[GRAPHIC OMITTED]                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1

                                                                    News Release
                                                                        NYSE:NOR

Contacts:

Investors/Media:

Roger Schrum
605-978-2848
roger.schrum@northwestern.com


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              NORTHWESTERN CANCELS ADJOURNED STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING;
              PROPOSAL TO AMEND CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION IS NOT
                                    APPROVED
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Sept. 12, 2003 - NorthWestern  Corporation  (NYSE:NOR) today
reported that it has cancelled its previously  adjourned  stockholders'  meeting
because  the Company did not receive  sufficient  votes from  stockholders  on a
proposal to amend the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

The stockholders  meeting was adjourned on Aug. 26, 2003, to allow for continued
voting  on  the  proposal.  However,  as of  today,  the  Company  had  received
17,344,109 votes for the proposal.  Passage of the proposal  required a majority
approval of the  outstanding  stock of the  corporation  or  18,840,049  million
votes.

The  proposal  would  have  approved  amendments  to  and a  restatement  of the
Company's  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  that  would  have  included
authorizing  an increase in the number of shares of common stock from 50 million
shares to 250 million shares and authorizing issuance of up to 50 million shares
of new  preferred  stock.  The  Company  was  seeking  the  authority  to  issue
additional shares as part of its effort to restructure debt.

Gary G. Drook, President and CEO of NorthWestern Corporation, said, "We are very
disappointed  that  we  were  unable  to  obtain  shareholder  approval  of this
proposal.  This proposal was one of the necessary  preconditions  to provide the
Company the ability to restructure  its debt outside of  bankruptcy.  As we have
stated, we are examining the possibility of seeking  protection under Chapter 11
- - an option that would  enable us to continue to operate our  business  normally
while we develop a financial restructuring plan that attracts the support of our
creditors.  Our primary  business  mission  remains  being a stable and reliable
provider of electricity and natural gas to our customers."


About NorthWestern

NorthWestern  Corporation  is one of the largest  providers of  electricity  and
natural  gas in the Upper  Midwest  and  Northwest,  serving  more than  598,000
customers in Montana, South Dakota and







Nebraska.  NorthWestern  also has  investments  in Expanets,  Inc., a nationwide
provider of networked  communications  and data  services to small and mid-sized
businesses;  and Blue Dot Services Inc., a provider of heating,  ventilation and
air conditioning services to residential and commercial customers.

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