Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details)	1 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2022 USD ($) a	Jul. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 a	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2023 Lawsuit Plaintiff	Sep. 30, 2022	May 31, 2021 a Building	Sep. 02, 2020 a Building
Washington [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Wildfires covered area which damaged several residential structures, (in acres) | a			5
Natural and Cultural Damage Claim [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement damages claim amount | $		$ 2,000,000
Boyds Fire [Member] | Damage from Fire [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, damages sought, value | $				$ 4,400,000
Labor Day Windstorm [Member] | Damage from Fire [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of residential, commercial and other structures impacted | Building								230
Road fire covered area | a								25,000
Road 11 Fire [Member] | Damage from Fire [Member] | Avista Corp [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, damages sought, value | $	$ 5,000,000
Road fire covered area | a	10,000
Babb Road Fire [Member] | Damage from Fire [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of residential, commercial and other structures impacted | Building							220
Road fire covered area | a							15,000
Number of lawsuits filed seeking unspecified damages | Lawsuit					9
Number of subrogation actions filed | Lawsuit					6
Number of actions on behalf of individual plaintiffs | Plaintiff					2
Number of class action lawsuit | Lawsuit					1
System Unit Resource Protection Act [Member] | Natural and Cultural Damage Claim [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Increased potential claim | $		$ 6,000,000
Colstrip [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Agreement voting requirement					NorthWestern has initiated arbitration pursuant to the O&O Agreement to resolve these business disagreements, and two actions have been initiated to compel arbitration of those disputes: one by Talen in the Montana Thirteenth Judicial District Court for Yellowstone County, and one by the Western Co-Owners, which is pending in Montana Federal District Court. In light of the ownership transfer agreements discussed below, the Colstrip owners agreed to stay both the litigation and the arbitration through September 29, 2023, at which time the proceedings would resume absent further agreement between the owners.
Colstrip [Member] | PSE [Member] | Unit 4 [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Owners percentage interest					25.00%	25.00%