Northwestern Energy Contributes Greatly to the Economic Success Of Your Community and State

NorthWestern http://www.northwesternenergy.com/ and our employees are excited to contribute to the community and economic health of the region we serve and call our home. Our investments occur in our region, and provide the infrastructure for others in the region to achieve their plans and pursue their dreams.

* The foundation for our role is our investment in $3 billion of supply, transmission and distribution infrastructure. In Montana we provide electric service to 187 communities and 15 rural cooperatives, and natural gas service to 105 communities and a number of smaller natural gas companies as well.

* We employ about 1,400 highly skilled employees (over 1,000 in Montana). We also spend about $65 million a year on vendors who in-turn invest a great deal in our region.

* Consulting and coordinating with other infrastructure providers is also important, as we plan and invest to meet our customers’ long-term needs. In recent months, we’ve holding public meetings across Montana to discuss our plans for investment in our natural gas and electric distribution systems.

* Moving up the "pyramid," http://www.matr.net/files/NWEEcoDevoPyramid-1.pdf we directly support a range of economic development initiatives, and make a variety of planning tools available to businesses and institutions interested in investing in our region.

* We’re proud of our employees’ volunteer efforts in our communities. We also contribute about $1.3 million to charities in our region, mainly through local employee charitable committees.

* Finally, our tax payments support the provision of public sector infrastructure and services. In Montana, we are by far the largest property taxpayer, paying about $80 million in Montana property taxes 2010.

NorthWestern Energy employees want to see our region thrive because this is where we live. And, because our investments are made at home, when the region prospers, we do as well.

Northwestern Economic Development Tools: http://www.matr.net/files/NWEeconomicdevelopmenttools.odt

Robert C. Rowe

President and CEO

NorthWestern Energy * 40 E. Broadway * Butte, MT 59701

Phone: 406.497.2354 * Fax: 406.497.2150

Email: [email protected]

Sioux Falls Office: 3010 W. 69th Street * Sioux Falls, SD 51708

Phone: 605.978.2912 * Fax: 605.978.2905

Executive Assistant: Corinne B. Dede * Phone: 605.978.2827

Email: [email protected]

"Enriching lives through a safe, sustainable energy future"