__________________________________

               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                     WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                            FORM 11-K

                          ANNUAL REPORT
                PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
                 SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

               __________________________________

           For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993

                   NORTHWESTERN RESOURCES CO.
       DEFERRED SAVINGS AND EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                    THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY
                        40 EAST BROADWAY
                        BUTTE, MT  59701

Item 1. Changes in the Plan

The Northwestern Resources Co. Deferred Savings Plan was amended
and restated in 1989 as the Northwestern Resources Co. Deferred
Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan to reflect the merger
of the Northwestern Resources Co. Deferred Savings Plan and that
portion of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of The Montana Power
Company and Subsidiaries attributable to employees of
Northwestern Resources Company.  Prior to August 17, 1992, the
IRS was not yet accepting application for determination letters
for the merging of the two plans.  Management intends to apply
for a determination letter in 1994 and management's counsel
believes that a favorable determination letter will be issued.  

Item 2. Changes in Investment Policy

No changes have been made to the Plan's investment policy in
1993.  

Item 3. Contributions to the Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership
Plan Fund

Northwestern Resources Co. contributed $552,297 in 1993 to the
Plan's Leveraged ESOP Fund.  

Item 4. Participating Employees

There were 439 employees and retirees participating in the
Northwestern Resources Co. Deferred Savings and Employee Stock
Ownership Plan at December 31, 1993.  

Item 5. Administration of the Plan

The Plan is administered by the seven-member Retirement Plan
Committee (Committee) appointed by, and serving at the pleasure
of, the Board of Directors of Northwestern Resources Company.  No
compensation was paid to the members of the Committee by the
Plan.  The members of the Committee, each of whose address is
c/o The Montana Power Company, 40 East Broadway, Butte,
Montana 59701, are as follows:  


                                     Positions or Offices Held With
                                        The Montana Power Company
                                          and Its Subsidiaries       

Charles J. Gilder. . Administrator Vice President - Administration, 
                                     Utility Division

Richard F. Cromer. . Member        President and Chief Operating 
                                     Officer, Continental Energy 
                                     Services, Inc.

Robert P. Gannon . . Member        President and Chief Operating
                                     Officer, Utility Division

Jerrold P. Pederson. Member        Vice President - Chief Financial 
                                     Officer

Arthur K. Neill. . . Member        Executive Vice President - Utility 
                                     Services, Utility Division

James J. Murphy. . . Member        President, Entech, Inc.

Ellen M. Senechal. . Member        Vice President and Treasurer, 
                                     Entech, Inc.

Certain members of the Committee are also directors or officers
of certain subsidiaries of The Montana Power Company.  


Item 6. Custodian of Investments

The Northern Trust Company, Fifty South LaSalle Street, Chicago,
Illinois 60675 is the Trustee of the Plan.  Ark Capital
Management Company, Inc., manages one hundred percent of the Bond
Fund and approximately fifty percent of the Stock Fund.  INVESCO
Capital Management, Inc., manages approximately fifty percent of
the Stock Fund.  The Trustee and the money managers are
responsible for the safekeeping and investment of all
contributions made to the Plan.  There is no specific coverage by
any bond furnished by the Trustee or either money manager in
connection with the custody of the security investments or other
assets of the Plan.  No fees are paid out of the Plan.  

Item 7. Reports to Participating Employees

Summary Annual Reports will be made directly to participating
employees for the fiscal year 1993 with respect to the operations
of the Plan.  These reports present the basic financial
statements and the employees' rights to additional information. 
Statements of the status of individual accounts under the Plan
have been sent directly to the employees.  

Item 8. Investment of Master Trust Funds

    (a) The aggregate dollar amounts of brokerage commissions
        paid by the Master Trust were $95,182, $73,951, $56,676
        for the years 1993, 1992 and 1991, respectively.  None
        of these commissions were paid to any broker which is an
        affiliated person of the Plan or their investment
        advisor, principal underwriters or to an affiliated
        person of any such person.  

    (b) SEI Evaluation Services provided reports on the
        performance of the Master Trust investment managers and
        received brokerage fees of $75,233 and $121,099 in 1993
        and 1992, respectively.  


Note:  The following financial statements and schedules are filed
under cover of Form SE.  

Item 9. Financial Statements

                   Northwestern Resources Co.
                      Deferred Savings and
                  Employee Stock Ownership Plan


                  Index to Financial Statements

                                                        Page    


Report of Independent Accountants                        4

Plan Financial Statements:
    Statements of Net Assets Available for 
      Benefits at December 31, 1993 and 1992        5 through 6

    Statements of Changes in Net Assets 
      Available for Benefits for the three 
      years ended December 31, 1993                 7 through 9

    Notes to Financial Statements                  10 through 20

    Schedule of Assets Held for Investment at 
     December 31, 1993                             21 through 31

    Schedule of Reportable Transactions for 
      the Year Ended December 31, 1993                  32

Retirement Plan Committee Authorization                 33

Consent of Independent Accountants                      34


Note:  All other schedules are omitted because they are not
applicable or the required information is shown in the Plan's
financial statements.  


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Northwestern Resources Co. Retirement Plan Committee
has duly caused this annual report to be signed by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.  


                         NORTHWESTERN RESOURCES CO. DEFERRED
                         SAVINGS AND EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP
                         PLAN


Date:  March 29, 1994    By John S. Miller                      
                            John S. Miller
                            The Montana Power Company Controller
600\94087Z01