low-income customers,” but it said the PSC didn’t discuss those customers specifically.

The group also said NorthWestern offers no low-income programs other than what it’s required to do by law; the money that’s available isn’t enough; customers have faced roadblocks with its weatherization program ever since NorthWestern contracted with the Department of Public Health and Human Services; and participation rates in low-income programs “have declined by more than 25% over the last decade.”

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At a PSC hearing in April, data from NorthWestern showed the decrease in participation.

Under questioning by a lawyer representing the Human Resource Council and its partners at the time, a vice president for the utility admitted the company wasn’t proposing any changes in its outreach to low-income customers.

Tuesday, however, the Public Service Commission ordered NorthWestern Energy to do more to analyze its service to low-income ratepayers.

“The commission is sensitive to the impacts that utility rate increases have on all customers, including low-income customers,” said the draft order. “The commission acknowledges that (its earlier order) does not separately and explicitly address the impact of the settlement on low-income customers and, on reconsideration, finds that the request … for an analysis of the impact is reasonable.”

The PSC said it might seem intuitive that low-income customers are more affected by rate increases, but the lack of evidence means commissioners can’t reach any conclusions.

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“Nevertheless, on reconsideration, the Commission agrees with HRC/NRDC/NWEC that an evaluation of the efficacy of available low-income energy assistance programs through a stakeholder process is warranted,” the order said.

“At a minimum, the stakeholder process should attempt to address apparent information gaps concerning trends in energy affordability for low-income customers in relation to the residential class as a whole, barriers to participation in existing assistance programs, coordination across assistance programs, and the most effective outreach and delivery mechanisms for low-income assistance.”

The PSC, made up of five commissioners who are all currently Republican, also clarified it expects NorthWestern to maintain a permanent stakeholder group to evaluate “demand-side management,” or strategies to control energy use, and expand its engagement.

But in its order, the PSC rejected motions to reconsider from 350 Montana and Broad Reach Power.

In its motion, 350 Montana had argued the PSC invented a “magical” new way of analyzing costs that wasn’t legal, failed to consider emissions, sent $3.4 million to shareholders that belonged to customers, and discriminated against residential customers and small businesses.

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However, an analysis from PSC staff said commissioners based their order on judicial and agency precedent, and it also said NorthWestern will need to include data about carbon emissions in future reviews.

As for the money 350 Montana alleges belongs to customers — the difference between the authorized cost of debt and NorthWestern’s actual cost of debt — the PSC said it would have to undo a decision made by an earlier commission in a separate case to go that route.

The staff analysis also indicated larger customers subsidize the cost of electricity for residential and small businesses — as part of the accounting principles of “gradualism” and moderation to decrease rate shock. At least a couple of commissioners wanted to stress that subsidy.

“Certainly the order has softened the blow … at the expense of other classes in order to lessen rate shock on residential and small business customer classes,” Commissioner Jennifer Fielder said.

Broad Reach had said it was denied due process because the PSC didn’t reschedule a hearing on the settlement after it was filed. The PSC disagreed and said the burden of canceling the hearing and requiring more testimony and discovery would have outweighed the benefit of moving ahead.

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Montana Lottery Powerball, Lotto America results for March 4, 2026

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The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 4, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 4 drawing

07-14-42-47-56, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Lotto America numbers from March 4 drawing

33-38-39-47-51, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from March 4 drawing

01-07-08-27, Bonus: 12

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 4 drawing

05-10-26-53-59, Powerball: 06

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Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Montana Cash numbers from March 4 drawing

03-04-06-08-10

Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 4 drawing

12-13-36-39-58, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
  • Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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University of Montana president job draws high interest • Daily Montanan

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University of Montana president job draws high interest • Daily Montanan


The search for a new University of Montana president has drawn more than 60 applicants, according to a spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.

“We do not have an exact count at this time, as several applications are still being completed and additional submissions are expected,” said spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner Galen Hollenbaugh in an email earlier this week.

In January, then-UM-President Seth Bodnar announced his resignation to pursue other public service. Wednesday, the final day of filing, he announced he was running as an independent for the U.S. Senate to try to unseat Republican incumbent Steve Daines.

Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian earlier said that with the advice of AGB Search, a firm that’s helped the Montana University System conduct other executive searches, he would undertake an expedited process to appoint a new president.

