Montana last domino to fall in BHE/NWE merger

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— Problembear (@problembear.bsky.social) October 24, 2026 at 11:14 AM

Utilities are not your friends. 

In January the three Earth haters in the South Dakota Public Utilities Cartel approved a rate increase for NWE but the absence of transparency in the proposed merger of Black Hills Corporation and NorthWestern Energy is worrying the Montana Farmers Union. 

Now, the five Earth haters on Montana Public Service Commission are scheduled to take up the $15.4 billion merger proposal but non-profit 350 Montana has joined with MFU saying it will place additional financial risks on Montanans. And, if NWE and BHE merge, the deal could mean as much as $16 million for CEO Brian Bird and nearly $30 million for top company executives.

The two parties urge the PSC to reject the merger — or set conditions that protect Montanans, especially from the potential costs of data centers. “In the end, this is not about love. This is about money,” wrote lawyer Monica Tranel on behalf of 350 Montana and Montana Farmers Union. “Enforceable conditions are the necessary prenuptial here.” The new company is named Bright Horizon Energy. If approved, the new company will operate in Montana, South Dakota, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming. [UPDATED: Public Service Commission to take up NorthWestern, Black Hills merger]

In a related story NWE is hiding information from the SDPUC about a planned 131-megawatt natural gas fired power plant south of Aberdeen.

Problembear is the online handle used by William Fleischman, a longtime Montana-based progressive blogger, wilderness enthusiast, and political content creator.