NorthWestern Energy Kicks Off Bright Future Challenge on Earth Day

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, NorthWestern Energy is kicking off a year-long challenge to its customers. Residential electric customers in South Dakota are encouraged to accept the Bright Future Challenge and install compact fluorescent lamps in high use locations in their homes. Throughout the next year, the challenge is for NorthWestern Energy customers to join together and save 10 million kilowatt hours of electricity by switching from traditional incandescent bulbs to CFLs.  

Starting on Earth Day, April 22, 2010, customers can sign up for the Bright Future Challenge at www.brightfuturechallenge.com and enter a year-long contest for $10,000 in prizes. There are three gift card prizes offered that will be honored by a home improvement store in the area of the winning customers. First Prize is worth $5,000; Second prize is a $3,000 gift card; and Third Prize is a $2,000 gift card. To participate, customers accept the Bright Future Challenge and report the number of CFLs installed starting with Earth Day 2010. While only one contest entry is allowed for each account, customers are encouraged to continue to update their information as they install more CFLs to help reach the 10 million kWh goal. 

"The Bright Future Challenge will show how small actions by many add up to big energy savings," said Bill Thomas, NorthWestern Energy's manager of regulatory support services. "We're challenging our customers to replace about 200,000 incandescent bulbs with CFLs over the next year to save 10 million kWh. That's enough electricity to power over 1,000 homes."

CFLs use one-quarter of the electricity of a traditional bulb and last up to 10 times longer. By shopping for CFLs with the 4Ls – Label, Light, Location, and Less Energy – in mind, customers can choose the right CFL for the right location and immediately start saving energy. Information about shopping for CFLs, the proper disposal of spent CFLs, along with other energy efficiency information is provided at the Bright Future Challenge Web site. 

Customers without internet access may call the NorthWestern Energy Customer Contact Centers to enter the Bright Future Challenge.

Visit www.brightfuturechallenge.com for details and qualifications on any of the above-mentioned programs or call (888) 467-2669.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 661,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska.  More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Information provided by NorthWestern Energy
April 2010