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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                ------------------------------------------------

                                   FORM 8-K/A
                                (Amendment No. 2)

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED)
                                DECEMBER 18, 2001

                ------------------------------------------------

                            NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                                    --------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


                0-692                              46-0172280
               -------                             ----------
      (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer Identification Number)

                 125 SOUTH DAKOTA AVENUE, SIOUX FALLS, SD 57104
                 ----------------------------------------------
              (Address of registrant's principal executive office)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (605) 978-2908
                                                           --------------

                                 Not Applicable
            -------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report



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      On December 12, 2001, NorthWestern Corporation (the "Company") filed a
Form 8-K dated January 11, 2001 (the "Original 8-K") containing certain
audited financial statements of The Montana Power Company Utility and certain
unaudited pro forma financial statements related thereto (collectively, the
"Finanical Statements"). The Company filed a Form 8-K/A on December 13, 2001
to file certain material agreements of the Company and to file a consent of
experts relating to the Financial Statements. This Form 8-K/A further amends
the Original 8-K to provide updated pro forma financial statements in Item
7(b), to provide an updated consent of experts relating to the Financial
Statements and to provide updated Statements of Eligibility under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 on Forms T-1.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

(c)   EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT
NUMBER            TITLE
- -------           -----

10.1 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Investment Program for
                  Merle D. Lewis, dated as of June 1, 2000.

10.2 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Equity Plan
                  Participation Program for Richard R. Hylland, dated as of
                  March 1, 2001.

10.3 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Equity Plan
                  Participation Program for Daniel K. Newell, dated as of
                  March 1, 2001.

10.4 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Equity Plan
                  Participation Program for Michael J. Hanson, dated as of
                  March 1, 2001.

10.5 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Equity Plan
                  Participation Program for Walter A. Bradley, III, dated as of
                  March 1, 2001.

10.6 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Equity Plan
                  Participation Program for Kipp D. Orme, dated as of
                  March 1, 2001.

10.7 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Equity Plan
                  Participation Program for Eric R. Jacobsen, dated as of
                  March 1, 2001.

10.8 *            Supplemental Income Security Plan for Directors, Officers and
                  Managers, as amended and restated effective July 1, 1999.

23.1              Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC.

99.1 *            Unaudited Combined Financial Statements of the Utility as of
                  and for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and Audited
                  Combined Financial Statements of the Utility as of December
                  31, 2000 and 1999 and for each of the years in the three-year
                  period ended December 31, 2000.

99.2              Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information of
                  NorthWestern Corporation as of and for the nine months ended
                  September 30, 2001 and for the year ended December 31, 2000.

99.3 *            Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Data of the Utility as
                  of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and for
                  the year ended December 30, 2000.

99.4              Form T-1 Statement of Elgibility under the Trust Indenture
                  Act of 1939 of a Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee
                  for Wilmington Trust Company to act as trustee under the
                  Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of NorthWestern
                  Capital Financing II.

99.5              Form T-1 Statement of Elgibility under the Trust Indenture
                  Act of 1939 of a Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee
                  for Wilmington Trust Company to act as trustee under the
                  Guarantee Agreement relating to NorthWestern Capital
                  Financing II.

99.6              Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture
                  Act of 1939 of a Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee for
                  JPMorgan Chase Bank to act as trustee under the Subordinated
                  Debt Securities Indenture, dated August 1, 1995, between
                  NorthWestern Corporation and JPMorgan Chase Bank (as successor
                  to the Chase Manhattan Bank (N.A.)), as Trustee.


* Previously filed.



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                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                    NorthWestern Corp.
                                    (Registrant)


                                    By:   /s/ Kipp D. Orme
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Kipp D. Orme
                                          Vice President--Finance and Chief
                                                Executive Officer


December 20, 2001




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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER            TITLE
- -------           -----


10.1 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Investment Program for
                  Merle D. Lewis, dated as of June 1, 2000.

10.2 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Equity Plan
                  Participation Program for Richard R. Hylland, dated as of
                  March 1, 2001.

10.3 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Equity Plan
                  Participation Program for Daniel K. Newell, dated as of
                  March 1, 2001.

10.4 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Equity Plan
                  Participation Program for Michael J. Hanson, dated as of
                  March 1, 2001.

10.5 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Equity Plan
                  Participation Program for Walter A. Bradley, III, dated as of
                  March 1, 2001.

10.6 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Equity Plan
                  Participation Program for Kipp D. Orme, dated as of
                  March 1, 2001.

10.7 *            Comprehensive Employment Agreement and Equity Plan
                  Participation Program for Eric R. Jacobsen, dated as of
                  March 1, 2001.

10.8 *            Supplemental Income Security Plan for Directors, Officers and
                  Managers, as amended and restated effective July 1, 1999.

23.1              Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC.

99.1 *            Unaudited Combined Financial Statements of the Utility as of
                  and for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and Audited
                  Combined Financial Statements of the Utility as of December
                  31, 2000 and 1999 and for each of the years in the three-year
                  period ended December 31, 2000.

99.2              Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information of
                  NorthWestern Corporation as of and for the nine months ended
                  September 30, 2001 and for the year ended December 31, 2000.

99.3 *            Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Data of the Utility as
                  of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and for
                  the year ended December 30, 2000.

99.4              Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture
                  Act of 1939 of a Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee
                  for Wilmington Trust Company to act as trustee under the
                  Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of NorthWestern
                  Capital Financing II.

99.5              Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture
                  Act of 1939 of a Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee
                  for Wilmington Trust Company to act as trustee under the
                  Guarantee Agreement relating to NorthWestern Capital
                  Financing II.

99.6              Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture
                  Act of 1939 of a Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee for
                  JPMorgan Chase Bank to act as trustee under the Subordinated
                  Debt Securities Indenture, dated August 1, 1995, between
                  NorthWestern Corporation and JPMorgan Chase Bank (as successor
                  to the Chase Manhattan Bank (N.A.), as Trustee.

*     Previously filed.