Northwestern Energy weatherizes Bigfork customers

By ALEX STRICKLAND — Bigfork Eagle

About 50 Bigfork residents came to the Bigfork Fire Hall Thursday to take advantage of Northwestern Energy's free weatherization program.

The program, which will make 38 stops around the state in this, it's third year, gives away free door sweeps, foam insulation, window insulation kits, door weather strip kits and more in an effort to help Northwestern's natural gas heating customers keep as much heat in as possible this winter.

"It's a nice offering for our customers," said Mike Horner, a Northwestern Energy energy conservation specialist. "We want to give people an opportunity to get these items."

Horner and his crew came with a 27-foot U-haul full of all the materials, enough to give one of each to 1,000 customers.

But Horner knows giving away products to winterize a home is not the same thing as having those products installed. That's why Northwestern conducts follow up surveys with everyone who comes to the event in an effort to figure out what works and what doesn't.

"It's one thing to give them away," Horner said. "We need them attached."

Also on hand for the event was Kim DeWitt of the Community Action Partnership, an organization designed to help various groups get back on their feet.

DeWitt's job centers on energy use and making sure people under financial strain have adequate heating and can afford it.

"Our impact in Northwest Montana is over $1 million a year," she said.

The group's range in the area includes Flathead, Lincoln, Lake and Sanders Counties.

"All of our heating programs have a conservation element," DeWitt said. "We want to help people become self-sufficient."

During the winter months Community Action Partnership services about 3,200 customers in subsidizing a portion of their heating costs in conjunction with local utility companies. Northwestern provides a 30-percent discount to customers falling within certain income guidelines and Flathead Electric offers an $8 per month credit year round.

For customers who took advantage of the give-away, they were given all the screws and instructions needed and a chance to chat with an installation specialist and watch an instructional video to learn how to best utilize the materials.

For more information or to find out where Northwestern Energy's next stop will be, visit their Web site at www.northwesernenergy.com