Defined Benefit (Pension) · DOL Form 5500 · 2024

Northwestern Corporation Pension Plan

Data updated 2026-08-11

$53M
Total assets
117
Participants
85th
Percentile by assets
$449,442
Avg per participant
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Official DOL plan name: Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan · Sponsored by Northwestern Corporation · Montana · Utilities

$53M in assets, 117 participants

Northwestern Corporation's Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan reported $53M in total assets and 117 participants in its 2024 DOL Form 5500 filing, ranking in the 85th percentile by assets among filed plans. Figures are as reported by the plan sponsor to the Department of Labor, not audited or endorsed by PlainRetire.

  • 85th percentile by assets (of 123,622 plans)
  • #381 in Utilities (732 peers)

Coverage in Montana

Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan covers 117 participants in Montana, about 43% of the average Montana filer (state average ~271 per filing). Assets: $53M.

$53M
total plan assets (2024 EOY)
117
covered participants
85th
percentile by assets (of 123,622 plans)
$449,442
avg assets per participant

The plan reported a net loss of $3M for the year, a single-year figure driven by markets and benefit payments, not a measure of plan health.

Where Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan sits by total assets

Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan vs every filed plan by assets

End-of-year total assets · plan year 2024 · DOL Form 5500

$52,584,691 Top 15% higher than 85% of 123,620 filed plans

This plan $0 $2,010,000,000 every filed plan with reported assets, bucketed by value

Dashed line + filled bar = this entry, among filed plans.

Source U.S. Department of Labor Form 5500 filings (EBSA) · plan year 2024

What changed between DOL Form 5500 filings

plan year 2023 → plan year 2024

  • Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan reported net income fell from $2M in the plan year 2023 filing to -$3M in the plan year 2024 filing.
  • Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan reported participants fell from 131 in the plan year 2023 filing to 117 in the plan year 2024 filing.
  • Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan end-of-year assets fell from $56M in the plan year 2023 filing to $53M in the plan year 2024 filing.

See the national 2023→2024 release diff →

State
Industry

Participants vs Montana filers

In Montana, the average filing covers about 271 participants across 404 plans. Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan reports 117 participants - about 43% of that state average ($53M EOY assets).

Montana filing particulars

Total Assets (Beginning of Year)$56M
Net Assets (End of Year)$53M
Net Income-$3M
Employer EIN460172280
Plan Effective Date1940-10-01
Filing StatusFILING RECEIVED

Sponsor Plan History (Northwestern Corporation)

$840M$860M$880M$900M$920M 202220232024 $855M $911M ▲ +6.6%
Total plan assets by year, all Northwestern Corporation plans on file
Year Plans Participants Total Assets
2022 3 2,084 $855M
2023 3 2,047 $869M
2024 3 2,037 $911M

Nearby Defined Benefit (Pension) Plans in Montana

Peer Defined Benefit (Pension) plans, same state, same plan type, ranked by total assets.

Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan vs. nearby Defined Benefit (Pension) plans in Montana, assets vs. participants

Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan vs. nearby Defined Benefit (Pension) plans in Montana, assets vs. participants Scatter plot of 6 data points. 0100200300400 0100200300400 Total assets ($M) Participants Northwestern Energy …Northwestern Energy …St. Peter's Health C…Retirement Plan for …Pension Plan for Emp…American Chemet Corp…
Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan vs. nearby Defined Benefit (Pension) plans in Montana, assets vs. participants

Similar-Sized Defined Benefit (Pension) Plans Nationally

Defined Benefit (Pension) plans in other states closest to Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan by total assets, not by location.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan assets move in 2024?
Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan pulled back noticeably - down 5.6% during 2024, from $56M to $53M. Reported net income was -$3M.
How have Northwestern Corporation plan assets changed over time?
Across 3 plan years on file (2022-2024), Northwestern Corporation's sponsor-wide assets grew 6.6%, from $855M to $911M.
Where does Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan rank by assets among Form 5500 filers?
Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan ranks in the 85th percentile by end-of-year assets among 123,622 plans that reported assets for plan year 2024 (in the top quartile of all filed plans by assets).
Which Defined Benefit (Pension) plans are similar in size to Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan?
Among Defined Benefit (Pension) plans in other states, the closest by assets is Velocity Credit Union Pension Plan in TX ($53M, 87 participants).

Next read for Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan

Filing takeaways

Ways to act on Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan's numbers.

  • By total assets, Northwestern Energy Sd/Ne Pension Plan ranks in the top quartile of all filed plans by assets. See the largest plans
  • Compare it side-by-side against 3 similar Defined Benefit (Pension) plans in Montana. Compare plans
  • Northwestern Corporation's sponsor-wide assets have grown 6.6% since 2022 across 3 plan years on file. More Utilities plans