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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): June 18, 2004


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




            Delaware                       0-692                46-0172280
(State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer
         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 5.        Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure

On June  18,  2004,  NorthWestern  Corporation  (the  "Company")  issued a press
release  announcing that the Company and Local Union No.44 of the  International
Brotherhood of Electrical  Workers,  AFL-CIO,  had reached a tentative four-year
collective   bargaining   agreement  and  that  the  tentative   agreement  will
immediately go out for a ratification  vote with a "do pass"  recommendation  by
the Local No.44 IBEW negotiating committee. The ratification vote is expected to
be completed by June 30, 2004.  The press release is attached  hereto as Exhibit
99.1.

Item 7.            Financial Statements and Exhibits

EXHIBIT NO.        DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
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99.1*              Press Release of NorthWestern Corporation dated June 18, 2004

* filed herewith











                                   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/ Eric Jacobsen
                                            ----------------------------
                                            Eric Jacobsen
                                            Senior Vice President, General
                                            Counsel and Chief Legal Officer


Date:  June 18, 2004












                                Index to Exhibits
                                -----------------

EXHIBIT NO.        DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
99.1*              Press Release of NorthWestern Corporation dated June 18, 2004

* filed herewith