Bozeman Power Outages: Who to Call and How to Keep the Heat On
When the lights go out in Bozeman, MT, the first question is simple: is it the grid, or is it the house? The answer decides who you call. A neighborhood outage is the utility's job. A problem on your side of the meter, from the meter base and mast to the panel and wiring inside, is the property owner's, and in Montana that work goes to a licensed electrician.
This guide covers how to tell the difference, who to call around the Gallatin Valley, the rule for a damaged meter base, and how to keep the house warm while you wait.
Safety first. If there is smoke or fire, call 911. Stay well away from any downed line and anything it touches, and assume it is live. Call your utility and, if anyone is in danger, 911. Do not try to move a line, and do not touch a damaged meter or service mast.
Is it the power company or my house?
| What you see | Likely source | Who to contact |
|---|---|---|
| Whole house dark, neighbors dark too, streetlights out | Utility outage | Your utility's outage line or outage map |
| Whole house dark, neighbors have power | Your main breaker, your service, or the utility's line to your house | Check the main breaker once; then call the utility so it can check its side |
| Lights dim, flicker or get brighter when big appliances run | Could be a loose connection on the utility side or in your service | Call the utility first; if its side checks out, call an electrician |
| Half the house dead, or some rooms out | Tripped breaker, a lost leg of the service, or a fault in the panel | Try resetting the tripped breaker once; if that fails, the utility and then an electrician |
| Meter base pulled off the wall, mast bent, wires torn loose | Damage to customer-owned equipment | Report it to the utility, then a licensed electrician to repair it |
| Burning smell, buzzing, a hot panel or outlet | Wiring fault | Leave it off; electrician. Smoke or fire: 911 |
Who to call for a power outage in Bozeman
Most of Bozeman, Belgrade and the valley are served by NorthWestern Energy. Park Electric Cooperative serves much of Park County and parts of Gallatin County. If you are not sure, check your bill.
- NorthWestern Energy: report and track outages on the NorthWestern outage map, or call 888-467-2669.
- Park Electric Cooperative: outages 406-222-7778; after-hours options are listed on the Park Electric website.
- An electrician: for anything on your side of the meter, including the meter base, mast, panel, breakers and wiring.
NorthWestern has announced a merger in which the combined company is to be renamed Bright Horizon Energy Corporation, pending approval. Until that changes, use the NorthWestern name and numbers above.
The meter-base rule after a storm
Wind, falling limbs and sliding snow can pull a service mast or meter base off the wall. NorthWestern's own outage page is clear about what happens next: "If a customer's meter base is damaged, the property owner needs to contact an electrician to make repairs before service can be restored," and "Repairs can only be made by a licensed electrician" (NorthWestern Energy).
In practice that means:
Report the damage
Call NorthWestern so it can make the line safe. Stay clear of the meter and wires.
Get a licensed electrician
The meter socket, main disconnect, weatherhead, mast and service-entrance conductors belong to the property owner (NorthWestern Electric Service Requirements, §1.11), so the repair is yours to arrange.
Permit and inspection
Inside Bozeman, Belgrade and Manhattan city limits, the city issues the electrical permit. Elsewhere in the valley, including Livingston, Three Forks, Big Sky and Four Corners, the state does. Montana law bars a utility from energizing an installation without an electrical permit (MCA 50-60-605).
The utility reconnects
Only authorized NorthWestern employees may install meters, remove meters or break meter seals (ESR §1.10). Do not cut a seal or pull a meter yourself.
Ask the electrician whether the quote covers the permit and whether any utility work is included. After-hours rates vary, so ask before the visit. See emergency electrician help for what to do when the problem is inside the house.
The September 11, 2024 outage
On September 11, 2024, a storm with strong winds and rain caused outages for more than 9,000 NorthWestern customers around Bozeman and Gallatin County. The largest single outage, more than 3,200 customers, was near Flanders Mill Road and West Oak Street in northwest Bozeman, with others at Four Corners, Fowler and Patterson, Bohart and L Street, and Jackrabbit near West Cameron Bridge (KBZK report). The airport weather station recorded a peak gust of 71 mph that day (our calculation from NOAA daily station data).
That storm was in September. Winter outages are harder. In the January 2024 cold snap, the MSU station hit -40°F on January 13 (NOAA daily data), and NorthWestern reported that its Montana electric peak load beat the record set in December 2022 (NorthWestern release, Jan 17, 2024).
How to keep the heat on during an outage
Most gas furnaces need electricity to run the igniter, controls and blower, so a gas-heated home usually loses heat when the power goes out. Electric baseboard and heat pumps stop too. A few steps while you wait:
- Close off unused rooms and keep doors shut; gather in one room.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls. If pipes are at risk, know where your main water shutoff is.
- Unplug sensitive electronics so a surge when power returns does not hit them; leave one light switched on so you know when it is back.
- Run a portable generator outdoors only, well away from doors, windows and vents. Never run one in a garage, even with the door open.
- Never use an oven, grill or camp stove for heat indoors.
- Check on neighbors, especially anyone who relies on medical equipment.
Backup power done safely
Never plug a generator into a wall outlet or dryer outlet to feed the house. That backfeeds the utility lines and can injure line workers and neighbors. NorthWestern requires generators connected to house wiring to use a permanently installed, break-before-make transfer switch, and says small portable generators shall not be connected to customer wiring unless a transfer switch is installed properly (ESR §7.1). Our transfer switch vs. interlock guide explains the options, and generator installation covers standby units. National cost guides put an installed interlock kit at $400–$850 and a manual transfer switch at $400–$1,300 (HomeGuide). See the cost guide for more.
Renters
If you rent, report outages to the utility like anyone else. For problems on the property side, such as a damaged meter base or a dead circuit, tell your landlord in writing. Montana's DLI says electrical work on rental properties must be done by licensed contractors. This is general information, not legal advice.
Bozeman Electricians is a free quote-referral service, not an electrician. When the problem is on your side of the meter, describe it once and independent licensed electricians serving the Gallatin Valley can reply. Contractors reply on their own schedules.
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call for a power outage in Bozeman?
For a neighborhood outage, contact your utility. NorthWestern Energy serves most of Bozeman and the valley: use its outage map or call 888-467-2669. Park Electric Cooperative members call 406-222-7778. Call an electrician for problems on your side of the meter.
My meter base was damaged in a storm. Who fixes it?
The property owner arranges the repair. NorthWestern says a damaged meter base must be repaired by a licensed electrician before service can be restored. The repair needs an electrical permit, and only NorthWestern sets meters and seals.
Why does half my house have power and half does not?
It can be a tripped breaker, a problem in the panel, or a lost leg of the service from the utility. Reset the tripped breaker once. If that does not fix it, call the utility to check its side, then an electrician.
Can I plug my generator into a wall outlet during an outage?
No. That backfeeds the lines and can injure utility workers and others. NorthWestern requires a permanently installed break-before-make transfer switch for any generator connected to house wiring.