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Christian has been providing brief updates on a website dedicated to the search. Last week, he said he and AGB Search are reviewing applications, and the pool of candidates was “strong and diverse.”

The commissioner also announced he was convening a small working group to assist in the search, members who “represent a variety of perspectives to assist in vetting and narrowing this field of exceptional candidates.”

In an email this week, Hollenbaugh identified the members of the working group who are assisting Christian with application review as:

  • Community member and former Regent Joyce Dombrouski
  • Faculty Senate Chairperson Valerie Moody
  • Staff Senate President Dominic Beccari
  • Administration Representative John DeBoer (Vice President of Academic Affairs)
  • ASUM (Associated Students of the University of Montana) President Buddy Wilson

Hollenbaugh declined to comment on the way the rest of the process would unfold or the role the working group members would play.

Christian earlier said he anticipated an appointment within one to three months, or as soon as early this month.

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Montana Supreme Court allows ballot measure on initiative process to move forward

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Montana Supreme Court allows ballot measure on initiative process to move forward


HELENA — The Montana Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a proposed ballot measure intended to simplify the process for introducing ballot measures in the future.

Justices ruled 5-2 that the measure, currently called Ballot Issue #8, did not violate state requirements that a single constitutional amendment can’t make multiple separate changes to the Montana Constitution.

“We’re very grateful to the Montana Supreme Court for agreeing with us that the attorney general’s finding of legal insufficiency for Ballot Issue #8 was incorrect,” said SK Rossi, a spokesperson for Montanans Decide, the group sponsoring the measure.

Montanans Decide argues the Montana Legislature has passed laws making it harder for the public to propose and pass ballot issues. The Montana Constitution already guarantees the people the right to pass laws and amendments through ballot measures, but Ballot Issue #8 would expand that to include a right to “impartial, predictable, transparent, and expeditious processes” for proposing those measures. It would seek to prevent “interference from the government or the use of government resources to support or oppose the ballot issue.”

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Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s office argued the measure “implicitly amended” multiple provisions in the state constitution, including by limiting the “power and authority of public officials to speak officially on ballot issues that affect those officials’ public duties” and by putting restrictions on judges and on the Legislature. Montanans Decide, the group sponsoring Ballot Issue #8, disagreed – and the majority of justices sided with them.

“Its provisions operate together to define and protect a single constitutional right—the people’s exercise of initiative and referendum,” wrote Justice Katherine Bidegaray in the majority opinion. “They are closely related components of one constitutional design.”

Bidegaray’s majority opinion was joined by Justices Jim Shea, Laurie McKinnon, Beth Baker and Ingrid Gustafson.

Chief Justice Cory Swanson and Justice Jim Rice each wrote dissenting opinions, saying they would have upheld Knudsen’s decision to disallow Ballot Issue #8. Rice said the language restricting government interference with a ballot issue was not closely related and should have been a separate vote. Swanson agreed with Rice and said the measure’s attempt to fix a timeline for legal cases surrounding ballot measures was also a separate substantial change.

In a statement, Chase Scheuer, a spokesperson for Knudsen’s office, reacted to the decision.

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“This decision only further muddies the courts’ jurisprudence on ballot issue questions,” he said. “This initiative would violate the separate vote requirement by amending multiple parts of the Montana Constitution, but the court contradicted its prior rulings. Attorney General Knudsen will continue to neutrally apply the separate vote requirement in his review of ballot initiatives.”

The court’s decision means that Knudsen’s office will now need to approve ballot language for Ballot Issue #8. Once that language is finalized, Montanans Decide could begin gathering signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

However, last year, sponsors of another initiative went to the Supreme Court to argue that the ballot statements Knudsen prepared were misleading. If Montanans Decide object to their ballot statements, that could further delay signature gathering while the case plays out in court.

“Regardless, we’re going to push as hard as we can to get those petitions into the hands of voters and let them sign and support if they so choose,” said Rossi.

Rossi said the legal battle this measure has gone through – and the possibility of more to come – shows why Ballot Issue #8 is needed.

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“The state Legislature, and also statewide elected officials, have taken every opportunity to create burdens and hurdles and rigamarole for campaigns to get through in order to just get to the signature gathering phase, and then to get through the signature gathering phase onto the ballot, and then get through the election phase,” said Rossi. “The reason we filed this initiative is just to make sure that the process is simple, that the timeline is clear, and that Montanans can have their will heard when they want to propose and pass laws that they deem worthy.”





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