Centrally assessed electric and telephone utilities where among a handful of tax classes awarded decreases from the 2021 Montana Legislature. Taxes are passed through to utility customers.

NorthWestern tells rate analysts for the Montana Public Service Commission that the lower tax rate translates into a $6.95 difference in utility bills for customers using 750 kilowatt hours of electricity monthly.

The company indicates that later it will attempt to pass on to customers $1.81 million in taxes owed on its new gas-fired power plant near Laurel.

Several adjustments have affected customer bills since October when the Montana PSC approved a 28% base rate increase for NorthWestern Energy customers.

NorthWestern suggests that its current rate for electric customers is about 18% higher than what customers paid in August 2022 when its general rate case began.

Billings Gazette: Tax cut shows up on Montana utility customer bills