NorthWestern Energy powers through Montana spring storm to keep the lights on
Heavy, wet snow and icing from last week’s central Montana spring storm made for challenging restoration on some of NorthWestern Energy’s most remote lines. Wind and trees knocked down 137 distribution poles and 13 transmission poles and left more than 30 miles of line on the ground.
The weather systems entered the state May 7- 8 from the south and west resulting in strong winds and heavy snow fall in the mountains and lower elevations in Central and Northcentral Montana.
Power poles were damaged and downed and power lines broke after heavy ice and snow built up and by downed trees.
Adding to an already challenging situation, the Bozeman Pass on Interstate 90 shutdown for almost 24 hours, stranding several employees that were caught for hours in the miles’ long line of vehicles that were stopped on the interstate.
U.S. Highway 89 that runs through Monarch and Neihart was also closed during the storm.
When the weather cleared, helicopters were used to assess the damage. Crews and equipment from across Montana were brought to the hardest-hit areas and contracted crews assisted with repairs.
Customers, many without power for extended lengths of time, have generously expressed appreciation to NorthWestern Energy employees throughout the last 10 days. Thank you.
Powering Through the Storm
Powering Through the Storm
Additional personnel and equipment are in our hardest hit areas to assist with the work to restore service as quickly as possible, safely.
Thank you to all customers affected by outages for your patience, especially those experiencing outages for extended lengths of time.
Our dispatch, warehouse and other departments are doing everything possible to support our crews in the field in these challenging weather conditions working to restore your power.
UPDATE: 9:30 a.m., Monday, May 13, 2024
About 50 NorthWestern Energy personnel from Great Falls, Havre, Missoula, Billings and Lewistown, along with contract crews, are in the Monarch area Monday morning to repair remotely located power poles and lines damaged by last week's spring storm.
Helicopters are picking up power poles and other equipment staged on the westside of Highway 89, north of the Belt Creek Ranger Station to deliver to work sites.
UPDATE: 4:21 p.m., Friday, May 10, 2024
Monarch and Neihart area
Our crews are setting up a generator to provide power for the 200 customers in the Monarch and Neihart area.
UPDATE: 2:17 p.m., Friday, May 10, 2024
Lewistown area
UPDATE: 2:10 p.m., Friday, May 10, 2024
White Sulphur Springs area
UPDATE: 10:09 a.m., Friday, May 10, 2024
Great Falls area
Neihart and Monarch area: There will be up to 10 crews working on our lines starting Friday morning, and through the weekend. Traffic will be slow, and some residents may be boxed in for small amounts of time. Restoration work is difficult in the trees. We appreciate your patience and understanding as our linemen work to restore power to your area.
UPDATE: 5 p.m., Thursday, May 9, 2024
Lewistown area
Utica outages are being repaired now.
UPDATE: 4:45 p.m., Thursday, May 9, 2024
White Sulphur Springs area
Crews replaced more than a third of the broken power poles today and are beginning to restore power to 115 customers out of service in the area.
UPDATE: 4:39 p.m., Thursday, May 9, 2024
Great Falls area
Weather allowed the use of a helicopter to patrol lines today. There are multiple spans of downed power lines on the transmission line from Belt to Monarch. Tree crews are working to clear trees from the downed lines.
We estimate that the Monarch Substation will be reenergized tonight and crews will begin work to restore power to our customers in Monarch and Neihart.
Heavy, wet snow on the ground is slowing progress.
On Friday, additional contract crews will join the NorthWestern Energy linemen, support personnel, and contractors working on repairs and restoration.
UPDATE: 11:42 a.m., Thursday, May 9, 2024
Storm-caused Outage Restoration
Transmission and substations outages affect hundreds of customers and are repaired first.
Next repairs to distribution systems that serve homes and businesses are made.
Damage is assessed and plans are made to restore service to all of our customers.
Generally, repairs that will restore service to the most customers are made and then crews begin repairs on lines serving fewer customers.
We have a plan and will restore power for all customers.
UPDATE: 11:42 a.m., Thursday, May 9, 2024
White Sulphur Springs area
More than 36 power poles are broken and more than 3 miles of power lines are down in the White Sulphur Springs area.
Repairs will take several days and power will remain out until at least Friday for some customers.
With the weather clearing, helicopters are in use to fully assess damage. We’ll use that assessment to refine our plan as needed and continue to work to restore power.
UPDATE: 11 a.m., Thursday, May 9, 2024
Lewistown area
More than 30 linemen and support personnel, tree crews, and others are out working to make repairs and restore service in the Lewistown area, which will take several days.
Some hard-hit areas, including Geyser and Utica, will remain out of power until at least Friday.
Skies are clearing and we can now use helicopters and other equipment to fully assess damage, refine our plan and continue to work to restore power.
UPDATE: 10:15 a.m., Thursday, May 9, 2024
Great Falls area
The road to Neihart and Monarch is reopened after more than 3 feet of heavy, wet snow.
Crews and equipment are in the area now to make repairs, which will take several days. High winds and the wet snow damaged power poles and downed power lines throughout the area.
The Cascade and Ulm areas are also hit hard by the storm. Crews are working to repair damaged and broken poles and downed lines. Some customers in this area will be out of power at least until Friday.
Customers in the Adel area will be out of power at least through the weekend.
More than 75 linemen and support personnel, along with tree crews, some hydro division employees and others, are out working to make repairs and restore service.
Skies are clearing and we can now use helicopters to assess damage, refine our plan and continue to work to restore power.
UPDATE: 10 a.m., Thursday, May 9, 2024
UPDATE: Wednesday, May 8
NorthWestern Energy crews are working to repair broken power poles, downed power lines and other damage from storms and restore power service to customers affected by outages.
Some areas will have extended outages. Service restoration is estimated to be:
- Ulm area – Thursday, May 9
- Belt area – Thursday, May 9
- Craig area – Thursday, May 9
- Stockett area – Thursday, May 9
- Raynsford area – Thursday, May 9
- Moore area – Thursday, May 9
- Rural White Sulphur Springs – Thursday, May 9
Friday
- Geyser area – Friday, May 10
- Utica area – Friday, May 10
- Rural Stanford— Friday, May 10
Sunday
- Monarch area – estimated to be out at least through the weekend
Niehart area – estimated to be out at least through the weekend
HOW WE RESTORE POWER DURING AN OUTAGE
During a widespread outage, we prioritize repairs to restore power to the largest number of customers possible, as quickly as possible while keeping everyone safe.