Registration No. 33-

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     MONTANA                                    81-0170530
(State or other jurisdiction                 (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)            Identification
                                                  Number)

                         40 East Broadway

Butte, Montana 59701-9394
(406) 723-5421

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

D. T. BERUBE,       J. P. PEDERSON,     M. E. ZIMMERMAN, Esq.
Chairman of         Vice President       Vice President and
the Board             and Chief           General Counsel
and Chief          Financial Officer        The Montana
Executive             The Montana          Power Company
Officer              Power Company       40 East Broadway
The Montana        40 East Broadway     Butte, Montana  59701
Power Company     Butte, Montana 59701      (406) 723-5421
40 East Broadway      (406) 723-5421
Butte, Montana 59701
(406) 723-5421

ROBERT G. SCHUUR, Esq.
Reid & Priest
40 West 57th Street
New York, New York 10019
(212) 603-2114
(Names, addresses, including zip codes, and telephone numbers,
including area codes, of agents for service)

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the
public: From time to time after this registration statement
becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are
being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment
plans, please check the following box. [ ]

If the only securities being registered on this Form are to

be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [x]

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

                          Proposed
                          maximum      Proposed
Title of                  aggregate    maximunm       Amount
securities     Amount     offering     aggregate        of
to be          to be      price per    offering    registration
registered   registered     unit*       price*         fee
----------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock   85,000    $23.4375   $1,992,187.50     $687.00
=================================================================

*ESTIMATED solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
fee.

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on
such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


PROSPECTUS

85,000 Shares

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

Common Stock

Up to 85,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Common Stock of The Montana Power Company (the "Company") are being offered on behalf of the selling shareholder named herein (the "Selling Shareholder"). The Selling Shareholder has advised the Company that, from time to time, it may sell all or a part of the Shares on either the New York or the Pacific Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise, at prices and on terms then prevailing or at prices relating to the then current market price, or in negotiated transactions. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares. Entech, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Company, is bearing all of the costs and expenses, estimated to be $13,000, incurred in connection with registration of the Shares. See "Selling Shareholder" and "Plan of Distribution."

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED
BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR BY ANY
STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION
OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON
THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

The date of this Prospectus is December 5, 1994.


NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES OR ANY OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in accordance therewith, files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., as well as at the following regional offices: 13th Floor, Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York, and Suite 1400, Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois. Copies of such material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The common stock is listed on the New York and Pacific Stock Exchanges. Reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Company can be inspected at such Exchanges.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

There are hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus the following documents heretofore filed with the Commission:

1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993.

2. The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 1994.

3. The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 25, 1994.

All reports and other documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be made a part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and documents.

The Company hereby undertakes to provide, without charge, to each person to whom a copy of this Prospectus shall have been delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any and all of the documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated in this Prospectus by reference, other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits shall have been specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. Requests for such copies should be directed to Manager, Investor Services, The Montana Power Company, 40 East Broadway, Butte, Montana 59701-9394, telephone 406-723-5421.

THE COMPANY

The Montana Power Company is the issuer of the Shares. The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 40 East Broadway, Butte, Montana 59701-9394, and its telephone number is 406-723-5421.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

The following information is a summary of certain rights and privileges of the common stock of the Company. The summary does not purport to be complete. Reference is made to the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws, which are exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus constitutes a part, for complete statements. The following statements are qualified in their entirety by such references.

Authorized and Outstanding Stock: The Company has 125,000,000 authorized shares, without par value, divided into 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock and 120,000,000 shares of common stock. On October 31, 1994, 1,919,589 shares of the preferred stock and 53,369,670 shares of the common stock were issued and outstanding. In addition, options to purchase 540,153 shares of common stock under the Long-Term Incentive Plan were outstanding on that date.

The common stock is without par value and nonassessable. It is listed on the New York and Pacific Stock Exchanges.

Voting Rights: Each holder of the preferred and common stock of the Company is entitled to vote cumulatively for the election of Directors, and otherwise to one vote for each share held. The Board of Directors has fifteen members, five of whom are elected at each annual meeting for a term of three years. In general, the presence of a majority of the outstanding shares of the preferred and common stock will constitute a quorum at a meeting of shareholders; and the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares present shall be the act of the shareholders. Montana law requires (1) class voting upon such matters as a change in the number of authorized shares or in the relative rights and preferences of a class or series or the creation of a new class of stock having superior rights and preferences; and
(2) the approval by two-thirds of the outstanding shares of preferred and common stock of a merger, consolidation or share exchange, the sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, or the voluntary dissolution of the Company. The Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation require the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the common stock (1) to redeem the preferred stock of the $6 Series, the $4.20 Series or the $2.15 Series, which consent has been given with respect to the $2.15 Series; and (2) the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of preferred and common stock to create a new class of stock, or for shareholder amendment of the By-laws. The Restated Articles of Incorporation also require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the shares of the preferred stock voting at a meeting at which a majority of the shares of the preferred stock shall be present to (l) create a class of stock or to create any security convertible into a class of stock ranking prior to the preferred stock, or (2) to change the express terms of the preferred stock in a manner substantially prejudicial to the holders thereof.

Dividend Rights: Each series of the preferred stock is entitled, in preference to the common stock, to (a) cumulative dividends at the annual rates established for that series and (b) mandatory redemption payments if provided for that series. After full provision for preferred stock dividends and mandatory redemption payments, if any, the common stock is entitled to dividends declared out of any remaining funds available therefor.

Liquidation Rights: In liquidation, the preferred stock is entitled, in preference to the common stock, to the amount per share fixed by the Directors in the resolutions providing for the issue of each particular series plus accumulated unpaid dividends. Thereafter, the common stock is entitled to all remaining assets.

Preemptive Rights: Holders of the common stock do not have preemptive rights.

Change of Control: The Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation include a fair price provision that is intended to provide protection against coercive takeover tactics deemed by the Board of Directors not to be in the best interests of all shareholders. It provides that in the event of certain business combinations, including mergers, consolidations, recapitalizations, certain sales or hypothecations of assets, liquidations and certain issuances of securities, involving a person or entity who is or may become the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors (the "Voting Shares"), the amount of cash or other consideration to be paid to holders of the common stock must be at least equal to the higher of the highest price paid by the 10% shareholder in connection with the acquisition of certain of its shares of common stock or the highest quoted price of the common stock on certain dates related to such acquisition. Similar provisions apply to the acquisition of the preferred stock. The fair price provision does not apply in the event that such a business combination shall have been approved by either two-thirds of certain directors who are not affiliated with the 10% shareholder (the "Continuing Directors") or the holders of 70% of the Voting Shares. In addition, unless a proposed business combination has been approved by two-thirds of the Continuing Directors, certain other requirements must be met, including the requirement that a proxy or information statement describing the proposed business combination be mailed to shareholders at least 30 days prior to its consummation. The fair price provisions may not be amended or repealed except by the vote of holders of at least 70% of the Voting Shares unless the amendment or repeal is recommended by two-thirds of the Continuing Directors.

Preferred Share Purchase Rights: The holders of the common stock have one preferred share purchase right (each a "Right") for each share of common stock. Each Right, evidenced by and traded with the shares of common stock, entitles the shareholder to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Participating Preferred Shares, A Series, at an exercise price of $120.00, subject to certain adjustments. The Rights will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires 20% or more of the Company's Voting Shares or announces a tender offer, the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the Company's Voting Shares.

If any person or group acquires 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of the Company, each Right will entitle its holder (other than such person or members of such group) to purchase a number of shares of common stock or Participating Preferred Shares, A Series, having a market value of twice the Right's exercise price. If any person or group acquires between 20% and 50% of the outstanding Voting Shares of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company may, subject to requisite regulatory approval, if any, require each outstanding Right to be exchanged for one share of common stock or one one-hundredth of a Participating Preferred Share, A Series (or assets in lieu thereof).

In addition, after any person or group has acquired 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of the Company, the Company may not consolidate or merge with, or sell 50% or more of its assets or earning power to, any person or group, or engage in certain "self-dealing" transactions with any person or group owning 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of the Company, unless proper provision is made so that each Right would thereafter entitle its holder to purchase a number of the acquiring company's common shares having a market value at the time of twice the Right's exercise price.

The Rights may be redeemed, at a redemption price of $.01 per Right, by the Board of Directors of the Company at any time until any person or group has acquired 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of the Company. The Rights will expire June 6, 1999.

Transfer Agents and Registrars: The Transfer Agents for the common stock are the Company and First Chicago Trust Company of New York. The Registrars are First Chicago Trust Company of New York and First BankMontana, National Association, Butte, Montana.

SELLING SHAREHOLDER

The Selling Shareholder is The A. G. Andrikopoulos Trust (the "Trust"), of which A. G. Andrikopoulos is the sole trustee. The Trust acquired the Shares from Entech, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Selling Shareholder has advised the Company that it does not beneficially own any shares of the common stock of the Company, other than the Shares, which constitute less than .002% of the outstanding shares of such common stock. Entech, Inc. has agreed to cause the Shares, at its expense, to be registered for secondary offering by the Trust. All commissions, fees and expenses in connection with the sale of the Shares will be borne by the Selling Shareholder.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Selling Shareholder has advised the Company that, from time to time, it may sell all or a part of the Shares on either the New York or the Pacific Stock Exchange, in the over-the- counter market or otherwise, at prices and on terms then prevailing or at prices relating to the then current market price, or in negotiated transactions.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the Share will be passed on for the Company by Michael E. Zimmerman, Esq., General Counsel of the Company, 40 East Broadway, Butte, Montana, and by Reid & Priest, 40 West 57th Street, New York, New York, Special Counsel to the Company. The incorporation of the Company, its franchises, permits and licenses and all other matters governed by Montana and Wyoming law will be passed upon only by Mr. Zimmerman.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The statements made as to matters of law and legal conclusions under (i) "Business-Utility Division-Regulation and Rates," "Business-Environment" and "Properties-Entech-Coal Properties," in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, incorporated herein by reference, and (ii) under "Description of Common Stock" herein have been reviewed by Michael E. Zimmerman, Esq., General Counsel of the Company, and are set forth therein and herein upon the authority of such Counsel, as expert. As of October 31, 1994, Mr. Zimmerman owned 2034 shares through the Company's Deferred Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan and had been granted options to purchase 9,600 additional shares at the market price existing on the date of such grant. Mr. Zimmerman's shares, including the underlying shares subject to options granted to him, had a fair market value of approximately $270,000 on that date.


