Nature of Operations and Basis of Consolidation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure

Nature of Operations and Basis of Consolidation

NorthWestern Corporation, doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides electricity and/or natural gas to approximately 753,600 customers in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Yellowstone National Park.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires us to make estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Financial Statements) reflect all adjustments (which unless otherwise noted are normal and recurring in nature) that are, in our opinion, necessary to fairly present our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The actual results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for a full year or for other interim periods. Events occurring subsequent to March 31, 2022 have been evaluated as to their potential impact to the Financial Statements through the date of issuance.

The Financial Statements included herein have been prepared by NorthWestern, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations; however, we believe that the condensed disclosures provided are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. We recommend that these Financial Statements be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Reclassification

In 2021, we renamed the line item "Cost of sales" as previously shown on the Consolidated Statements of Income, and used elsewhere within our filing, to "Fuel, purchased supply and direct transmission expense." Additionally, we disaggregated the line item "Operating, general and administrative" as previously shown on the Consolidated Statements of Income, and used elsewhere within our filing, to two line items, "Operating and maintenance" and "Administrative and general." These reclassifications were done in an effort to better convey the nature of these costs and did not impact reported operating income or net income.

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands):

	March 31,		December 31,		March 31,		December 31,
	2022		2021		2021		2020
Cash and cash equivalents	$	13,645	$	2,820	$	8,925	$	5,811
Restricted cash	17,253		15,942		12,965		11,285
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	$	30,898	$	18,762	$	21,890	$	17,096