APRIL 2017

ENERGY CONNECTIONS

Clean, affordable, reliable energy

The best time to plant a tree – is today!

NorthWestern Energy is proud to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day this April. We are committed to a safe, sustainable energy future, providing more clean energy and delivering it more reliably and more affordably than ever before. To accomplish that, we are utilizing a balanced energy mix, integrating renewable resources with traditional energy sources — and continually exploring methods for reducing our carbon footprint while maintaining reliable and affordable service. It is important for our communities and customers to know:

Clean energy and reducing the carbon footprint have been and continue to be priorities for us.

• We have invested more than $1 billion in clean energy projects, including hydro, wind and solar energy.

• Renewable hydro and wind represent nearly 60 percent of the electricity we deliver in Montana. In South Dakota, about 25 percent of our electricity is generated by wind.

• NorthWestern Energy helped launch a solar pilot project in Bozeman on September 30, 2016 — a $1 million investment. Two more solar pilot projects will be added over the next two years.

• Our run-of-river hydro system provides reliable, clean energy that will allow price stability in years to come. We are also evaluating adding incremental generation to our hydro capacity.

• Our current energy portfolio of owned and contracted resources already has a carbon footprint lower than EPA’s 2030 goal.

• Our Montana customers have the option of adding renewable energy benefits to their electric service through the E+ Green Power Program. Sign up on-line through NorthWesternEnergy.com.

We have a responsibility to deliver reliable, affordable energy while focusing on sustainability and clean energy.

• Traditional energy sources are more effective and dependable in meeting customer needs when energy use is at its highest, particularly in winter.

• To meet peak capacity demands and ensure cost-effective reliability, fossil fuels will continue to be an important energy source for us.

• Reliability and long-term value for our customers are behind our belief in the need for additional natural gas-fired generation in the future.

• The natural gas-fired generation provides the ability to quickly ramp up when we need it and ramp down when we don’t need it.

• Natural gas-fired generation provides additional reserve capacity, meaning we can continue to serve customers in the event of an unexpected outage or supply disruption in the region. Currently, we procure this energy from the open market, which poses a potential risk to customers in terms of price and availability in the future.

• Past investments and future planning have enabled NorthWestern Energy to keep energy rates below the national average.

We continue to be a leader in energy efficiency.

• We have been promoting energy efficiency for nearly 40 years.

• We are fundamentally committed to helping our customers conserve energy and manage their energy spending. Visit NorthWesternEnergy.com/Eplus for more information.

Earth Day coincides with U.S. Arbor Day on the last Friday in April.

There are many ways you can celebrate – you can make a donation to the National Arbor Day Foundation, you could plant a tree around your home or in a lasting memorial for loved ones, or find out about a local tree planting event and volunteer.

When planting trees, you want to pick a tree that you know can survive in your climate. In Montana, the state tree is the Ponderosa Pine, South Dakota has the Black Hills Spruce and in Nebraska, it is the Cottonwood. If you’re unsure about what kind of tree you should get, ask an employee at your local garden shop or inside the garden department of a store.

Before you plant a tree, get the facts. Find out how the tree will look in 5, 10 or even 50 years. Knowing the height the tree will reach at maturity can help you make smart decisions now.

Carefully planted trees stay clear of power lines while retaining their natural beauty. Trees with a mature height of 20 feet or less fit comfortably under power lines. It is unlikely they will ever need trimming to protect public safety and electric reliability. Trees with mature heights of 30 to 40 feet should be set at least 15 to 20 feet from the outside of a power pole.

And remember, anytime you are digging or planting – always call 811 at least two working days ahead of time for location of underground utilities.

Thanks to all those that entered our Legacy Tree Contest! We will be announcing winners

this Arbor Day online at NorthWesternEnergy.com/trees

and on our facebook page.

Levi A.