PART II

Information Not Required in Prospectus

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.+

*Filing fee-Securities and Exchange Commission  . .       $   687
Legal fees  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        10,000
Auditor's fees  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         1,500
Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .           813
                                                          -------
   Total expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       $13,000
                                                          =======
---------------
+To be borne by Entech, Inc.

*Actual, others estimated.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company provide for the indemnification of directors and officers to the extent and in the manner provided in Sections 35-1-451 through 35-1-457, Montana Code Annotated, which Sections are as follows:

35-1-451. Definitions. As used in 35-1-451 through 35-1-459, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Corporation" includes any domestic or foreign predecessor entity of a corporation in a merger or other transaction in which the predecessor's existence ceased upon consummation of the transaction.

(2) (a) "Director" means an individual who is or was a director of a corporation or an individual who, while a director of a corporation, is or was serving at the corporation's request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise. A director is considered to be serving an employee benefit plan at the corporation's request if the director's duties to the corporation include duties or services by him to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan.

(b) Director includes, unless the context requires otherwise, the estate or personal representative of a director.

(3) "Expenses" include attorneys' fees.

(4) "Liability" means the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, or fine, including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan, or to pay reasonable expenses incurred with respect to a proceeding.

(5) (a) "Official capacity" means:

(i) when used with respect to a director, the office of director in a corporation; or

(ii) when used with respect to an individual other than a director, as contemplated in 35-1-457, the office in a corporation held by the officer or the employment or agency relationship undertaken by the employee or agent on behalf of the corporation.

(b) Official capacity does not include service for any other foreign or domestic corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise.

(6) "Party" includes an individual who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding.

(7) "Proceeding" means any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal.

35-1-452. Authority to indemnify.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (4), an individual made a party to a proceeding because he is or was a director may be indemnified against liability incurred in the proceeding if:

(a) he conducted himself in good faith;

(b) he reasonably believed:

(i) in the case of conduct in his official capacity with the corporation, that his conduct was in the corporation's best interests; and

(ii) in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation's best interests; and

(c) in the case of any criminal procedure, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

(2) A director's conduct with respect to an employee benefit plan for a purpose the director reasonably believed to be in the interests of the participants in and beneficiaries of the plan is conduct that satisfies the requirement of subsection
(I)(b)(ii).

(3) The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent is not, of itself, a determination that the director did not meet the standard of conduct described in this section.

(4) A corporation may not indemnity a director under this section:

(a) in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director was adjudged liable to the corporation; or

(b) in connection with any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the director, whether or not involving action in the director's official capacity, in which the director was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by the director.

(5) Indemnification permitted under this section in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation is limited to reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding.

35-1-453. Mandatory indemnification. Unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation shall indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which the director was a party because he is or was a director of the corporation, against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding.

35-1-454. Advance for expenses.

(1) A corporation may pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final disposition of the proceeding if:

(a) the director furnishes the corporation a written affirmation of the director's good faith belief that the director has met the standard of conduct described in 35-1-452;

(b) the director furnishes the corporation a written undertaking, executed personally or on the director's behalf, to repay the advance if it is ultimately determined that the director did not meet the standard of conduct described in 35-1-452; and

(c) a determination is made that the facts then known to those making the determination would not preclude indemnification under 35-1-451 through 35-1-459.

(2) The undertaking required by subsection (I)(b) must be an unlimited general obligation of the director but need not be secured and may be accepted without reference to financial ability to make repayment.

(3) Determinations and authorizations of payments under this section must be made in the manner specified in 35-1-456.

35-1-455. Court-ordered indemnification. Unless a corporation's articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a director of the corporation who is a party to a proceeding may apply for indemnification to the court conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction. On receipt of an application, the court, after giving any notice the court considers necessary, may order indemnification if it determines that the director:

(1) is entitled to mandatory indemnification under 35-1-453, in which case the court shall also order the corporation to pay the director's reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining court-ordered indemnification; or

(2) is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not the director met the standard of conduct set forth in 35-1-452 or was adjudged liable as described in 35-1-452(4). If the director was adjudged liable as described in 35-1-452(4), the director's indemnification is limited to reasonable expenses incurred.

35-1-456. Determination and authorization of indemnification.

(1) A corporation may not indemnify a director under 35-1-452 unless authorized in the specific case after a determination has been made that indemnification of the director is permissible in the circumstances because the director has met the standard of conduct set forth in 35-1-452.

(2) The determination must be made:

(a) by the board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors not at the time parties to the proceeding;

(b) if a quorum cannot be obtained under subsection (2)(a), by majority vote of a committee designated by the board of directors, in which designated directors who are parties may participate, consisting solely of two or more directors not at the time parties to the proceeding;

(c) by special legal counsel:

(i) selected by the board of directors or its committee in the manner prescribed in subsection (2)(a) or (2)(b); or

(ii) if a quorum of the board of directors cannot be obtained under subsection (2)(a) and a committee cannot be designated under subsection (2)(b), selected by majority vote of the full board of directors in which selected directors who are parties may participate; or

(d) by the shareholders, but shares owned by or voted under the control of directors who are at the time parties to the proceeding may not be voted on the determination.

(3) Authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses must be made in the same manner as the determination that indemnification is permissible, except that if the determination is made by special legal counsel, authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses must be made by those entitled under subsection (2)(c) to select counsel.

35-1-457. Indemnification of officers, employees, and agents. Unless a corporation's articles of incorporation provide otherwise:

(1) an officer of the corporation who is not a director is entitled to mandatory indemnification under 35-1-453 and is entitled to apply for court-ordered indemnification under 35-1-455 to the same extent as to a director;

(2) the corporation may indemnify and advance expenses under 35-1-451 through 35-1-459 to an officer, employee, or agent of the corporation who is not a director to the same extent as to a director; and

(3) a corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee, or agent who is not a director to the extent, consistent with public policy, that may be provided by its articles of incorporation, bylaws, general or specific action of its board of directors, or contract.

* * * * * *

The bylaws of the Company further provide that the foregoing right of indemnification shall not exclude or restrict any other rights or actions which any director or officer may have, and shall be available whether or not the director or officer continues to hold such office at the time of incurring such expense or discharging such liability.

The Company has insurance covering its expenditures which might arise In connection with the lawful indemnification of its directors and officers for their liabilities and expenses and insuring officers and directors of the Company against certain other liabilities and expenses.

Item 16. List of Exhibits.

                    Incorporated by Reference
                    -------------------------

Exhibit                                            Exhibit
No.                           Previous Filing    Designation
-------                       ---------------    -----------

3(a)    -  Restated Articles
           of Incorporation,
           as amended.

3(b)    -  By-laws, as         33-64576           4(b)
           amended.

4(a)    -  Rights Agreement    33-42882           4(d)
           dated as of June 6,
           1989, between The
           Montana Power
           Company and First
           Chicago Trust
           Company of New
           York, as Rights
           Agent.

5(a)    -  Opinion of Michael
           E. Zimmerman, Esq.

5(b)    -  Opinion of Reid &
           Priest.

23(a)   -  Consent of Price
           Waterhouse LLP.

23(b)   -  Consent of Michael
           E. Zimmerman, Esq.
           (included in
           Exhibit 5(a)).

23(c)   -  Consent of Reid &
           Priest (included in
           Exhibit 5(b)).

24      -  Power of Attorney
           (See
           page II-6).

99(a)   -  Seventeenth
           Supplemental
           Indenture to
           Mortgage and Deed
           of Trust.

99(b)   -  Eighteenth
           Supplemental
           Indenture to
           Mortgage and Deed
           of Trust.


Item 17.   Undertakings.
           ------------

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer of controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each director and/or officer of the registrant whose signature appears below hereby appoints each of the Agents for Service named in this registration statement as his attorney- in-fact to sign in his name and behalf, in any and all capacities stated below, and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, and the registrant hereby also appoints each such Agent for Service as its attorney-in-fact with like authority to sign and file any such amendments in its name and behalf.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Municipality of Butte-Silver Bow, and State of Montana, on the 5th day of December, 1994.

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

By   /s/ Daniel T. Berube
   ------------------------
   D. T. Berube, Chairman
     of the Board and Chief
     Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature                     Title                    Date
---------                     -----                    ----



/s/ Daniel T. Berube   Chairman of the Board,   December 5, 1994
--------------------   Chief Executive Officer
D. T. Berube           and Director
(Principal Executive
Officer)

/s/ J. P. Pederson     Vice President,          December 5, 1994
--------------------   Chief Financial
J. P. Pederson         Officer and Director
(Principal Financial
and Accounting
Officer)

/s/ J. J. Burke             Director            December 5, 1994
--------------------
J. J. Burke

--------------------        Director
Alan F. Cain

/s/ R. D. Corrette          Director            December 5, 1994
--------------------
R. D. Corette

--------------------        Director
Kay Foster

/s/ R. P. Gannon            Director            December 5, 1994
--------------------
R. P. Gannon

--------------------        Director
B. D. Harris

--------------------        Director
Chase T. Hibbard

--------------------        Director
D. P. Lambros

/s/ Carl Lehrkind           Director            December 5, 1994
--------------------
Carl Lehrkind

/s/ J. P. Lucas             Director            December 5, 1994
--------------------
J. P. Lucas

/s/ A. K. Neill             Director            December 5, 1994
--------------------
A. K. Neill

/s/ G. H. Selover           Director            December 5, 1994
--------------------
G. H. Selover

--------------------        Director
N. E. Vosburg

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
-------                                                      Page

3(a)    - Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended

5(a)    - Opinion of Michael E. Zimmerman, Esq.

