NorthWestern Energy Sets Natural Gas Use Record

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — NorthWestern Energy says the recent cold snap led to record natural gas delivery last Friday.

Utility spokesman Butch Larcombe tells the Missoulian (http://bit.ly/18kby8B ) that Montana customers used 302 million cubic feet of natural gas on Friday, breaking the old mark of 298 million cubic feet set in 1972.

Natural gas use declined to 286 million cubic feet on Saturday. Larcombe says a reduction in business use led to the decreased demand.

Demand for electricity also was high, but did not break a record. Larcombe said the peak load on Sunday reached 1,728 megawatts. The record of 1,805 megawatts was set in December 2008.