Great Falls proposes pilot program to sell power to small users

The city of Great Falls is proposing an experimental program to sell power to homeowners and small businesses, as part of its bid to expand its own local electric utility.

The city’s utility, which already provides electricity to city operations, schools, the airport and other large customers, wants to sell power directly to a dozen homeowners and businesses.

"It tests our ability to serve these customers efficiently, in a way that benefits (them)," said City Manager John Lawton.

The program, which must be approved by the state Public Service Commission, would offer power at prices slightly higher than customers pay now to NorthWestern Energy.

Whether those rates will end up lower than NorthWestern’s future electricity rates remains to be seen.

The city also said the "pilot program" to serve small customers in Great Falls is part of its long-term plans to help finance a 250-megawatt, coal-fired generating plant east of town.

The city wants to reserve about one-fourth of the plant’s power, for sale to Great Falls residents and businesses.

By MIKE DENNISON
Tribune Capitol Bureau

Full Business: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050810/NEWS01/508100303/1002