5(b)    - Opinion of Reid & Priest

23(a)   - Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP

99(a)   - Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture to Mortgage
          and Deed of Trust

99(b)   - Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture  to Mortgage
          and Deed of Trust


Exhibit 3(a)

06/13/88

RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 58 of the Montana Business Corporation Act, the undersigned Corporation adopts the following Restated Articles of Incorporation:
ARTICLE I. The name of the Corporation is The Montana Power Company.
ARTICLE II. The objects and purposes for which The Montana Power Company is formed are as follows:
To manufacture, produce, generate, store, acquire, purchase, sell, control, use, dispose of, transmit, distribute and supply electricity and electrical energy or any other power or force in any form and for any purpose whatsoever; To purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, hold, use, operate, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of machinery, generators, motors, plants, apparatus, devices and supplies of every kind pertaining to or otherwise connected with the production, use, transmission, distribution, regulation, control or application of electricity or electrical energy;
To transform power generated by hydraulic or other plants into electrical or other energy for any and all purposes; To purchase, mine, produce, process, sell, distribute, use, lease, or otherwise acquire, use, or dispose of coal, coal mines, coal properties, machinery, appliances, and equipment of every kind and nature whatsoever used or useful in connection with the mining, production, transportation, use, sale or disposition of coal, coal mines or coal properties;
To purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, hold, use, operate, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all water rights, water powers and water privileges;
To construct, purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, use, operate, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of hydraulic, electric and other works, plants, buildings, machinery, equipment, pipe lines, distributing systems, transmission lines, dams, flumes, ditches, canals, apparatus, devices or processes for use in connection with such works;
To acquire, buy, hold, own, sell, lease, exchange, dispose of, transmit, distribute, deal in, use, manufacture, produce, furnish and supply bus service, natural or artificial gas, light, heat, ice, refrigeration, water and steam in any form and for any purposes whatsoever, and any power or force or energy in any form and for any purposes whatsoever;
To construct, purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, hold, use, operate, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of natural gas, manufactured gas, gas works, gas plants, gas transmission systems, distributing systems, gas reserves, gas rights, gas storage fields and facilities and all properties of any kind whatsoever used or useful in the gas business, together with licenses, permits, authorizations or consents of every kind and nature whatsoever which may be used or useful in connection with any or all of the foregoing;
To purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, use, operate, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of machinery, engines, mechanical devices and articles of every character and description; To acquire, build, construct, equip, own and operate street railways and other railway properties of all kinds and descriptions and with any kind of motive power, and to sell and lease the same, but the powers in this paragraph set forth shall be exercised only in connection with and as part of the other objects and purposes referred to in this Article; To purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, use, operate, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of such real and personal estate, property rights, rights-of-way, easements, privileges, grants, consents and franchises, individually or in association with others, as may be necessary for or appropriate to or useful in connection with the business and purposes of the company; To apply for, purchase or otherwise acquire, and to hold, use, own, operate and to sell, assign or otherwise dispose of, and to grant or receive licenses in respect of or otherwise to turn to account any and all inventions, improvements, patents, patent rights, processes, trademarks and trade names, secured by or issued under the laws of the United States of America or of any other government or country;
To acquire by purchase or otherwise, and to hold, invest in, sell, or otherwise dispose of the shares, bonds, debentures and other evidences of indebtedness of any persons, firms, associations and corporations, including the Corporation created by these Articles; and when owner of any such shares, bonds, debentures, securities or other obligations, to exercise all the rights, powers and privileges of ownership, including the right to vote thereon for any and all purposes; to aid in any manner any corporation whose shares, bonds, debentures or other obligations are owned or held by it, or in the shares, bonds, debentures, securities or other obligations of which it is in any way interested; and to guarantee the shares, bonds, debentures, securities or other act or thing for the preservation, protection, improvement or enhancement of the value of any such shares, bonds, debentures, securities or obligations; To construct, operate and maintain facilities for the service of water to the public;
Without limitation to hold, purchase, mortgage and convey real and personal property of every kind and description in any state or territory of the United States or elsewhere; In general, to do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the accomplishment of the foregoing purposes, and to engage in any and all lawful business whatever necessary or convenient therefor, with all rights, privileges and powers now or hereafter granted by the State of Montana to corporations.
ARTICLE III. Unless and until changed in the manner provided by law, the address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Montana is 40 East Broadway, Butte, and the name of its registered agent at such address is T. 0. McElwain.
ARTICLE IV. The period of duration of this Corporation shall be perpetual.
ARTICLE V. The number of Directors of this Corporation shall be fixed by the Bylaws, but shall be not less than three (3) nor more than eighteen (18). In the absence of a Bylaw fixing the number of directors, the number of Directors shall be eleven (11).
ARTICLE VI. No Director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director; provided, however, that this Article VI shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a Director to the extent provided by applicable law (a) for a breach of the Director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its shareholders, (b) for acts or omissions that constitute willful misconduct, recklessness, or a knowing violation of law, (c) under 35-1-409 of the Montana Code Annotated, (d) for a transaction from which the Director derives an improper personal benefit, or (e) for any act or omission occurring prior to the effective date of this Article VI. No amendment to or repeal of this Article VI shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such Director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.

ARTICLE VII. The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation has authority to issue is 65,000,000 shares without nominal or par value, consisting of 5,000,000 Preferred shares and 60,000,000 Common shares.
At the date hereof, the aggregate number of shares, issued and unissued, itemized by class and series, if any, within each class is as follows:

                Issued           Unissued            Total

Common        23,750,936        36,249,064        60,000,000

Preferred:

     $6.00 Series     159,589
     $4.20 Series      60,000
     $2.15 Series   1,200,000
     Undesignated                3,580,411         5,000,000

