PSC to hold hearing on Havre Pipeline service

Hi-Liners who receive natural gas through Havre Pipeline Co., have complained in recent years of declining service for years.

Now the Montana Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing at 9 a.m. Monday in Hensler Auditorium at Montana State University-Northern to determine what to do about it.

Commissioner Travis Kavulla of Great Falls, whose district includes the Hi-Line, will conduct the hearing. At least two of his colleagues on the five-member commission will attend, he said.

Kavulla said about 100 customers in remote parts of Blaine and Hill counties are Havre Pipeline customers, he said. Others, disgusted with the service, have switched to other forms of energy.

NorthWestern Energy bought controlling interest of the company when it purchased other Hi-Line assets from Devon Energy Co.

Less natural gas is being pumped from those field, Kavulla, and as often happens, less gas being pumped means pipelines deteriorate.

Often when there is cold weather, the pipes freeze, and water seeps in, he said.

That leaves customers with poorer service.

Kavulla said this is understandable, but elsewhere in the state, when energy companies are not able to maintain an acceptable level of service, they are required to pay to transition customers to another source of energy, often propane.

But NorthWestern contends that this case is not covered by that law, and the company will make its arguments at Monday's meeting.

Customers will be given a chance to make their arguments, he said, and the Montana Consumer Counsel’s office, will present arguments that NorthWestern is required to pay for transition if they cannot meet acceptable levels of service.

Kavulla said this is the time concerned customers should speak up and he urged them to attend the session.

The commission must decide if there is a decline in service, is NorthWestern responsible for helping customers transition to a few form of energy and what should be done.

Unlike most PSC hearings, he said, witnesses will be sworn in before making their statements, Kavulla said. He said he wanted to “ensure that the testimony is dependable.”