Exhibit 12.1

NorthWestern Corporation
Computation of Ratio of Consolidated Earnings to Consolidated Fixed Charges
	Successor Company												Predecessor Company
	Year Ended December 31,									November 1 December 31,			January 1 October 31,
	2008		2007		2006			2005		2004			2004
	(in thousands, except ratios)
Earnings
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	107,822	$	85,579	$	63,413		$	100,057	$	(11,450	)	$	547,520
Add: Fixed charges as below	64,639		63,280		66,327			71,636		13,283			83,670
Total	172,461		148,859		129,740			171,693		1,833			631,190
Fixed Charges:
Interest charges	$	63,952	$	56,942	$		56,016	$	61,295	$	11,021		$	72,822
Interest on rent expense	687		6,338		10,311			10,341		2,262			10,848
Total	64,639		63,280		66,327			71,636		13,283			83,670
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges	2.67		2.35		1.96			2.40		—			7.54
Earnings to fixed charges deficit	—		—		—			—		(11,450		)	—