NorthWestern Energy Project Replacing Poles from Luther to Red Lodge On Track for October Completion

The NorthWestern Energy transmission line rebuild from the East Red Lodge Substation to Luther is on track to be completed in October 2023. While the design solution to accommodate the proposed Whistler Observatory and Red Lodge residents located near the Red Lodge Airport was developed, work continued elsewhere on the line keeping the project on target. The Airport solution removes the top portion of eleven of the already delivered poles, lowering their tops below the level requiring lights and orange marker balls by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).

Jo Dee Black, NorthWestern Energy Public Relations Specialist, explained, “NorthWestern Energy is rebuilding about 7.5 miles of the 50kV transmission line from the East Red Lodge Substation to Luther. The transmission line generally runs along 15th Street West within the City of Red Lodge, continuing around the south side of the airport in Red Lodge, and west to Luther.

“The Line Creek to Red Lodge 50kV transmission line rebuild project replaces the existing wooden poles and wire that are near the end of their useful life. The new steel poles will increase energy service reliability for our customers in the Red Lodge area, provide resiliency for the energy infrastructure and provide better protection for birds that perch on them. New power line is also being installed.” She emphasized, “The upgrade is to an existing power line, replacing existing power poles and power line. Reclamation where needed will begin after construction is complete.”

Black was eager to let people know that, “On every project, NorthWestern Energy works to address any unique concerns of the communities we serve and collaborates to find cost-effective solutions that address those concerns. Residents in the area near the airport in Red Lodge and others brought their concerns to NorthWestern about lights that would be required to be placed on 11 steel power poles that will replace existing wood power poles. NorthWestern Energy is able to address those concerns with a cost-effective solution that eliminates the requirement for the lights, meets safety requirements and provides increased service reliability for our customers.”

In another community in the state, an agriculture producer requested that a taller power pole be used to replace an existing pole in a field during a different power line upgrade to allow agricultural equipment to be moved safely under the power line.

Whether for safety or other reasons, NorthWestern Energy makes these changes to be a good neighbor. However, they are also a regulated investor-owned energy service company. This means their operations and rates in the state are regulated by the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) in addition to being answerable to their investors. Capital expenditures must be prudent and are made by NorthWestern Energy before they can recoup them through rates charged to users. Therefore, the most recent rate adjustment was in part to cover capital improvements and expenditures made prior to that increase, and the costs of this project and others happening this year won’t be factored into rates until after a regulatory rate review by the PSC in the future.

The transmission line rebuilding project in the Red Lodge area is one of dozens of transmission projects NorthWestern Energy is doing this year in Montana, part of about $80 million of investments to increase reliability and capacity for their Montana customers. About 2,000 power poles are being replaced this year in Montana.

In the Red Lodge area, 50- to 60-year-old wood power poles near the end of their useful life on the existing transmission line are being replaced by steel power poles. This will increase the reliability of service for NorthWestern customers, primarily in the Red Lodge area, served by that transmission line and enhance the resiliency of the entire infrastructure.

The project requires heavy equipment and helicopters and NorthWestern Energy would like to thank members of the community for their patience during this project.

This year, NorthWestern Energy celebrates 100 years of serving customers throughout the region. NorthWestern Energy’s roots started in South Dakota, where they provide natural gas and electric service. They also provide natural gas service to customers in Nebraska. In Montana, NorthWestern Energy purchased the distribution and transmission assets of the former Montana Power Company in the early 2000s. They now have more customers in Montana than they do in any of the other states that they serve. They look forward to continuing to be a good neighbor and reliable service provider for the next 100 years.