How far back Montana utilities refund overcharges
NorthWestern Energy's billing rule, like the PSC's, defines a billing error only as an under-billing and sets no limit on refunding overbillings; overbilling refunds follow PSC complaint decisions. Here is the rule behind it, what starts or limits the clock, and what it means for a business with a billing error in Montana.
Montana at a glance
| Montana | |
|---|---|
| Rule | NorthWestern Energy Montana Electric Tariff, Rule No. 10 (Billing), section 10-6; ARM 38.5.901 and 38.5.902 (billing errors) and each utility's PSC-approved tariff |
| How far back refunds go | NorthWestern Energy's billing rule, like the PSC's, defines a billing error only as an under-billing and sets no limit on refunding overbillings; overbilling refunds follow PSC complaint decisions |
| What starts or limits the clock | NorthWestern may back-bill an under-billing for no more than six months, and that rule excludes industrial-class customers, so industrial accounts can be back-billed further |
| Interest | Set in the tariff or by PSC order |
| Regulator | Montana utility commission |
What it means for a refund claim in Montana
- Industrial customers of NorthWestern should note the six-month back-billing protection does not apply to them.
- The six-month limit protects customers from back-bills; it does not cap what a business can claim as a refund.
- Read the utility's tariff rules on billing and meter error too: tariffs often repeat or extend the commission rule.
- Municipal utilities and cooperatives usually set their own billing rules.
Discovery Energy reviews 36 to 48 months of history on every account and pursues the longest period each jurisdiction allows. See how overcharge recovery works, or compare Montana with every other state.
Sources
- NorthWestern Energy Montana Electric Tariff, Rule No. 10 (Billing), section 10-6; ARM 38.5.901 and 38.5.902 (billing errors) and each utility's PSC-approved tariff
- Pennsylvania PUC national list of utility commissions