Pricing Supplement No. 6                     Filing under Rule 424(b)(3)
     Dated: December 18, 1996                     Registration No. 333-17181
     (To Prospectus, dated December 12, 1996)

                                     $150,000,000
                              The Montana Power Company
                             Medium-Term Notes, Series B

     Principal Amount: $35,000,000        Original Issue Date: December 23, 1996
     Interest Rate: 7.875%                Maturity Date: December 23, 2026
     Issue Price: 99.025%                 Interest Payment Dates:   January  1
                                                                    and July 1
     Selling Agent's Commission: .75%     Initial Interest
     Purchasing Agent's Discount:  N/A    Payment Date: July 1, 1997
     Net Proceeds to Company: 98.275%     Record Dates: December 15 and June 15
     Reallowance: N/A                     Redeemable:   Yes   X    No     
     Selling Concession: N/A                                -----    -----
     Form:                                In Whole:     Yes   X    No      
       Book-Entry (DTC)   X                                 -----    -----
                        -----             In Part:      Yes   X    No      
       Certificated                                         -----    -----
                        -----             Initial Redemption
                                          Date:  January 1, 2007
     Repayable at Option of Holder:       Redemption Limitation Date: N/A
       Yes:       No:  X
           -----     -----

     Redemption  prices (if  any):    The  Initial  Redemption  Price  shall  be
     103.938% of  the principal amount of  such Notes to be  redeemed and shall
     decline  on each Interest Payment Date subsequent to the Initial Redemption
     Date by  a Reduction  Percentage of .197% of the  principal amount  to be
     redeemed until the redemption price shall be 100% of such principal amount.

          Prior  to the  date of this  Pricing Supplement, the  Company has sold
     $20,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Medium-Term Notes, Series B.

          Additional Terms:  N/A

          N/A as used herein means "Not Applicable."

          THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE  NOT  BEEN  APPROVED  OR  DISAPPROVED  BY  THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR BY  ANY STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION
     NOR  HAS THE  SECURITIES AND  EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES
     COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PRICING SUPPLEMENT.
     ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                           Selling Agent/Purchasing Agent:

     ( ) Goldman, Sachs & Co.
                         ( ) J.P. Morgan & Co.
                                            (X) Lehman Brothers
                                                       ( ) Morgan Stanley & Co.
                                                               Incorporated