State energy fund likely to expand

More money in state coffers may be available to help people pay utility bills if the Montana Legislature passes pending legislation.

A bill proposed by Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, would set aside half of the money in a special fund utilities are required to pay into for providing energy assistance to people in need.

The plan sailed through the Senate Energy and Commerce Committee last week and will go before the Senate this week. Windy Boy said he expected little or no opposition on the Senate floor since it received bipartisan support in the committee.

“A lot of people are having a hard time paying energy bills during the cold, winter months,” Windy Boy said. In many years the fund to help people pay bills is depleted before winter is over, he said.

A law established in 1997 requires utilities to add a surcharge for bills to fund “public purpose” programs, said Butch Larcombe, NorthWestern spokesman. The average customers pays about $1 per month.

These programs have generally been energy assistance, as well as green energy programs such as energy conservation, research and development and weatherization projects for middle-income people, he said,

The law requires that 17 percent of the money go to provide energy assistance to low-income people, he said. That has helped, but it has proven to be insufficient, Larcomb said.

Windy Boy’s legislation, which NorthWestern Energy supports, would raise that to 50 percent.

That will mean millions of dollars, perhaps $4 million, will be added to the fund.

The remaining half would pay for green energy programs and weatherization projects.

The only opposition has come from environmental groups that are wary of losing money for projects they support.

Windy Boy said he is pleased with the support he has received from both sides of the aisle for his legislation.

“The Republicans seem to be for it, so it should pass,” he said. The GOP controls both houses.