NorthWestern Energy urges council not to pursue co-op plan

A local NorthWestern Energy official cautioned members of the Havre City Council Monday night that a public utilities commission they've been asked to support is unlikely to lower energy rates.

"I guess I might as well point out that Northwest Energy basically right now is just the delivery company. We're the wires and pipes," said Pat Patterson, manager of operations at Northwestern Energy in Havre.

Even under the proposed public power co-op to take control of that delivery system, he said, the supply of energy would still be subject to market fluctuations. The plan would do little to address...