(a) The Preferred shares shall be issued from time to time in one or more series. The shares of any such series shall bear such distinctive serial designation as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such shares from time to time adopted by the Board of Directors; and in such resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of shares of each particular series, the Board of Directors is expressly empowered to fix:
1. The dividend rate for the particular series, and the date or dates from which dividends on shares of such series shall be cumulative;
2. The terms on which the shares of the particular series may be redeemed;
3. The amount which shall be paid to the holders of shares of the particular series in the case of dissolution or any distribution of assets; and
4. The terms or amount of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of the shares of the particular series. All of the Preferred shares of any one series shall be identical in all respects, except as to the dates from which dividends thereon shall be cumulative; and all of the Preferred shares shall be of equal rank, regardless of series, and shall be identical in all respects except as herein otherwise provided.
(b) The holders of Preferred shares at the time outstanding shall be entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of the surplus or net profits of the Corporation, payable in the case of each series at the annual dividend rate for that particular series theretofore fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinbefore provided. Such dividends on Preferred shares shall be cumulative from the date or dates theretofore fixed for the purpose by the Board of Directors, as hereinbefore provided, so that if dividends on all outstanding shares of each particular series of the Preferred shares, at the annual dividend rate fixed by the Board of Directors, as hereinbefore provided, shall not have been paid or declared and set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and for the current dividend periods, the deficiency shall be fully paid or dividends equal thereto declared and set apart for payment at said rate, but without interest, before any dividends on the Common shares shall be paid or declared and set apart for payment. No dividends shall be paid or declared and set apart for payment on any series of Preferred shares for any particular dividend period unless at the same time all unpaid dividends, if any, on all the outstanding Preferred shares for all dividend periods terminating prior to or concurrently with the termination of such particular dividend period shall be paid or declared and set apart for payment thereon. Dividends may be paid upon the Common shares only when dividends at the respective annual dividend rates fixed by the Board of Directors, as hereinbefore provided, upon all the outstanding Preferred shares shall have been paid or declared and set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and for the then current dividend periods, but whenever there shall have been paid or declared and set apart for payment all such dividend upon the Preferred shares, as aforesaid, then dividends upon the Common shares may be declared payable then or thereafter out of any surplus or net profits then remaining. The holders of shares of each series of the Preferred shares shall not be entitled to receive any dividends thereon other than the aforesaid dividends at the annual dividend rate for the particular series fixed by the Board of Directors, as hereinbefore provided. Dividends may also be declared and paid in cash out of depletion reserves in the manner and to the extent provided by law.
(c) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation or any distribution of capital, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of Preferred shares at the time outstanding shall be entitled to be paid the amount fixed by the Board of Directors, as hereinbefore provided, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of Common shares. The holders of the Preferred shares shall not be entitled to receive any distributive amounts upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation or upon any distribution of capital other than the distributive amounts at the rates for the respective series fixed by the Board of Directors, as hereinbefore provided, but, after such payment to the holders of the Preferred shares, the remaining assets and funds of the Corporation (subject to the rights of any class of shares hereafter authorized) shall be divided and distributed among the holders of the Common shares alone according to their respective shares.
(d) A consolidation, merger or amalgamation of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or corporations shall not be deemed a distribution of assets of the Corporation within the meaning of any of the provisions hereof.
(e) Except as hereinafter otherwise provided, each holder of record of Preferred or Common shares shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him, except that holders of Preferred shares shall not be entitled to notice of or to vote at any annual or special meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of redeeming the whole or any part of the Preferred shares at the time outstanding, and except that at all elections for Directors, each holder of Preferred or Common shares shall be entitled to as many votes as shall equal the number of his Preferred or Common shares multiplied by the number of Directors to be elected, and may cast all of such votes in person or by proxy for a single Director, or may distribute them among the number to be voted for, or any two or more of them as he may see fit.
(f) No holder of Preferred shares shall be entitled as such, as a matter of right, to subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or additional issue of stock of any class whatsoever, or of securities convertible into stock of any class whatsoever, whether now or hereafter authorized or whether issued for cash, for a consideration other than cash or by way or dividend.
(g) Upon any issue for money or other consideration of any shares of the Corporation that may be authorized from time to time, no holder of shares, irrespective of the kind of such shares, shall have any preemptive or other right to subscribe for, purchase or receive any proportionate or other share of the shares so issued, but the Board of Directors may dispose of all or any portion of such shares as and when it may determine free of any such rights, whether by offering the same to shareholders or by sale of other disposition, as said Board may deem advisable.
(h) The Corporation may redeem the whole or any part of the Preferred shares at the time outstanding, or the whole or any part of any series thereof, at any time or from time to time, upon the terms fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinbefore provided for the redemption of the Preferred shares to be redeemed; provided, however, that no Preferred shares of the $6 Series, the $4.20 Series or the $2.15 Series shall be redeemed without either the written consent, or the affirmative vote at any annual meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, of the holders of record of a majority of the Common shares issued and outstanding. If less than all of the shares of any particular series of the Preferred shares are to be redeemed, the shares of such series to be redeemed shall be selected in such manner as the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee shall determine. The Board of Directors by the vote or consent of two-thirds (2/3) of all of the members thereof shall have the power to select for redemption any particular share or shares of the Preferred shares to be redeemed, designating the share or shares of such Preferred shares so selected by the number or numbers appearing on the then outstanding certificate or certificates representing the shares so selected. Notice of intention of the Corporation to redeem Preferred shares and of the date and place of redemption shall be mailed not less than thirty (30) days (or in case the Board of Directors shall have fixed a longer period as hereinbefore provided, then not less than such longer period) before the date of redemption to each holder of record of the shares to be redeemed, at his last known post office address as shown by the records of the Corporation. The holders of any Preferred shares so called for redemption shall, on the redemption date specified in such notice, cease to be shareholders of the Corporation with respect to such shares and all rights with respect to such Preferred shares so called for redemption shall, on such redemption date, cease and terminate except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the redemption price therefor without interest. At any time after such notice of redemption of any Preferred shares has been mailed or otherwise given, the Corporation may deposit, or may cause its nominee to deposit, the aggregate redemption price (or the portion thereof not already paid in the redemption of shares so to be redeemed) with any bank or trust company in the State of Montana having a capital and undivided surplus of not less than $500,000 named in a notice mailed to holders of the shares called for redemption and represented by certificates not theretofore surrendered, payable in the proper amounts to the respective orders of the record holders of such shares to be redeemed on endorsement, if required, and surrender of their certificates for said shares, and from and after the making of such deposit said holders shall have no interest in or claim against the Corporation or its nominee, with respect to said shares, but shall be entitled only to receive said moneys from said bank or trust company, without interest, on endorsement, if required, and surrender of their certificates as aforesaid. The Corporation shall be entitled to receive from any such bank or trust company the interest, if any, allowed by said bank or trust company on any moneys deposited as in this paragraph provided, and the holders of any shares so redeemed shall have no claim to any such interest. Any moneys so deposited and remaining unclaimed at the end of six years from the date fixed for redemption shall, if thereafter requested by resolution of the Board of Directors or of the Executive Committee, be repaid to the Corporation, and in the event of such repayment to the Corporation, such holders of record of the shares so redeemed as shall not have made claim against such moneys prior to such repayment to the Corporation, shall be deemed to be unsecured creditors of the Corporation for an amount equivalent to the amount deposited as above-stated for the redemption of such shares and so repaid to the Corporation, but shall in no event be entitled to any interest. If such deposit shall be made by the nominee of the Corporation, as aforesaid, such nominee shall upon such deposit become the owner of the shares with respect to which such deposit is made, and certificates for shares may be issued to such nominee in evidence of such ownership. The Corporation may require any shares so called for redemption to be delivered, duly assigned to a nominee of the Corporation upon payment by such nominee in the manner hereinabove provided of all amounts payable on such redemption with respect to said shares. Any shares delivered to or acquired by the nominee of the Corporation under the provisions hereof shall be converted into or exchanged for such other securities of the Corporation and on such terms as on or before such delivery or acquisition may have been provided by the Corporation in accordance with the next three paragraphs hereof. The Corporation from time to time may resell any of its own shares purchased or otherwise acquired by it as herein provided for at such price as may be fixed by its Board of Directors or Executive Committee. The Corporation, in order to acquire funds with which to redeem any Preferred shares of any class, may issue and sell shares of any class then authorized but unissued, bonds, notes, evidences of indebtedness or other securities. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may at any time authorize the conversion or exchange of the whole or any particular share or shares of the outstanding Preferred shares of any class, with the consent of the holder or holders thereof, into or for shares of any other class at the time of such consent authorized but unissued and may fix the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange may be made; provided that without the consent of the holders of record of two-thirds (2/3) of the Common shares outstanding given at a meeting of the holders of the Common shares called and held as provided by the Bylaws or given in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors shall not authorize the conversion or exchange of any Preferred shares of any class into or for Common shares or authorize the conversion or exchange of any Preferred shares of any class into or for Preferred shares of any other class, if by such conversion or exchange the amount which the holders of the shares so converted or exchanged would be entitled to receive either as dividends or shares in distribution of assets in preference to the Common shares would be increased. The Board of Directors shall have full power and authority, subject to the limitations and provisions herein contained, to prescribe the manner in which and the terms and conditions upon which Preferred shares shall be redeemed from time to time.
(i) Except as herein otherwise provided, upon the vote of a majority of all of the Directors of the Corporation and of the holders of record of a majority of the total number of shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such question as herein stipulated, irrespective of class (or if the vote of a larger number or different proportion of shares is required by the laws of the State of Montana, notwithstanding the above agreement of the shareholders of the Corporation to the contrary, then upon the vote of the larger number or different proportion of shares so required), the Corporation may from time to time create or authorize one or more other classes of shares with such preferences, designations, rights, privileges, powers, restrictions, limitations and qualifications as may be determined by said vote, which may be the same as or different from the preferences, designations, rights, privileges, powers, restrictions, limitations and qualifications of the classes of shares of the Corporation then authorized. Any vote authorizing the creation of a new class of shares may provide that all moneys payable by the Corporation with respect to any class of shares thereby authorized shall be paid in the money of any foreign country named therein or designated by the Board of Directors pursuant to authority therein granted. Any such vote may authorize any shares of any class then authorized but unissued to be issued as shares of such new class or classes. So long as any of the Preferred shares are outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the consent (given by a vote at a meeting called for that purpose) of the holders of at least two- thirds of the total number of the Preferred shares then outstanding.
1. Create or authorize any new shares ranking prior to the Preferred shares as to dividends, in liquidation, dissolution, winding up or distribution, or create or authorize any security convertible into such shares; or
2. Amend, alter, change or repeal any of the express terms of the Preferred shares then outstanding in a manner substantially prejudicial to the holders thereof.
(j) All shares of the Corporation without nominal or par value, whether authorized by these Articles or by subsequent increase of capital or pursuant to any amendment hereof, may be issued from time to time for such consideration as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, and authority to the Board of Directors so to fix such consideration is hereby granted by the shareholders; and any and all shares so issued, the full consideration for which shall have been paid or delivered, shall be conclusively deemed to be fully paid and nonassessable and the holders thereof shall not be liable to the Corporation or its creditors in respect thereof. At the time of the issue of any shares without nominal or par value, the Board of Directors may determine conclusively in the exercise of their reasonable discretion what capital valuation shall be placed upon any property (other than money) acquired by the Corporation in payment upon original issue of any of its shares without nominal or par value.
(k) The Corporation may issue securities, notes, bonds, debentures or other obligations convertible into shares of any class, in the amounts and on such terms as may be provided by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the shares issued upon conversion thereof shall not have prior or superior rights and preferences to the shares of any class outstanding at the time the convertible securities, notes, bonds, debentures or other obligations are issued, and the issuance of such shares shall not substantially prejudice the holders of shares of any class outstanding at the time such convertible securities, notes, bonds, debentures or other obligations are issued.
1. The Corporation may issue notes, bonds, debentures and other obligations of the Corporation in such amounts and upon such terms and conditions as may be authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors. ARTICLE VIII. Unless the laws of the State of Montana otherwise provide, any action which at any meeting of shareholders requires the vote, assent or consent of two- thirds (2/3) in interest of all the shareholders or of two- thirds (2/3) in interest of each class of shareholders having voting powers, or which requires such assent or consent in writing to be filed, may be taken upon the assent of and the assent given and filed of two-thirds (2/3) in interest of the shareholders present and voting at such meeting in person or by proxy; provided that where assent by classes is required, such assent shall be given by two-thirds (2/3) in interest of each class so present and voting. ARTICLE IX. The Board of Directors may appoint from the Directors an Executive Committee, of which a majority shall constitute a quorum, and to such extent as shall be provided in the Bylaws, such Executive Committee shall have and may exercise all of the delegable powers of the Board of Directors, including power to cause the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it. The power of appointment of committees (other than the Executive Committee) and of Officers (other than the President, the Vice Presidents, the Secretary and the Treasurer) and other persons employed by the Company may to the extent permitted by the Bylaws be delegated by the Board of Directors to the President or to the Executive Committee. The Board of Directors shall have the power from time to time to fix and to determine and to vary the amount of the working capital of the Corporation, and to direct and determine the use and disposition of any surplus or net profits over and above the capital paid in. The Board of Directors from time to time shall determine whether and to what extent, and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations, the accounts and books of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the shareholders, and no shareholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Corporation, except as conferred by Statute or authorized by the Board of Directors, or by a resolution of the shareholders.