Vegetation Coordinator

8 years of service

MONTANACustomer Contact Center (888) 467-2669 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. M-F Emergency 24/7 ServiceCall Before You Dig 811Energy Efficiency (800) 823-5995

NEBRASKACustomer Contact Center (800) 245-6977 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. M-F Emergency 24/7 ServiceCall Before You Dig 811

SOUTH DAKOTACustomer Contact Center (800) 245-6977 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. M-F Emergency 24/7 ServiceCall Before You Dig 811

PAYMENTAutomated PhonePayment Option: (800) 218-4959(via checking, savings, or money market account)

SpeedPay AutomatedPhone Payment Option: (877) 361-4927(via credit card account)

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Energy Connections Editor | 11 E Park St | Butte, MT 59701 | news2@northwestern.com | www.NorthWesternEnergy.com

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Nos preocupamos por su seguridad. Este anexo a su factura incluye mensajes importantes sobre seguridad que usted necesita saber con respecto al servicio público que le proporciona NorthWestern Energy. Comuníquese con nosotros si desea recibir la información de seguridad en español, llamando al teléfono 888-467-2669 (en Montana) 800-245-6977 (en South Dakota o Nebraska) y pregunte por las opciones de idiomas para los anexos de sus facturas.

We are required to translate important customer information for populations in our service area that meet a certain threshold. We have two languages that currently meet that threshold: Spanish and Karenic.

RUSafe CornerPlease remind children year round of these important safety tips when using the internet at home or school.

1. Never give out any personal information like your home address, and never share a picture of yourself without your parent’s permission.

2. Never write to someone who has made you feel uncomfortable or scared.

3. Do not meet someone or have him or her visit your home without your parents’ permission.

4. Tell a parent right away if something makes you feel uncomfortable.

5. Remember that people online are not always who they say they are, a 12 year old girl could actually be an older man.

Utilities are particularly interested in where and how trees are planted. In addition to ensuring your trees will not grow into overhead power lines, you should not plant closer than 25 feet from any natural gas transmission line.

When planting a tree, here's what you need to know.

• NorthWestern Energy applies a protective coating to steel pipelines and adds a small amount of direct current to mitigate corrosion. Tree roots are attracted to the loosened soil of the pipeline ditch and to the typically constant temperature created by the moving gas. Tree roots can damage the coating and come in contact with the steel. Tree roots carry water and nutrients to the rest of the tree and for that reason are very good conductors of electricity. Risks associated with corrosion leaks and corrosion-related pipeline failures are significantly increased when the pipeline coating is damaged and the tree roots absorb the electric current

necessary to stop corrosion.

• Trees often hide pipeline markers and the corridor that reminds neighbors and contractors of a pipeline in the area. Keeping the pipeline right-of-way clear reduces the risks of third party damage and increases the safety of all.

• No one wants to lose a tree after many years of growth. Pipelines need maintenance and may even need to be replaced. Trees growing in the pipeline right-of-way could be destroyed when these activities are required.

To assure that you are planting your new tree a good distance away from any buried pipes, make sure you Call Before You Dig. One simple call to 811 will get all underground pipelines identified. You should plan to leave any pipeline right-of-way clear.

Properly located, planted, and cared for, your tree should continue to stand for many years, providing shade on sunny days and generating oxygen for us all to breathe.

Planting trees near gas pipelines

Community Works

NorthWestern Energy is a community within many communities. We are more than 1,600 individuals working collectively to build stronger communities in Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota through the production, generation and delivery of electricity and natural gas.

Last year, our Community Works Fund contributed nearly $2.1 million in economic development, charitable donations and community sponsorships. We are fully invested in the community spirit that connects us in common purpose. We are delivering a bright future.

To learn more about the various ways we contribute to our community including

property tax payments, economic development, scholarship information, environmental stewardship and community engagement, visit our NorthWesternEnergy.com website and check out our recently updated annual Community Works Report.

Our Community Works Fund provides year-round support for qualified 501c3 and 170c2 non-profit organizations that directly serve our communities.

Our employees are always looking for opportunities to volunteer their time to strengthen our communities. Do you have a project that needs volunteers? Let us know by email to custserv@northwestern.com and maybe we can help!

Each year, NorthWestern Energy employees and contractors perform physical checks of natural gas pipelines and related equipment. They look for possible leaks, note repairs needed and perform minor maintenance. On occasion, inspectors may

It’s pipeline inspection seasonneed to access your property to complete the survey. They drive clearly marked vehicles, wear clothing that identifies them as NorthWestern Energy employees or contractors and carry appropriate identification.