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HELENA (AP) – The Public Service Commission has approved a temporary rate increase for NorthWestern Energy after revenue fell short of the company's forecast with its purchase of 11 hydroelectric dams in 2014.

PSC spokesman Eric Sell says the commission voted 3-1 on Tuesday to approve the interim increase of $31.6 million to electricity customers in Montana. NorthWestern says the increase will raise the average customer's bill by about $4 per month.

NorthWestern planned to sell excess power from the dams on the spot market, but the market price fell short of the company's projections. Sell says NorthWestern was allowed to seek the rate increase due to the revenue shortfall.

The commission plans to further investigate whether NorthWestern made any errors in calculation that would merit reversing the rate hike and refunding customers.

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