ARTICLE X. The shareholders may alter or amend the Bylaws of the Corporation by a majority vote (or if required by the laws of the State of Montana, a larger number or different proportion of the shares outstanding) of all the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote given at any meeting duly held as provided in the Bylaws, the notice of which includes notice of the proposed alterations or amendment. The Board of Directors may also alter or amend the Bylaws at any time by affirmative vote of a majority (or if required by the laws of the State of Montana, a larger number or different proportion of the members of the Board of Directors) of the Board of Directors given at a duly convened meeting of the Board of Directors, the notice of which includes notice of the proposed alterations or amendments, subject to the power of shareholders to change or repeal such Bylaws; provided that the Board of Directors shall not make or alter any Bylaw fixing their qualifications or changing the number of shares required to constitute a quorum for a shareholders' meeting. ARTICLE XI. A. In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or under any other provision of these Restated Articles of Incorporation, and except as otherwise expressly provided in paragraph B., a Business Combination (as hereinafter defined) shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 70 percent of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors ("Voting Shares"). Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that some lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise.
B. The provisions of paragraph A. of this Article shall not be applicable to any particular Business Combination, and such Business Combination shall require only such affirmative vote as is required by law and any other provision of these Restated Articles of Incorporation, if all of the conditions specified in subparagraphs 1. or 2. shall have been satisfied:
1. The Business Combination shall have been approved by two-thirds (whether such approval is made prior to or subsequent to the acquisition of beneficial ownership of the Voting Shares that caused the 10% Shareholder [as hereinafter defined] to become a 10% Shareholder) of the Continuing Directors (as hereinafter defined); or
2. All of the following conditions shall have been met:

(a) The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value (as hereinafter defined) as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of Common shares in such Business Combination shall be at least equal to the highest amount determined under clauses (i) and
(ii) below:
(i) (if applicable) The highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers' fees) paid by or on behalf of the 10% Shareholder for any Common shares in connection with the acquisition by the 10% Shareholder of beneficial ownership of Common shares (A) within the two-year period immediately prior to the first public announcement of the proposed Business Combination (the "Announcement Date") or (B) in the transaction in which it became a 10% Shareholder, whichever is higher; and
(ii) The Fair Market Value per Common share on the Announcement Date or on the date on which the 10% Shareholder became a 10% Shareholder (such latter date referred to in this Article as the "Determination Date"), whichever is higher. All per share prices and Fair Market Values shall be adjusted to reflect any intervening stock splits, stock dividends and reverse stock splits.
(b) The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of shares of any class or series of outstanding Capital Stock, other than Common shares, shall be at least equal to the highest amount determined under clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) below:
(i) (if applicable) The highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers' fees) paid by or on behalf of the 10% Shareholder for any share of such class or series of Capital Stock in connection with the acquisition by the 10% Shareholder of beneficial ownership of shares of such class or series of Capital Stock (A) within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date or (B) in the transaction in which it became a 10% Shareholder, whichever is higher.

(ii) The Fair Market Value per share of such class or series of Capital Stock on the Announcement Date or on the Determination Date, whichever is higher; and

(iii) (if applicable) The highest preferential amount per share to which the holders of shares of such class or series of Capital Stock would be entitled in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, regardless of whether the Business Combination to be consummated constitutes such an event. All per share prices and Fair Market Values shall be adjusted for intervening stock splits, stock dividends and reverse stock splits. The provisions of this subparagraph (b) shall be required to be met with respect to every class or series of outstanding Capital Stock, whether or not the 10% Shareholder has previously acquired beneficial ownership of any shares of a particular class or series of Capital Stock.
(c) The consideration to be received by holders of a particular class or series of outstanding Capital Stock (including Common shares) shall be cash or in the same form as previously has been paid by or on behalf of the 10% Shareholder in connection with its direct or indirect acquisition of beneficial ownership of shares of such class or series of Capital Stock. If the consideration so paid for shares of any class or series of Capital Stock varied as to form, the form of consideration for such class or series of Capital Stock shall be either cash or the form used to acquire beneficial ownership of the largest number of shares of such class or series of Capital Stock previously acquired by the 10% Shareholder.
(d) After such 10% Shareholder has become a 10% Shareholder and prior to the consummation of such Business Combination:
(i) except as approved by two-thirds of the Continuing Directors, there shall have been no failure to declare and pay at the regular date therefor any full quarterly dividends (whether or not cumulative) in accordance with the terms of the outstanding Preferred shares;
(ii) there shall have been (A) no reduction in the annual rate of dividend paid on the Common shares (except as necessary to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or subdivision of the Common Shares), except as shall have been approved by two-thirds of the Continuing Directors, and (B) an increase in such annual rate of dividends as necessary to reflect any reclassification (including any reverse stock split), recapitalization, reorganization or any similar transaction which has the effect of reducing the number of outstanding Common shares, unless the failure so to increase such annual rate shall have been approved by two-thirds of the Continuing Directors; and
(iii) such 10% Shareholder shall have not become the beneficial owner of any additional Voting Shares except as part of the transaction which results in such 10% Shareholder becoming a 10% Shareholder and except in a transaction that, after giving effect thereto, would not result in any increase in the 10% Shareholder's percentage beneficial ownership of any class or series of Capital Stock.
(e) After such 10% Shareholder has become a 10% Shareholder, such 10% Shareholder shall not have:
(i) received the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a shareholder), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantages provided by the Corporation, whether in anticipation of or in connection with such Business Combination or otherwise; or
(ii) made any major change in the Corporation's business or equity capital structure without the approval of two-thirds of the Continuing Directors.
(f) A proxy or information statement describing the proposed Business Combination and complying with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder (or any subsequent provisions replacing such Act, rules or regulations) shall have been mailed to holders of outstanding Voting Shares of the Corporation at least thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of such Business Combination (whether or not such proxy or information statement is required to be mailed pursuant to such Act or subsequent provisions). The proxy or information statement shall contain on the first page thereof, in a prominent place, any statement as to the advisability (or inadvisability) of the Business Combination that the Continuing Directors, or any of them, may choose to make and, if deemed advisable by a majority of the Continuing Directors, the opinion of an investment banking firm selected by a majority of the Continuing Directors as to the fairness (or lack thereof) of the terms of the Business Combination from a financial point of view to the holders of the outstanding Voting Shares other than the 10% Shareholder and its Affiliates or Associates (as hereinafter defined).
C. For the purposes of this Article:
1. The term "Business Combination" shall mean:
(a) any merger, consolidation or share exchanges of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with:

(i) any 10% Shareholder, or
(ii) any other company (whether or not such other company is a 10% Shareholder) which is, or after such merger or consolidation would be, an Affiliate or Associate of a 10% Shareholder; or
(b) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition or security arrangement, investment, loan, advance, guarantee, agreement to purchase, agreement to pay, extension of credit, joint venture participation or other arrangement (in one transaction or a series of transactions) with or for the benefit of any 10% Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any 10% Shareholder involving any assets, securities or commitments of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value and/or involving aggregate commitments of five million dollars ($5,000,000) or more;
(c) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of any securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any 10% Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any 10% Shareholder in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate Fair Market Value of five million dollars ($5,000,000) or more;
(d) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation proposed by or on behalf of any 10% Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any 10% Shareholder;
(e) any reclassification of any securities of the Corporation (including any reverse stock split), recapitalization or reorganization of the Corporation, merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any Subsidiary, or any other transaction (whether or not with or otherwise involving a 10% Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any 10% Shareholder) that has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary that is beneficially owned by any 10% Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any 10% Shareholder; or
(f) any other transaction or series of transactions that is similar in purpose or effect to, or any agreement, contract or other arrangement providing for any one or more of the actions specified in the foregoing subparagraphs (a) through (e).
2. A "person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity and shall include any group comprised of any person and any other person with whom such person or any Affiliate or Associate of such person has any agreement, arrangement or understanding, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Capital Stock.

3. "10% Shareholder" shall mean, in respect of any Business Combination, any person or Affiliate or Associate (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary and other than any profit sharing, employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of the Corporation or any Subsidiary or any trustee or fiduciary of any such plan when acting in such capacity) who or which, as of the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote on such Business Combination, or immediately prior to the consummation of any such transaction:
(a) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of not less than ten percent of the Voting Shares; or
(b) is an Affiliate or Associate of the Corporation and at any time within three (3) years prior thereto was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of not less than ten percent of the then outstanding Voting Shares; or
(c) is an assignee or has otherwise succeeded to control of any Voting Shares of the Corporation which were at any time within three (3) years prior thereto beneficially owned by any 10% Shareholder, if such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.

4. A person shall be the "beneficial owner" of any Voting Shares:
(a) which such person or any of its Affiliates and Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly; or
(b) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has, directly or indirectly
(i) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants, options, or otherwise, or
(ii) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; or
(c) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person with which such first mentioned person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any Voting Shares.
5. Voting Shares shall include shares deemed beneficially owned through application of subparagraph 4 above but shall not include any Voting Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants, options, or otherwise.

6. "Continuing Director" shall mean any member of the Board of Directors who is not an Affiliate or Associate or representative of the 10% Shareholder and who was a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation prior to the date as of which any 10% Shareholder acquired in excess of five percent of the then outstanding Voting Shares, or a person designated (before his initial election as a Director) as a Continuing Director by a majority of the then Continuing Directors.
7. In the event of any Business Combination in which the Corporation survives, the phrase "consideration other than cash to be received" shall mean Common shares and/or the shares of any other class of outstanding Voting Shares of the Corporation retained by the holders of such shares.
8. "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings given those terms in Rule l2b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on January 1, 1986.
9. "Subsidiary" means any company of which a majority of any class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of 10% Shareholder set forth in subparagraph 3 of this paragraph C., the term "Subsidiary" shall mean only a company of which a majority of each class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation.

