Great Falls Utilities (Helena, Power: house, zip code, price)

[elevenhounds]

What is the aprox. monthly cost of utilities for a 4 bdrm house in Great Falls

I just want an outside estimate...I don't have any other particulars about the heating or hot water, etc.

Also price per month of cable and internet?

[GiftShoppeGuy]

Originally Posted by elevenhounds

What is the aprox. monthly cost of utilities for a 4 bdrm house in Great Falls

I just want an outside estimate...I don't have any other particulars about the heating or hot water, etc.

Also price per month of cable and internet?

Our power rates went through the roof when Montana Power bailed on us and left us stranded through deregulation.

>>> .... HB 474 was not studied thoroughly and, on the last night of the Legislative session, was completely rewritten by MPC lobbyists and PP&L accountants. Thirty-two pages of amendments were presented on the House floor on the final day. None of the legislators understood the amendments and in the last day of business HB 474 was passed without a public hearing, to the detriment of customers and taxpayers. It was like being back in the 1940s and 1950s when the Anaconda Mining Co. and its subsidiary MPC tightened the copper collar around all of our necks. HB 474 is a flawed law created by a flawed process, shifting all risks of doing energy business in Montana to consumers and taxpayers by guaranteeing full cost recovery to the industry. Portions of the bill, supposed to be a safety net for consumers, are completely unfunded...... <<<

The Failure Of Montana Power Company

Who Killed Montana Power?, Steve Kroft: Ex-Shareholders Feel Misled - CBS News

>>> ...For nearly 90 years, the Montana Power Company exemplified the very best of American capitalism. It provided cheap, reliable electricity for the people of Montana, excellent benefits for thousands of employees and generous, reliable dividends for its stockholders.
Everyone was happy, except for the corporate officers and their Wall Street investment banking firm who decided there was more money to be made in the more glamourous and profitable world of telecommunications. The result exemplified the worst of American capitalism.... <<<

NorthWestern Energy is not looked upon with much favor around here, because they are the "only" power company in the Pacific Northwest that "does not" own their own power generation facilities. Thus, our power rates are "the highest" in the Northwest at over 8.8 cents per kilowatt hour (as of 2006).

I am still just little more than pissed-off about all of this.

The Helena Independent sums it up for us here;
Helena Independent Record (http://www.helenair.com/articles/2006/01/08/montana_top/a01010806_02.txt - broken link)

Back in 2004 I turned off the gas and went all electric, as both bills were equally high... Our average electric bill for the month of Feb (our coldest month) runs at about $139.00..... but I heat with it too. The gas, for heat alone, would cost this much by itself..... I just picked the lessor of the two evils is all. Then too, I reside out in the county and have a bit more going on than just "residential".
Great Falls gas (in the city) may be cheaper than what we were getting from Northwestern Energy out here in the the county.

I run more than just regular internet where I am by way of server ops, so my price again would be higher.
The average for digital cable internet and television is at about $90.00 per month;

See Bresnan Communications;

Bresnan Communications | High Speed Internet Provides, Digital Phone Service and Cable

Your zip code would be either of these
59404, 59405, 59403, 59401, 59406, 59402

If you decide to go with internet cable, then I suggest and highly, that you get Vonage (VOIP) internet telephone.... Vonage is so way less expensive than Bresnan...... who is required to compete fairly with the very "overpriced" Qwest Communications. Bresnan's (VOIP) can run nearly $50.00 per month just for basic services.
Phone with Qwest can cost you an easy $100.00 per month, while Vonage can give you everything plus free long distance for around $24.00 to $38.00 per month.

Landline phone services here are extremely dated, in that Qwest hasn't done any upgrading or major services replacements since aquiring the lines from U.S. West in 2000. Cable (Broadband) internet and phone would be your best bet for reliable communications here.

[kabb36]

GiftShoppeGuy ~

Thanks so much for all the info. You've answered some questions that I also had. Your posts are making Great Falls sound bettter and better for our choice of places to settle.