8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  November 19, 2009

NorthWestern Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		1-10499 (Commission File Number)	46-0172280 (IRS Employer Identification No.)
3010 W. 69th Street Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Address of principal executive offices)			57108 (Zip Code)
	(605) 978-2900 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01        Other Events.

As previously reported, in October 2009, NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) (the “Company”) filed a request with the Montana Public Service Commission (the “MPSC”) for an annual electric transmission and distribution revenue increase of $15.5 million, and an annual natural gas transmission, storage and distribution revenue increase of $2.0 million. The request was based on a return on equity of 10.9%, an equity ratio of 49.45% and rate base of $632.2 million and $256.6 million, respectively. This rate filing did not include electric generation included in rate base.

On November 19, 2009, the Company issued a press release (the “Press Release”) announcing that the MPSC recently determined that the Company’s rate case filing did not meet the MPSC’s applicable minimum filing requirements, primarily related to allocated cost of service and rate design.  The Company believes its rate case filing complies with the MPSC’s filing requirements and has submitted to the MPSC a motion for reconsideration or, in the alternative, a motion to bifurcate the general rate case into a revenue requirement proceeding and an allocated cost of service and rate design proceeding.  If the MPSC’s initial determination stands, the Company expects to correct the deficiencies and re-file the rate case.  If a re-filing is required, the rate case decision likely would be delayed from the third quarter of 2010, as previously anticipated, to the fourth quarter of 2010.

The Press Release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01        Financial Statements and Exhibits.

EXHIBIT NO.	DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
99.1*	Press Release dated November 19, 2009

* filed herewith

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Miggie E. Cramblit
	Miggie E. Cramblit
	Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer

Date: November 19, 2009

Index to Exhibits

EXHIBIT NO.	DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
99.1*	Press Release dated November 19, 2009

* filed herewith

EX-99.1

		NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy 3010 W. 69th Street Sioux Falls, SD  57108 www.northwesternenergy.com
NYSE: NWE News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Media Contact: Claudia Rapkoch (866) 622-8081 claudia.rapkoch@northwestern.com Investor Relations Contact: Dan Rausch (605) 978-2902 daniel.rausch@northwestern.com

MPSC RULES NORTHWESTERN ENERGY MAY REFILE GENERAL RATE FILING TO COMPLY WITH STATE MINIMUM FILING REQUIREMENTS

BUTTE, Mont. – Nov. 19, 2009 – NorthWestern Energy (NYSE:NWE) announced today that the Montana Public Service Commission (“MPSC”) recently determined that the Company’s general rate case filing on Oct. 16, 2009 did not meet the MPSC’s applicable minimum filing requirements, primarily related to allocated cost of service and rate design.

In its rate case filing, NorthWestern proposed a revenue requirement increase of approximately $1.96 million for its natural gas utility and approximately $15.5 million for its electric utility.

NorthWestern’s proposed filing also included new cost allocation between rate classes and rate designs. The proposals introduced an inclining block residential rate structure that would assign more costs to residential customers that use more energy within each rate class.  Under this methodology, some customers would see higher increases than the average residential customer while other residential customers may experience lower than average rates.

In response to the MPSC’s action, NorthWestern submitted a motion for reconsideration or in the alternative, if it is denied, a motion to bifurcate the general rate case into a revenue requirement proceeding and an allocated cost of service and rate design proceeding.  The Company believes the motion to reconsider bears merit because the filing does, in fact, comply with the MPSC’s filing requirements.  In addition, should the MPSC deny the motion for reconsideration, the motion to bifurcate would allow a separation of the overall revenue requirement from the allocated cost of service and rate design rules, allowing a proceeding on the revenue requirement to continue.

NorthWestern expects the MPSC to rule as early as next week on the motions.  If the MPSC’s initial determination stands, the Company expects to correct the deficiencies and re-file the rate case.  If a re-filing is required, the rate case decision likely would be delayed from the third quarter of 2010, as previously anticipated, to the fourth quarter of 2010.

About NorthWestern Energy

NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 656,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska.  More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

 - more -

NorthWestern Energy Provides General Rate Case Filing Update

November 18, 2009

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