10. The term "Capital Stock" shall mean all capital stock of this Corporation authorized to be issued from time to time under these Articles of Incorporation as amended from time to time.
11. The term "Fair Market Value" means:
(a) in the case of shares, the highest closing sale price during the 30-day period immediately preceding the date in question of such a share on the New York Stock Exchange; and
(b) in the case of property other than cash or shares, the fair market value of such property on the date in question as determined by a majority of Continuing Directors then on the Board.
D. A majority of the Continuing Directors shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article on the basis of information known to them:
1. The number of Voting Shares beneficially owned by any person,
2. Whether a person is an Affiliate or Associate of another,
3. Whether a person has an agreement, arrangement or understanding with another as to the matters referred to in subparagraph 4 of paragraph C. of this Article,
4. Whether the assets which are the subject of any Business Combination have an aggregate Fair Market Value of five million dollars ($5,000,000) or more, and
5. Any other matters with respect to which a determination is required under this Article. Any such determinations made in good faith shall be binding and conclusive on all parties.
E. Consideration for shares to be paid to any shareholder pursuant to this Article shall be the minimum consideration payable to the shareholder and shall not limit a shareholder's right under any provision of law or otherwise to receive greater consideration for any shares of the Corporation.
F. The fact that any Business Combination complies with the provisions of subparagraph B.2. of this Article shall not be construed to impose any fiduciary duty, obligation or responsibility on the Board of Directors, or any member thereof, to approve such Business Combination or recommend its adoption or approval to the shareholders of the Corporation, nor shall such compliance limit, prohibit or otherwise restrict in any manner the Board, or any member thereof, with respect to evaluations of or actions and responses taken with respect to such Business Combination.
G. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Restated Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation any amendment, alteration, change or repeal of this Article shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 70 percent of the then outstanding Voting Shares; provided that this paragraph G. shall not apply to, and such 70 percent vote shall not be required for, any amendment, alteration, change or repeal recommended to the shareholders by two-thirds of the Continuing Directors.
H. Nothing contained in this Article shall be construed to relieve any 10% Shareholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law. ARTICLE XII. These Restated Articles of Incorporation correctly set forth without change the corresponding provisions of the Articles of Incorporation as heretofore amended and hereby amended, and supersede the original articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto.

Dated June 10, 1988

/s/ John Carl
-------------------------------
Vice President



/s/ Patricia L. du Toit
-------------------------------
Assistant Secretary


ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND CERTIFICATE
OF ADOPTION OF RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

Pursuant to Sections 35-1-209 and 35-1-213, M.C.A., the undersigned corporation hereby makes the following statement:
FIRST: The name of the corporation is THE MONTANA POWER

COMPANY.
SECOND: The annexed Restated Articles of Incorporation of THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY were adopted by the shareholders on May 10, 1988.
THIRD: The number of shares outstanding, and the number of shares of each class entitled to vote thereon was:

  Class                     No. of Shares

Common                        23,750,936
Preferred                      1,419,589

  Total                       24,170,525

FOURTH: (a) The number of shares voted for and against the Restatement of the Articles of Incorporation was:

                                            No. Voted Against
                 No. Voted for Restated     Restated Articles
   Class       Articles of Incorporation    of Incorporation

All Classes           19,901,320                 755,210

No class of shares is entitled to vote as a class on the Restatement of the Articles of Incorporation.
(b) The number of shares voted for and against the Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation adding a new Article VI, relating to the liability of Directors, and renumbering the existing Article VI and those following was:

                     No. Voted for          No. Voted Against
   Class             the Amendment            the Amendment

All Classes            19,901,320                755,210

No class of shares is entitled to vote as a class on the Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation.
FIFTH: Neither the Restated Articles of Incorporation nor the Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation provide for an exchange, reclassification or cancellation of issued shares.

DATED: June 10, 1988

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

                              By /s/ John Carl
                                 ---------------------------
                                 Vice President
(SEAL)


                              By /s/ P. O. McElwain
                                 ---------------------------
                                 Assistant Secretary

STATE OF MONTANA      )
                      )  ss.
County of Silver Bow  )

I, the undersigned Notary Public, do hereby certify that on this 10th day of June 1988, personally appeared before me John Carl, who, being by me first duly sworn, declared that he is a Vice President of THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY, that he signed the foregoing document as Vice President of the Corporation, and that the statements therein contained are true.

                              /s/ Jessica G. Eyde
                              ------------------------------
                              Notary Public for the State of
(SEAL)                          Montana
                              Residing at Butte, Montana
                              My Commission expires 10-29-88.


ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
to the
of
THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 35-1-209, MCA, the undersigned corporation adopts the following Articles of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation.
FIRST: The name of the corporation is THE MONTANA POWER
COMPANY.
SECOND: The following amendment to its Articles of Incorporation was adopted by the shareholders of the corporation on May 8, 1990, in the manner prescribed by the Montana Business Corporation Act.
The first paragraph of Article VI of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the corporation is amended to read as follows:

"The aggregate number of shares which the corporation has authority to issue is 125,000,000 shares without nominal or par value, consisting of 5,000,000 Preferred shares and 120,000,000 Common shares."

THIRD: The number of Common shares of the corporation outstanding at the time of such adoption was 49,613,012 Common shares having no par value; and the number of such shares entitled to vote thereon was 49,456,153. The number of Preferred shares of the corporation outstanding at the time of such adoption was 1,419,589 Preferred shares having no par value; and the number of such shares entitled to vote thereon was 1,419,589.
FOURTH: The vote to increase the number of authorized Common shares was as follows:

                        For              Against
Common              39,015,717          2,267,098
Preferred            1,074,899             54,306

  Total             40,090,616          2,321,404

DATED: May 15, 1990

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

                              /s/ John Carl
                              --------------------------
                               Vice President


(SEAL)
                              /s/ P. O. McElwain
                              --------------------------
                              Assistant Secretary

STATE OF MONTANA )

)ss.

County of Silver Bow )

I, the undersigned Notary Public, do hereby certify that on this 15th day of May 1990, personally appeared before me John Carl, who, being by me first duly sworn, declared that he is a Vice President of THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY, that he signed the foregoing document as Vice President of the Corporation, and that the statements therein contained are true.

                           /s/ Jessica G. Eyde
                           --------------------------------------
                           Notary Public for the State of Montana
(SEAL)                     Residing at Butte, Montana
                           My Commission expires 10-29-91.


ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

to the

RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

of

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 35-1-619, Montana Code Annotated, the undersigned corporation adopts the following Articles of Amendment to its Restated Articles of Incorporation.
FIRST: The name of the corporation is THE MONTANA POWER
COMPANY.
SECOND: On August 24, 1993 and October 26, 1993, the Board of Directors of the corporation established and designated a Fourth Series of Preferred Stock, determining with respect to such Series the dividend rate, periods and payment dates, the redemption prices and the amount to be paid in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the corporation or any distribution of its capital, and authorized the amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation set forth below under THIRD.
THIRD: The text of the amendment so authorized is as follows, and will be inserted as a new, undesignated subparagraph at the end of Section (a) of Article VII of the Restated Articles of Incorporation:

Fourth Series
The Fourth Series of Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Fourth Series"), consists of 500,000 shares designated as "Preferred Stock, $6.875 Series," and has the relative rights, preferences and limitations as set forth in these Restated Articles of Incorporation, and as follows:
(A) The dividend rate for the Fourth Series shall be $6.875 per share per annum; quarterly periods ending January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31 of each year hereby are established as the regular dividend periods for the shares of such Series and dividends for such periods shall be payable, in arrears, on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 of each year; provided, however, the first dividend shall be payable, in arrears, on February 1, 1994, for the period from the date of the original issue through January 31, 1994; and dividends on shares of the Fourth Series shall be cumulative from the date of original issue;
(B) The shares of the Fourth Series shall not be redeemable prior to November 1, 2003; the shares shall be redeemable, at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time upon not less than thirty (30) days' notice, on and after November 1, 2003, at the redemption prices per share set forth below, plus, in each case, accumulated but unpaid dividends to the date of redemption:

         Redemption Period                Price

November 1, 2003 to October 31, 2004    $103.438
November 1, 2004 to October 31, 2005    $103.094
November 1, 2005 to October 31, 2006    $102.750
November 1, 2006 to October 31, 2007    $102.406
November 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008    $102.063
November 1, 2008 to October 31, 2009    $101.719
November 1, 2009 to October 31, 2010    $101.375
November 1, 2010 to October 31, 2011    $101.031
November 1, 2011 to October 31, 2012    $100.688
November 1, 2012 to October 31, 2013    $100.344
November 1, 2013 and thereafter         $100.000

(C) The amount which shall be paid to the holders of shares of the Fourth Series in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company or any distribution of its capital, whether voluntary or involuntary, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of Common Stock, shall be $100 per share, plus accumulated but unpaid dividends.

FOURTH: Shareholder approval of these Articles of Amendment is not required.

DATED: October 26, 1993.

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

                              /s/ P. K. Merrill
                              ----------------------------
                              Vice President and Secretary
(SEAL)


                              /s/ R. M. Ralph
                              ----------------------------
                                   Assistant Secretary

STATE OF MONTANA         )
                         ) ss.
County of Silver Bow     )

I, the undersigned, Notary Public, do hereby certify that on this 26th day of October, 1993, personally appeared before me P. K. Merrell, who, being by me first duy sworn, declared that she is Vice President and Secretary of THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY, that she signed the foregoing document as Vice President and Secretary of the corporation, and that the statements therein contained are true.

(SEAL)

/s/ Jessica G. Eyde
--------------------------------------
Notary Public for the State of Montana
     Residing at Butte, Montana
My Commission expires 10/29/94.


Exhibit 5(a)

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY
40 East Broadway
Butte, MT 59701

December 5, 1994

The Montana Power Company
40 East Broadway
Butte, MT 59701

Ladies and Gentlemen:

With respect to the Registration Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on or about the date hereof, contemplating the sale of 85,000 shares of its Common Stock (the "Stock"), I am of the opinion that:

1. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Montana and qualified to do business in the States of Idaho and Wyoming.

2. The Stock has been legally and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable.

I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and the use of my name, as counsel, therein.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Michael E. Zimmerman

MICHAEL E. ZIMMERMAN
Vice President and General Counsel


Exhibit 5(b)

REID & PRIEST
40 West 57th Street
New York, New York 10019

(212) 603-2114

December 5, 1994

The Montana Power Company
40 East Broadway
Butte, Montana 59701

Dear Sirs:

With respect to the Registration Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on or about the date hereof, contemplating the sale of 85,000 shares of its Common Stock (the "Stock"), we are of the opinion that:

1. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Montana and qualified to do business in the States of Idaho and Wyoming.

2. The Stock has been legally and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable.

We are members of the Bar of the State of New York and do not hold ourselves out as experts on the laws of any other state. In giving this opinion, we have relied as to matters of Montana law upon the opinion addressed to you, of even date herewith, of Michael E. Zimmerman, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel of the Company and a member of the Bar of the State of Montana.

