Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Companies Of A Century: Northwestern Energy Powers Persistence

© AdobeStock
CEO Brian Bird says NorthWestern prides itself on reliability and short outage times, “notable, among other reasons, because of the rural nature of our service territory."

Editor’s Note: Chief Executive is kicking off a new annual tradition this year by celebrating every sizable (over $100 million in annual revenues) standalone company turning 100 in 2023. Check out the rest of this year’s class for tips, insights and, above all else, the inspiration you need to keep going….and going.

 

ELECTRIC UTILITY 

NORTHWESTERN ENERGY 

HQ: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Revenues: $1.5 billion
Employees: 1,530 

Today, NorthWestern is a $1.5 billion electric and natural-gas utility whose 1,530 employees serve more than 764,000 customers across the western two-thirds of Montana, eastern South Dakota, Nebraska and Yellowstone National Park. But it incorporated in 1923 as Northwestern Public Service, bringing together three small utility companies in Nebraska and two in South Dakota. 

Over the next two decades, NorthWestern purchased dozens of local and regional energy companies covering coal, gas and oil-generating properties. Its growth began accommodating the burgeoning energy-exploration business by, for instance, building nearly 250 miles of 20-inch transmission pipeline in Montana in 1931. During the Depression, the utility company kept the lights on by cutting rates five times over eight years. 

NorthWestern’s contribution to building out the regional power infrastructure over the decades culminated in bringing online in 2022 the 58-megawatt, natural gas-fired Bob Glanzer Generating Station in South Dakota. The $83 million electricity facility features six Caterpillar reciprocating internal-combustion engines and a highly efficient, lean-burn design for less fuel usage. Now, as NorthWestern Energy, the utility also owns and operates more than 9,900 miles of natural-gas pipelines. 

Lighting Up the West 

NorthWestern prides itself on reliability. On average, its customers experienced fewer than 120 minutes of outage time in 2022, “notable, among other reasons, because of the rural nature of our service territory,” NorthWestern CEO Brian Bird reported in the company’s most recent annual report. At times, keeping lights on and factories humming can be harrowing. In May 2022, for example, a derecho—a widespread, long-lived windstorm including a band of rapidly moving thunderstorms—hit South Dakota, stripping power from about 9,500 NorthWestern Energy electricity customers. The company’s crews rallied, working around the clock for several days after the storm to restore power to more than 85 percent of impacted customers. 

This response garnered a peer award by the Edison Electric Institute. “Though it was clearly an honor to be recognized,” Bird wrote, “this type of response is what we expect from our incredible employees.” 


MORE LIKE THIS

  • Get the CEO Briefing

    Sign up today to get weekly access to the latest issues affecting CEOs in every industry
  • upcoming events

    Roundtable

    Strategic Planning Workshop

    1:00 - 5:00 pm

    Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

    Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

    1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
    2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
    3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

     

    Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

    New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

    Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

    2:00 - 5:00 pm

    Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

    Limited space available.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

    Golf Outing

    10:30 - 5:00 pm
    General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
    Sponsored by UBS

    General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

    The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.