NorthWestern official previews power rates

It looks like power costs for most NorthWestern Energy customers will go up 12 or 13 percent July 1 if the Montana Public Service Commission approves the portfolio proposed to supply electricity to default customers.

"These rates have not been set 100 percent," Scott Patera of NorthWestern said Wednesday. " This is just a proposal at this point," but the rate increases predicted are likely to happen.

Patera spoke at the Holiday Village Shopping Center community center Wednesday at the invitation of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce. Business owners and government representatives attended.

The...