Missoula County approves legal engagement to intervene in Northwestern Energy large-new-load tariff proceeding

Missoula County commissioners approved an engagement letter authorizing UDA law firm to represent the county as an intervenor in Northwestern Energy's 'large new load' tariff rulemaking before the Public Service Commission.

County staff described the municipal proceeding as one that will determine how the PSC structures service and charges for potential large new electrical loads — such as big data centers — and said intervention would let the county ask data requests, provide evidence or testimony, and participate in hearings. "Intervening in the proceeding would give the county the opportunity to ask questions and data requests, to provide evidence or testimony, the right to participate in the hearing," a county staff member said, adding that intervening would not require the county to take any particular position.

The board moved, seconded and approved the engagement; no public comment was recorded during the item. Staff noted the proceeding could affect potential cost shifts or transmission/infrastructure decisions tied to new large loads and that the engagement would secure a formal role for the county in the docket. The transcript does not record the engagement letter's fee, contract length, or the office that will manage the matter.

Next steps identified in the discussion included filing to intervene and coordinating with UDA on data needs; staff did not indicate a deadline in the recorded excerpt.