HELENA, Mont. (AP) — NorthWestern Energy customers will soon be seeing a credit on their bills due to the utility's savings under the federal tax cut enacted last December.
The Montana Public Service Commission on Tuesday approved an agreement reached between NorthWestern and consumer groups. It calls for a one-time credit of $20.5 million that will be made within 30 days.
NorthWestern estimates average customers will receive a one-time credit of $24 on their power bills and $3.50 on their natural gas bills.
NorthWestern initially estimated a $14 million benefit from the tax cuts and proposed returning about $8.5 million to customers while spending the rest to remove hazardous trees near power lines.
Consumer groups negotiated a higher refund and agreed to support spending on hazardous tree removal as part of NorthWestern's current electric rate review filing.

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