[GRAPHIC OMITTED]                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1

                                                                    News Release

Contacts:

Investor/Media:

Robert Mead
212-515-1960


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             NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION TO SELL EXPANETS UNIT TO AVAYA
         Company Files Motion to Amend CSFB Pre-Petition Credit Facility

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Oct. 30, 2003 - NorthWestern Corporation (OTC Pink Sheets:
NTHWQ) today announced that it has entered into a sale agreement with Avaya,
Inc. (NYSE: AV) for NorthWestern's Expanets unit.

Under the terms of the agreement, Avaya will purchase substantially all of the
Expanets assets for $152 million in cash, less certain working capital
adjustments and certain other liabilities.

As previously announced, Expanets engaged Bear, Stearns & Co. to conduct an
auction of the Expanets business subject to defined auction procedures. At the
auction held on Oct. 29, 2003, in New York, the final bid by Avaya was approved
by Expanets. NorthWestern, as controlling shareholder, has consented to the
transaction.

Expanets was not included in NorthWestern's Chapter 11 reorganization filing on
Sept. 14, 2003. Expanets will continue operations in the ordinary course of
business until the transaction is closed, which is expected to occur in 30 days,
subject to certain regulatory approvals.

Avaya Inc., based in Basking Ridge, N.J., designs, builds and manages
communications networks for more than 1 million businesses worldwide. Expanets
is a nationwide provider of networked communications and data services to small
and mid-sized businesses.

The Company reiterated that the sale of Expanets is an important part of
NorthWestern's Chapter 11 reorganization, as the Company has been pursuing the
sale of its nonutility subsidiaries, which include Expanets and Blue Dot, the
Company's heating, ventilation and air conditioning business.







Gary G. Drook, NorthWestern's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We
are pleased to be moving forward with the divestiture of our non-utility
businesses and believe that Avaya's commitment to the Expanets business and its
customers will ensure a smooth transition. We remain committed to our efforts to
emerge from our restructuring as a financially stable, focused energy company."

Chris Younger, President of Expanets, said, "We believe the sale of Expanets
will be beneficial for Expanets' ongoing business, clients, manufacturing
partners and employees. During the transition and following the closing of the
sale to Avaya, Expanets will continue to serve our clients and work with our
manufacturing partners seamlessly and without interruption."

The Company also said that it has reached agreement with Credit Suisse First
Boston (CSFB) to amend the terms of its $390 million pre-petition credit
facility. If approved by the Bankruptcy Court, the amended credit facility would
provide significant advantages to NorthWestern, including lower interest costs
and would continue upon NorthWestern's emergence from Chapter 11.

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 solutions 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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