For a number of months, NorthWestern Energy has been working to find a suitable location for a new electric substation in the Stevensville area.
The substation is intended to help NorthWestern continue to provide reliable electric service to the community and the Bitterroot Valley. We are near our service capacity limits in the area and have been using a temporary substation to meet the community’s needs for some time.
We understand that the location of substations can be controversial. It is important to note that while one proposed location for the new substation is near a residential neighborhood, NorthWestern has not made any decisions about the substation location.
The company has been meeting on an ongoing basis with local officials and residents to discuss possible locations. In fact, meetings in recent weeks have produced several alternative nonresidential sites that will be thoroughly investigated by NorthWestern Energy staffers.
No decision or construction on a substation will take place until all reasonable options have been fully explored. We are committed to working with local residents and officials in an open and collaborative manner and are confident that a reasonable location for the needed substation can be found.
Vicki Judd, Manager, Community Relations
NorthWestern Energy