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Income Taxes Operating Loss (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforward $ 351.0us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforward 264.0us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
Year 2025 [Member] | Domestic Tax Authority [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforwards, subject to expiration 16.3us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
/ nwe_ExpirationAxis
= nwe_Year2025Member
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
Year 2028 [Member] | Domestic Tax Authority [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforwards, subject to expiration 95.5us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
/ nwe_ExpirationAxis
= nwe_Year2028Member
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
Year 2029 [Member] | Domestic Tax Authority [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforwards, subject to expiration 23.8us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
/ nwe_ExpirationAxis
= nwe_Year2029Member
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
Year 2031 [Member] | Domestic Tax Authority [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforwards, subject to expiration 127.5us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
/ nwe_ExpirationAxis
= nwe_Year2031Member
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
Year 2033 [Member] | Domestic Tax Authority [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforwards, subject to expiration 13.3us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
/ nwe_ExpirationAxis
= nwe_Year2033Member
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
Year 2034 [Member] [Member] | Domestic Tax Authority [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforwards, subject to expiration 74.9us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
/ nwe_ExpirationAxis
= nwe_Year2034MemberMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
Year 2015 [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforwards, subject to expiration 74.0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
/ nwe_ExpirationAxis
= nwe_Year2015Member
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
Year 2016 [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforwards, subject to expiration 18.6us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
/ nwe_ExpirationAxis
= nwe_Year2016Member
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
Year 2018 [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforwards, subject to expiration 101.2us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
/ nwe_ExpirationAxis
= nwe_Year2018Member
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
Year 2020 [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforwards, subject to expiration 10.5us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
/ nwe_ExpirationAxis
= nwe_Year2020Member
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
Year 2021 [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]  
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]  
NOL carryforwards, subject to expiration $ 59.7us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
/ nwe_ExpirationAxis
= nwe_Year2021Member
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember