Missoula County approves settlement to lock in Green Power Program timeline amid Northwestern–Black Hills merger

Missoula County approved a stipulation and settlement agreement with Northwestern Corporation, Black Hills Corporation, Northwestern Energy Group and the City of Missoula intended to protect the county and city's Green Power Program timeline as the utilities seek approval for a pending merger.

Staff (speaker S2) told the board the draft agreement asks Northwestern to "finalize its internal review of the draft green power program by June 1 and would file the green power program in front of the Public Service Commission by September 15." The county did not take a position for or against the merger; staff said the settlement is intended to keep the Green Power Program from being delayed by the merger process.

Outside counsel Mike Huda (speaker S6) told the board the Sept. 15 date is the application filing date at the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC), and that the PSC would then issue a scheduling order that sets dates for interventions, data requests and responsive testimony. Huda said the PSC might not issue a final order by June 1 but that filing the application would "get the ball rolling," and he described the settlement's dates as contractual benchmarks that create enforcement incentives if the utilities fail to meet them.

Board members asked whether a change in ownership would affect the commitment. Staff and counsel said the settlement includes Northwestern and Black Hills as signatories and that contractual obligations would bind successors in interest; counsel noted the signatory status of Black Hills strengthens the enforceability of the timeline. The City of Missoula representative (Anne, speaker S7) expressed appreciation and support for the partnership with county staff.

A committee member (speaker S1) moved to approve the stipulation and settlement agreement with the named parties in Public Service Commission docket 2025.10.078; the Chair (speaker S3) seconded. There was no public comment and the board voted to approve the settlement. The city is separately reviewing and will deliberate on the same agreement as part of its process.