PPL Montana – Hydroelectric Plants
11 hydroelectric plants
Total generating capacity: 604 megawatts

PPL Montana owns and operates 11 hydroelectric projects that have a total generating capacity of 604 megawatts, as well as one reservoir. The facilities are located on the Clark Fork, Flathead, Madison and Missouri Rivers and on West Rosebud Creek.

In addition to producing power, these projects provide flood control, irrigation and public recreation, and help protect and enhance fisheries, wildlife, wetlands habitat and water quality. Nine of the projects are classified as “run-of-river” because they generate electricity using the water as it flows down the river, without the need to store additional water supplies. The other two projects are classified as “storage generation” because they use the water stored in their reservoirs to generate electricity.

The projects began operation at various times between 1891 and 1958, and now operate under agreements developed in cooperation with state and federal wildlife agencies, recreational groups, reservoir/lakeshore homeowners associations and other special-interest groups that regulate water releases from the projects.

PPL Montana has committed to spend more than $100 million between 2000 and 2019 for projects to improve river flow, water quality, fisheries, wildlife habitats, recreation sites and cultural resources on Montana rivers and lakes. Since committing these funds, PPL Montana has worked with its partners to obtain an additional $50 million in state, federal and private conservation funds that otherwise would not have been available.

In 2006, for the fourth time in five years, PPL Montana received the “Outstanding Stewardship of America’s Rivers” award from the National Hydropower Association. The award recognizes the company’s role in managing environmental and recreational resources at its facilities along the Madison and Missouri rivers.

PPL Montana’s hydroelectric facilities are located at the following sites:

On the Clark Fork River

• Thompson Falls Dam, Thompson Falls.

On the Flathead River

• Kerr Dam, 5 miles southwest of Polson.

On the Madison River

• Madison Dam, 10 miles north of Ennis.
• Hebgen Lake, 25 miles north of West Yellowstone.

On the Missouri River

• Hauser Dam, 14 miles northeast of Helena.
• Holter Dam, 43 miles northeast of Helena.
• Black Eagle Dam, 2 miles northeast of Great Falls.
• Rainbow Dam, 6 miles northeast of Great Falls.
• Cochrane Dam, 8 miles northeast of Great Falls.
• Ryan Dam, 10 miles northeast of Great Falls.
• Morony Dam, 15 miles northeast of Great Falls.

On the West Rosebud Creek

• Mystic Lake Dam, 75 miles southwest of Billings.