Butte, Mont., Businesses Struggle with Jump in Utility Bills.

By Leslie McCartney, The Montana Standard, Butte Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jan. 11--When Park Street Gym owner Ristene Hall saw the familiar NorthWestern Energy envelope, she steeled herself for the utility bill it contained.

But even she was surprised by the grand total for a month's worth of gas and electric for her Uptown Butte building: $2,100.

"It is a terrible jump," Hall explained, saying that last year's bill for the same period was around $1,300. "It's scary." The jump in power costs is no surprise: NorthWestern warned last