NorthWestern chief assures governor about its money woes

HELENA - The air conditioners will stay on and the furnaces will remain lit as NorthWestern Energy struggles to solve its financial problems, the utility's president assured Gov. Judy Martz on Thursday.

Mike Hanson said the company, which supplies electricity and natural gas to more than 300,000 Montana customers, is searching for help to shore up its slumping credit. While he insisted NorthWestern is not looking for a ''government bailout,'' he acknowledged the state could be a source of financial support.

Martz said Montana has no money available and state government ''shouldn't be in the ut...