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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 1, 2003


                            NorthWestern Corporation
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




         Delaware                       0-692                   46-0172280
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                                       Identification No.)

                 125 South Dakota Avenue                        57104
                Sioux Falls, South Dakota                     (Zip Code)
         (Address of principal executive offices)

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


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Item 7.        Financial Statements and Exhibits

EXHIBIT NO.    DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
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99.1*          Press Release of  NorthWestern  Corporation  dated April 1,
               2003
* filed herewith


Item 9.     Regulation FD Disclosure (Information Furnished in this Item 9 is
            Furnished Under Item 12).

The following  disclosure  is being  furnished  pursuant to Item 12,  Results of
Operations and Financial Condition, of this Form 8-K.

On April  1,  2003,  NorthWestern  Corporation  ("NorthWestern")  issued a press
release containing material information  regarding its results of operations and
financial  condition  for the fiscal year ended  December  31,  2002,  including
projected  charges  and  expected  net losses on common  stock.  Pursuant to SEC
Release No.  34-47226,  the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and
is being furnished, not filed, under Item 12 to this Report on Form 8-K.


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                                   SIGNATURES

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


                              NorthWestern Corporation


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

Date:  April 1, 2003


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                                Index to Exhibits
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EXHIBIT NO.    DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
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99.1*          Press Release of  NorthWestern  Corporation  dated April 1, 2003
* filed herewith


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