Could Many Montanans Be Overpaying on Their Energy Bills?

Nobody enjoys opening an energy bill, and even fewer people want to pay more than necessary for it. As the coldest stretch of the year nears, energy use rises and so do costs, but NorthWestern Energy says many customers may not need to pay as much as they do.

Whitney Jurenic, who works with NorthWestern Energy, helps low-income Montanans find bill assistance programs and ways to make their homes more energy-efficient. She says about 1 in 8 Montanans are currently receiving help, while roughly 1 in 4 are actually eligible. Could you be one of them?

For customers struggling to keep up with their bills, NorthWestern Energy offers billing and payment options that may help. The company can also connect people with government and nonprofit aid programs and explain the eligibility rules. Those who qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, may receive electric and natural gas bill discounts, emergency energy assistance, and free home weatherization. Electric bill discounts are 25% from November through April and 15% from May through October. Natural gas bill discounts are currently 30% from November through April.

To learn whether you qualify for LIHEAP, you can apply now and review the full details online. More information is also available in Butte through Action Inc. by calling (406) 533-6855 or (800) 382-1325.

LOOK: We Laughed at These 17 ’70s and ’80s Cars. Who’s Laughing Now?

The AMC Pacer, the El Camino, and the Volvo 240 were once easy targets for jokes. Here’s why these ’70s and ’80s cars have become cool again.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

15 Childhood Myths and Rituals We Swore By (and Some We Probably Still Do)

Wishing at 11:11, lifting your feet over railroad tracks, and fearing Bloody Mary were among the childhood myths and rituals many of us believed in.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

These Photos of '80s Office Life Will Take You Back

Whether you miss it or not, office life in the ’80s was filled with machines, shoulder pads, and face-to-face drama long before email and smartphones. These photos may bring it all back.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz