Great Falls wants to get out of power business

GREAT FALLS, MONTANA - The City of Great Falls wants to get out of the power business and is asking NorthWestern Energy if it would be interested in acquiring the city's customers.

Electric City Power has been selling power to fewer than 20 business, government and nonprofit customers at a loss since 2004. Contracts with customers run out next year and losses have exceeded $5 million.

City Manager Greg Doyon wrote to NorthWestern CEO Bob Rowe, asking if the company might be interested in Electric City Power's portfolio.

In the letter, Doyon explained that city commissioners have directed him to explore ways to get the city out of the energy business.

"It's kind of opening the door to a discussion," Doyon said.

NorthWestern spokeswoman Claudia Rapkoch told the Great Falls Tribune she expects the company's management team to answer the city this week.

"We've received the letter and we're giving it some consideration," Rapkoch said.

If NorthWestern is interested, the parties would hold further discussions, she said.

Great Falls Mayor Michael Winters said that the city is looking at eventually ending its involvement in the electric power business.

Electric City Power has a contract to buy power from Southern Montana Electric Cooperative through 2048, a contract that was used as collateral for Southern Montana to obtain a loan to finance a natural gas-fired power plant being built east of Great Falls. The city has invested about $1 million in the plant.