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and the use of our name, as counsel, therein.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Reid & Priest

REID & PRIEST


Exhibit 23(a)

Consent of Independent Accountants

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the

Prospectus constituting part of this Registration Statement on

Form S-3 of our report dated February 10, 1994 which appears on

page 41 of The Montana Power Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K

for the year ended December 31, 1993. We also consent to the

reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.

PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

Portland, Oregon
December 5, 1994


Exhibit 99(a)

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

TO

MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
OF NEW YORK

(formerly Guaranty Trust Company of New York)

AND

P.J. CROWLEY

(successor to Arthur E. Burke, Karl R. Henrich, H. H. Gould and R. Amundsen),

As Trustees under The Montana Power Company's Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of October 1, 1945

SEVENTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Providing, among other things, for

First Mortgage Bonds, 5.90% Series due 2023

Dated as of December 1, 1993


SEVENTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

SEVENTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of December 1, 1993, between THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY, a corpo- ration of the State of Montana (successor by merger to The Montana Power Company, a corporation of the State of New Jersey), whose post office address is 40 East Broadway, Butte, Montana 59701 (hereinafter sometimes called the Company), and MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, a corporation of the State of New York (formerly Guaranty Trust Company of New York), whose post office address is 60 Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10260 (hereinafter sometimes called the Corporate Trustee) and P.J. CROWLEY (successor to Arthur E. Burke, Karl R. Henrich, H. H. Gould and R. Amundsen), whose post office address is 22 Wayne Street, Montvale, N.J. 07645 (said P.J. Crowley being hereinafter sometimes called the Co-Trustee, and the Corporate Trustee and the Co-Trustee being hereinafter together sometimes called the Trustees), as Trustees under the Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of October 1, 1945 (hereinafter called the Mortgage and, together with any indentures supplemental thereto, hereinafter sometimes called the Indenture), which Mortgage was executed and delivered by The Montana Power Company, a corporation of the State of New Jersey (hereinafter sometimes called the Company-- New Jersey) to Guaranty Trust Company of New York and Arthur E. Burke, to secure the payment of bonds issued or to be issued under and in accordance with the provisions of the Mortgage, reference to which Mortgage is hereby made, this instrument (hereinafter called the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture) being supplemental thereto;

WHEREAS, the Mortgage was or is to be recorded in the official records of various counties in the states of Montana and Wyoming, which counties include or will include all counties in which this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture is to be recorded; and

WHEREAS, by the Mortgage, the Company--New Jersey covenanted that it would execute and deliver such supplemental indenture or indentures and such further instruments and do such further acts as might be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of the Indenture and to make subject to the lien of the Indenture any property thereafter acquired, made or constructed and intended to be subject to the lien thereof; and

WHEREAS, the Company--New Jersey executed and delivered to the Trustees its First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 1, 1954 (hereinafter called the First Supplemental Indenture); its Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1959 (hereinafter called the Second Supplemental Indenture); and

WHEREAS, the Company--New Jersey was merged into the Company on November 30, 1961, and to evidence the succession of the Company to the Company--New Jersey and the assumption by the Company of the covenants and conditions of the Company--New Jersey in the bonds and in the Indenture contained and to enable the Company to have and exercise the powers and rights of the Company--New Jersey under the Indenture in accordance with the terms thereof, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustees its Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 30, 1961 (hereinafter called the Third Supplemental Indenture); and

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustees its Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1970 (hereinafter called the Fourth Supplemental Indenture); its Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1971 (hereinafter called the Fifth Supplemental Indenture); its Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1974 (hereinafter called the Sixth Supplemental Indenture); its Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1974 (hereinafter called the Seventh Supplemental Indenture); its Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 1, 1975 (hereinafter called the Eighth Supplemental Indenture); its Ninth Supplement- al Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1975 (hereinafter called the Ninth Supplemental Indenture); its Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1979 (hereinafter called the Tenth Supplemental Indenture); its Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1983 (hereinafter called the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture); its Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1984 (hereinafter called the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture); its Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1991 (hereinafter called the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture); its Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1993 (hereinafter called the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture); its Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1993 (hereinafter called the Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture) and its Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 1, 1993 (hereinafter called the Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture); and

WHEREAS, the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Supplemental In- dentures were or are to be recorded in the official records of various counties in the states of Montana and Wyoming, which counties include or will include all counties in which this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture is to be recorded; and

WHEREAS, an instrument dated March 15, 1955 was executed by the Company--New Jersey appointing Karl R. Henrich as Co-Trustee in succession to said Arthur E. Burke, resigned, under the Mortgage and by Karl R. Henrich accepting the appointment as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage in succession to said Arthur E. Burke, which instrument was recorded in various counties in the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, an instrument dated June 29, 1962 was executed by the Company appointing H. H. Gould as Co-Trustee in succession to said Karl R. Henrich, resigned, under the Mortgage and by H. H. Gould accepting the appointment as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage in succession to said Karl R. Henrich, which instrument was recorded in various counties in the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, an instrument dated June 22, 1973 was executed by the Company appointing R. Amundsen as Co-Trustee in succession to said H. H. Gould, resigned, under the Mortgage and by R. Amundsen accepting the appointment as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage in succession to said H. H. Gould, which instrument was recorded in various counties in the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, an instrument dated July 1, 1986 was executed by the Company appointing P.J. Crowley as Co-Trustee in succession to said R. Amundsen, resigned, under the Mortgage and by P.J. Crowley accepting the appointment as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage in succession to said R. Amundsen, which instrument was recorded in various counties in the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the property described in the Mortgage, the Company has acquired certain other property, rights and interests in property; and

WHEREAS, the Company--New Jersey or the Company has heretofore issued, in accordance with the provisions of the Mortgage, the following series of First Mortgage Bonds:

                                                             Principal
                                        Principal Amount      Amount
               Series                        Issued         Outstanding

2-7/8% Series due 1975 . . . . . . .     $  40,000,000         NONE
3-1/8% Series due 1984 . . . . . . .         6,000,000         NONE
4-1/2% Series due 1989 . . . . . . .        15,000,000         NONE
8-1/4% Series due 1974 . . . . . . .        30,000,000         NONE
7-1/2% Series due 2001 . . . . . . .        25,000,000      $25,000,000
8-5/8% Series due 2004 . . . . . . .        60,000,000         NONE
8-3/4% Series due 1981 . . . . . . .        30,000,000         NONE
9.60% Series due 2005. . . . . . . .        35,000,000         NONE
9.70% Series due 2005. . . . . . . .        65,000,000         NONE
9-7/8% Series due 2009 . . . . . . .        50,000,000         NONE
11-3/4% Series due 1993. . . . . . .        75,000,000         NONE
10/10-1/8% Series due 2004/2014. . .        80,000,000       80,000,000
8-1/8% Series due 2014 . . . . . . .        41,200,000         NONE
7.70% Series due 1999. . . . . . . .        55,000,000       55,000,000
8-1/4% Series due 2007 . . . . . . .        55,000,000       55,000,000
8.95% Series due 2022. . . . . . . .        50,000,000       50,000,000
Secured Medium-Term Notes. . . . . .        43,000,000       43,000,000
7% Series due 2005 . . . . . . . . .        50,000,000       50,000,000
6-1/8% Series due 2023 . . . . . . .        90,205,000       90,205,000

which bonds are also hereinafter sometimes called bonds of the First through Nineteenth Series, respectively; and

WHEREAS, Section 8 of the Mortgage provides that the form of each series of bonds (other than the First Series) issued thereunder and of the coupons to be attached to coupon bonds of such series shall be established by Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company and that the form of such series, as established by said Board of Directors, shall specify the descriptive title of the bonds and various other terms thereof, and may also contain such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture as the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, cause to be inserted therein expressing or referring to the terms and conditions upon which such bonds are to be issued and/or secured under the Indenture; and

WHEREAS, Section 120 of the Mortgage provides, among other things, that any power, privilege or right expressly or impliedly reserved to or in any way conferred upon the Company by any provision of the Indenture, whether such power, privilege or right is in any way restricted or is unrestricted, may be in whole or in part waived or surrendered or subjected to any restriction if at the time unrestricted or to additional restriction if already restricted, and the Company may enter into any further covenants, limitations or restrictions for the bene- fit of any one or more series of bonds issued thereunder, or the Company may cure any ambiguity contained therein or in any supplemental indenture or may (in lieu of establishment by Resolution as provided in Section 8 of the Mortgage) establish the terms and provisions of any series of bonds other than said First Series, by an instrument in writing executed and acknowledged by the Company in such manner as would be necessary to entitle a conveyance of real estate to record in all of the states in which any property at the time subject to the lien of the Indenture shall be situated; and

WHEREAS, the Company now desires to create a new series of bonds and (pursuant to the provisions of Section 120 of the Mortgage) to add to its covenants and agreements contained in the Mortgage certain other covenants and agreements to be observed by it and to alter and amend in certain respects the covenants and provisions contained in the Indenture; and

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery by the Company of this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, and the terms of the bonds of the Twentieth Series, hereinafter referred to, have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company by appropriate Resolutions of said Board of Directors;

