Cochrane

336 Rainbow Dam Road, Great Falls, MT 59404

Plant Summary Information

Cochrane is ranked #29 out of 71 power plants in Montana in terms of total annual net electricity generation.

Cochrane is comprised of 2 generators and generated 45.7 GWh during the 3-month period between September 2025 to December 2025.

Plant Name	Cochrane
Utility Name	NorthWestern Energy (MT Hydro)
Location	Cascade County, MT
Initial Operation Date	July 1958
Last Update	Dec 2025
Annual Generation	215.3 GWh
Annual Consumption	792.1 k MMBtu
Ranked #2,439 out of 13,081 Power Plants Nationwide
Ranked #193 out of 1,311 Water Power Plants Nationwide
Ranked #29 out of 71 Montana Power Plants
Ranked #12 out of 23 Montana Water Power Plants
Fuel Types	Water
Previous Operators	PPL Montana LLC (2013 to 2013) NorthWestern Energy (2014 to 2020) NorthWestern Energy (MT hdro) (2021 to 2021) NorthWestern Energy (MT Hydro) (2022 to 2025)

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Summary Information
Plant Name	Cochrane (2182)
Plant Address	336 Rainbow Dam Road, Great Falls, MT 59404
Utility	NorthWestern Energy (MT Hydro) (13902)
Latitude, Longitude	47.5375, -111.19497
Generation Dates on File	Jan 2001 to Dec 2025
Initial Operation Date	July 1958
Annual Generation	215.3 GWh
Fuel Types	Water

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Information
FERC Cogeneration Status	No
FERC Small Power Producer Status	No
FERC Exempt Wholesale Generator Status	Yes
FERC Exempt Wholesale Generator Docket Number	99-185-000

Regulatory Information
Regulatory Status	Regulated
NERC Region	WECC
Balancing Authority	NorthWestern Energy (NWMT) (NWMT)
NAICS Code	Utilities (22)
Sector	Electric Utility (1)
Water Source	Missouri River
Ash Impoundment	No
Transmission / Distribution Owner	NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) (12825) MT
Grid Voltage	100.00 kV
Energy Storage	No

* Data obtained from the 2025 EIA 860 Report

Technology	Conventional Hydroelectric
Prime Mover	Hydroelectric Turbine
Ownership	Single Owner
RTO ISO LMP Node Designation	NA
RTO ISO Location Designation For Reporting Wholesale Sales Data	NA
Nameplate Capacity	28.4 MW
Nameplate Power Factor	0.8
Summer Capacity	31 MW
Winter Capacity	31 MW
Minimum Load	1 MW

Uprate/Derate Completed	No
Status	Operating
First Operation Date	July 1958
Combined Heat & Power	No
Sector Name	Electric Utility (1)
Energy Source	Water
Solid Fuel Gasification	No
Carbon Capture Technology	No
Time From Cold Shutdown To Full Load	10M
Multiple Fuels	No

Technology	Conventional Hydroelectric
Prime Mover	Hydroelectric Turbine
Ownership	Single Owner
RTO ISO LMP Node Designation	NA
RTO ISO Location Designation For Reporting Wholesale Sales Data	NA
Nameplate Capacity	31 MW
Nameplate Power Factor	0.85
Summer Capacity	31 MW
Winter Capacity	31 MW

Minimum Load	1 MW
Uprate/Derate Completed	No
Status	Operating
First Operation Date	July 1958
Combined Heat & Power	No
Sector Name	Electric Utility (1)
Energy Source	Water
Time From Cold Shutdown To Full Load	10M
Multiple Fuels	No

Owner Name	Address	Generator	Ownership
*We couldn't locate any owners for this plant*

Power plants with a similar annual net generation from Water.

Rank	Plant Name	Plant Location	Annual Generation
#183	Jefferies	Moncks Corner, SC	233.5 GWh
#184	Donnells	None, CA	233.4 GWh
#185	J Woodruff	Chattahoochee, FL	228.5 GWh
#186	Lookout Point	Lowell, OR	227.0 GWh
#187	Detroit	Mill City, OR	226.9 GWh
#188	Lost Creek	Trail, OR	221.3 GWh
#189	Eufaula Dam	Porum, OK	219.6 GWh
#190	Ohio Falls	Shippingport Island, KY	219.5 GWh
#191	Blakely Mountain	Royal, AR	216.4 GWh
#192	Tiger Creek	Pioneer, CA	215.7 GWh
#194	Morony	Great Falls, MT	214.7 GWh
#195	Rumford Falls Hydro Facility	Rumford, ME	212.1 GWh
#196	Flatiron	Loveland, CO	213.6 GWh
#197	Hiwassee Dam	Murphy, NC	213.5 GWh
#198	Red Rock Hydro Plant	Pella, IA	213.0 GWh
#199	W E Warne	Gorman, CA	211.0 GWh
#200	Toketee Falls	Idleyld Park, OR	208.4 GWh
#201	Sam Rayburn Dam	Jasper, TX	207.9 GWh
#202	American Falls	American Falls, ID	206.3 GWh
#203	Pole Hill	Loveland, CO	202.4 GWh

Below are closest 20 power plants surrounding Cochrane.

Plant Name	Plant Location	Annual Generation	Distance
Black Eagle	Great Falls, MT	110.3 GWh	3.3 mi
Black Eagle Solar, LLC	Black Eagle, MT	4.8 GWh	2.8 mi
Canyon Ferry	Helena, MT	273.1 GWh	66.3 mi
Fairfield Wind	Fairfield, MT	27.7 GWh	38.1 mi
Gordon Butte Wind LLC	Martinsdale, MT	66.5 GWh	87.6 mi
Great Divide Solar, LLC	Canyon Creek, MT	5.7 GWh	70.8 mi
Green Meadow Solar, LLC	Helena, MT	5.1 GWh	71.1 mi
Greenfield Wind - MT	Fairfield, MT	78.6 GWh	38 mi
Hauser	Helena, MT	128.4 GWh	62.5 mi
Holter	Wolf Creek, MT	247.5 GWh	53.5 mi
Horseshoe Bend Wind Park	Great Falls, MT	21.2 GWh	11.7 mi
Morony	Great Falls, MT	214.7 GWh	7 mi
NaturEner Glacier Wind Energy 1	Ethridge, MT	205.5 GWh	79.4 mi
NaturEner Glacier Wind Energy 2	Ethridge, MT	205.6 GWh	82.6 mi
Rainbow (MT)	Great Falls, MT	298.6 GWh	0.5 mi
Ryan	Great Falls, MT	377.3 GWh	4.1 mi
South Peak Wind	Geyser, MT	272.5 GWh	30.7 mi
Spion Kop Wind Farm	Geyser, MT	97.7 GWh	29.6 mi
Tiber Dam Hydroelectric Plant	Chester, MT	31.2 GWh	54.1 mi
Turnbull Hydro	Fairfield, MT	19.0 GWh	42.3 mi