NorthWestern Shareholders Given Rosy Picture

After the meeting of shareholders, NorthWestern hosted what it called a "community meeting," with some Butte city leaders among the people attending.

Rowe told them that NorthWestern had hoped for an annual meeting free of turbulence or surprises, what he called a "boring meeting." That is what the company got and "we're very thankful," he said.

NorthWestern had some negative headlines in recent weeks after an explosion March 5 destroyed several buildings in downtown Bozeman and killed a woman. The explosion was traced to a leak in NorthWestern's gas supply line.