NorthWestern Granted Interim Rate Relief

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) announced today that the Montana Public Service Commission ("MPSC") granted an interim rate increase, consistent with NorthWestern's October 16, 2009 Application for Authority to Establish Increased Natural Gas and Electric Delivery Service Rates and Implement Allocated Cost of Service and Rate Design Proposals (the "Application"), for electric delivery revenues of $12,395,640, on a uniform basis, and for gas delivery revenues of $1,361,517, on a uniform basis, effective July 8, 2010 (the "Interim Order").

The MPSC's order indicated that if the final order in this Application has a revenue requirement which is lower than the revenue requirement contained in the Interim Order, the difference will be rebated to customers with interest at 10.75 percent, NorthWestern's last approved return on equity.  In addition, interim approval of any matters in this proceeding should not be viewed as final endorsement by the MPSC of any issues, calculations, or methodologies approved in the Interim Order.

NorthWestern expects to reserve the revenues collected as a result of the Interim Order for accounting purposes in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, pending the issuance of a final order on this matter.

Neither the Interim Order, nor any other Application decision, will have any consequence on the 2010 earnings guidance previously provided by NorthWestern because that guidance specifically excluded any effect of the pending Application.

NorthWestern expects a final decision on the Application during the fourth quarter of 2010.

About NorthWestern Energy

NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 661,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska.  More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD—LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, the information under "2010 Earnings Outlook".  Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," or "will."  These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.  Our actual future business and financial performance may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including, but not limited to:

• potential adverse federal, state, or local legislation or regulation or adverse determinations by regulators could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition;
• changes in availability of trade credit, usage, commodity prices, fuel supply costs or availability due to higher demand, shortages, weather conditions, transportation problems or other developments, may reduce revenues or may increase operating costs, each of which would adversely affect our liquidity;
• unscheduled generation outages or forced reductions in output, maintenance or repairs, which may reduce revenues and increase operating costs or may require additional capital expenditures or other increased operating costs; and
• adverse changes in general economic and competitive conditions in the U.S. financial markets and in our service territories.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent and forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. 

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE NorthWestern Corporation

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