How to decode your NorthWestern Energy bill

Have you ever looked at your power bill and struggled to understand the various rates and charges that dictate how much you owe your utility company? If yes, you're not alone - even energy professionals can find their bills befuddling.

To bridge that knowledge gap, we dug into the nearly 20 rates and charges that are factored into monthly residential bills for the state's largest utility company, NorthWestern Energy.

NorthWestern supplies electricity or natural gas to approximately two-thirds of Montana's population. The company is regulated by the Montana Public Service Commission, a five...