NOW THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH: That the Company, in consideration of the premises and of $1.00 to it duly paid by the Trustees at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and in further evidence of assurance of the estate, title and rights of the Trustees and in order further to secure the payment of both the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the bonds from time to time issued under the Indenture, according to their tenor and effect and the performance of all the provisions of the Indenture (including any modification made as in the Mortgage provided) and of said bonds, and to confirm the lien of the Mortgage on certain after-acquired property, hereby grants, bargains, sells, releases, conveys, assigns, transfers, mortgages, pledges, sets over and confirms (subject, however, to Excepted Encumbrances as defined in Section 6 of the Mortgage) unto P.J. Crowley and (to the extent of its legal capacity to hold the same for the purposes hereof) to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Trustees under the Indenture, and to their successor or successors in said trust, and to said Trustees and their successors and assigns forever, all property, real, personal and mixed, of the kind or nature specifically mentioned in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, or of any other kind or nature (whether or not located in the State of Montana), acquired by the Company after the date of the execution and delivery of the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented (except any herein or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted), now owned or, subject to the provisions of subsection
(I) of Section 87 of the Mortgage, hereafter acquired by the Company (by purchase, consolidation, merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way) and wheresoever situated, including (without in anywise limiting or impairing by the enumeration of the same the scope and intent of the foregoing or of any general description contained in the Indenture) all lands, power sites, flowage rights, water rights, water locations, water appropriations, ditches, flumes, reservoirs, reservoir sites, canals, raceways, dams, dam sites, aqueducts, and all other rights or means for appropriating, conveying, stor- ing and supplying water; all rights of way and roads; all plants for the generation of electricity by steam, water and/or other power; all power houses, gas plants, street lighting systems, standards and other equipment incidental thereto, telephone, radio and television systems, air-conditioning systems and equipment incidental thereto, water works, water systems, steam heat and hot water plants, substations, lines, service and supply systems, bridges, culverts, tracks, ice or refrigeration plants and equipment, offices, buildings and other structures and the equipment thereof; all machinery, engines, boilers, dynamos, electric, gas and other machines, regulators, meters, transformers, generators, motors, electrical, gas and mechanical appliances, conduits, cables, water, steam heat, gas or other pipes, gas mains and pipes, service pipes, fittings, valves and connections, pole and transmission lines, wires, cables, tools, implements, apparatus, furniture and chattels; all franchises, consents or permits; all lines for the transmission and distribution of electric current, gas, steam heat or water for any purpose including towers, poles, wires, cables, pipes, conduits, ducts and all apparatus for use in connection therewith; all real estate, lands, easements, servitudes, licenses, permits, franchises, privileges, rights of way and other rights in or relating to real estate or the occupancy of the same and (except as herein or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted) all the right, title and interest of the Company in and to all other property of any kind or nature appertaining to and/or used and/or occupied and/or enjoyed in connection with any property hereinbefore or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, described.

TOGETHER with all and singular the tenements, hereditaments, prescriptions, servitudes and appurtenances belonging or in anywise appertaining to the aforesaid property or any part thereof, with the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders and (subject to the provisions of Section 57 of the Mortgage) the tolls, rents, revenues, issues, earnings, income, product and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title and interest and claim whatsoever, at law as well as in equity, which the Company now has or may hereafter acquire in and to the aforesaid property and franchises and every part and parcel thereof.

IT IS HEREBY AGREED by the Company that, subject to the provisions of subsection (I) of Section 87 of the Mortgage, all the property, rights, and franchises acquired by the Company (by purchase, consolidation, merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way) after the date hereof, except any herein or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted, shall be and are as fully granted and conveyed hereby and as fully embraced within the lien hereof and the lien of the Mort- gage, as supplemented, as if such property, rights and franchises were now owned by the Company and were specifically described herein and conveyed hereby.

PROVIDED that the following are not and are not intended to be now or hereafter granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, hy- pothecated, affected, pledged, set over or confirmed hereunder and are hereby expressly excepted from the lien and operation of the Mortgage, as supplemented, namely: (1) cash, shares of stock, bonds, notes and other obligations and other securities not specifically pledged, paid, deposited, delivered or held under the Mortgage, as supplemented, or covenanted so to be; (2) merchandise, equipment, apparatus, materials or supplies held for the purpose of sale or other disposition in the usual course of business; fuel, oil and similar materials and supplies consumable in the operation of any of the properties of the Company; all aircraft, tractors, rolling stock, trolley coaches, buses, motor coaches, automobiles, motor trucks, and other vehicles and materials and supplies held for the purpose of repairing or replacing (in whole or part) any of the same; (3) bills, notes and accounts receivable, judgments, demands and chooses in action, and all contracts, leases and operating agreements not specifically pledged under the Mortgage, as supplemented, or covenanted so to be; the Company's contractual rights or other interest in or with respect to tires not owned by the Company;
(4) the last day of the term of any lease or leasehold which may be or become subject to the lien of the Mortgage, as supplemented; (5) electric energy, gas, steam, water, ice, and other materials or products generated, manufactured, produced, purchased or acquired by the Company for sale, distribution or use in the ordinary course of its business; all timber, minerals, mineral rights and royalties and all Gas and Oil Production Prop- erty, as defined in Section 4 of the Mortgage; (6) the Company's franchise to be a corporation; and (7) any property heretofore released pursuant to any provisions of the Indenture and not heretofore disposed of by the Company; provided, however, that the property and rights expressly excepted from the lien and operation of the Mortgage, as supplemented, in the above subdivisions (2) and (3) shall (to the extent permitted by law) cease to be so excepted in the event and as of the date that either or both of the Trustees or a receiver or trustee shall enter upon and take possession of the Mortgaged and Pledged Property in the manner provided in Article XIII of the Mortgage by reason of the occurrence of a Default as defined in Section 65 thereof.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all such properties, real, personal and mixed, granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, pledged, set over or confirmed by the Company as aforesaid, or intended so to be, unto P.J. CROWLEY and (to the extent of its legal capacity to hold the same for the purposes hereof) unto MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as Trustees, and their successors and assigns forever.

IN TRUST NEVERTHELESS, for the same purposes and upon the same terms, trusts and conditions and subject to and with the same provisos and covenants as are set forth in the Mortgage, as supplemented, this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture being supplemental thereto.

AND IT IS HEREBY COVENANTED by the Company that all the terms, conditions, provisos, covenants and provisions contained in the Mortgage, as supplemented, shall affect and apply to the property hereinbefore described and conveyed and to the estate, rights, obligations and duties of the Company and the Trustees and the beneficiaries of the trust with respect to said property, and to the Trustees and their successors as Trustees of said property in the same manner and with the same effect as if the said property had been owned at the time of the execution of the Mortgage, and had been specifically and at length described in and conveyed to the Trustees, by the Mortgage as a part of the property therein stated to be conveyed.

The Company further covenants and agrees to and with the Trustees and their successors in said trust under the Indenture, as follows:

ARTICLE I

Twentieth Series of Bonds

Section 1. There shall be a series of bonds designated "5.90% Series due 2023" (herein sometimes referred to as the "Twentieth Series"), each of which shall also bear the descriptive title "First Mortgage Bond", and the form thereof, which shall be established by Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, shall contain suitable provisions with respect to the matters hereinafter in this Section specified. Bonds of the Twentieth Series shall mature on December 1, 2023, and shall be issued as fully registered bonds in denominations of Five Thousand Dollars and in any multiple or multiples of Five Thousand Dollars; they shall bear interest at the rate of 5.90% per annum, payable semiannually on June 1 and December 1 of each year; the principal of and interest on each said bond to be payable at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts. Bonds of the Twentieth Series shall be dated as in Section 10 of the Mortgage provided.

At the option of the registered owner, any bonds of the Twentieth Series, upon surrender thereof for cancellation at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, shall be exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of bonds of the same series of other authorized denominations.

Bonds of the Twentieth Series shall not be transferable except to any successor trustee under the Indenture of Trust, dated as of December 1, 1993, of the City of Forsyth, Rosebud County, Montana (hereinafter referred to as the "Forsyth Indenture"), relating to the City of Forsyth, Rosebud County, Montana, Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (The Montana Power Company Colstrip Project) Series 1993B (hereinafter referred to as the "Forsyth Bonds"), any such transfer to be made (subject to the provisions of Section 12 of the Mortgage) at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

Upon any exchange or transfer of bonds of the Twentieth Series, the Company may make a charge therefor sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or taxes or other governmental charge, as provided in Section 12 of the Mortgage, but the Company hereby waives any right to make a charge in addition thereto for any exchange or transfer of bonds of the Twentieth Series.

Upon the delivery of this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, bonds of the Twentieth Series in the aggregate principal amount of $80,000,000 are to be issued forthwith and will be Outstanding in addition to $25,000,000 aggregate principal amount of bonds of the Fifth series, $80,000,000 aggregate principal amount of bonds of the Twelfth Series, $55,000,000 aggregate principal amount of bonds of the Fourteenth Series, $55,000,000 aggregate principal amount of bonds of the Fifteenth Series, $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of bonds of the Sixteenth Series, $43,000,000 aggregate principal amount of bonds of the Seventeenth Series, $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of bonds of the Eighteenth Series and $90,205,000 aggregate principal amount of bonds of the Nineteenth Series Outstanding at the date of delivery of this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture.

(I) Upon the redemption, in whole or in part, of the Forsyth Bonds, pursuant to Section 3.01(c) of the Forsyth Indenture, bonds of the Twentieth Series shall be redeemed in whole or in like part, as the case may be. The Corporate Trustee may conclusively presume that no redemption of bonds of the Twentieth Series is required pursuant to this subdivision (I) unless and until it shall have received a written notice from the trustee under the Forsyth Indenture (hereinafter referred to as the "Forsyth Trustee"), signed by its President, a Vice President or a Trust Officer, stating that Forsyth Bonds are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.01(c) of the Forsyth Indenture (said notice is hereinafter referred to as the "Forsyth Redemption Demand"). The Forsyth Redemption Demand also shall state the date on which the Forsyth Bonds are to be redeemed, the principal amount of bonds of the Twentieth Series to be redeemed and that such amount is equal to the principal amount of the Forsyth Bonds to be redeemed and shall instruct the Corporate Trustee to call the stated principal amount of bonds of the Twentieth Series for redemption on the date on which the Forsyth Bonds are to be redeemed. The Forsyth Redemption Demand shall also contain a waiver of notice of such redemption by the Forsyth Trustee, as holder of all bonds of the Twentieth Series then Outstanding. The Corporate Trustee may conclusively presume the statements contained in the Forsyth Redemption Demand to be correct. Redemption of bonds of the Twentieth Series shall be at the principal amount of the bonds to be redeemed together with the applicable accrued interest to the redemption date, and such amount shall become due and payable on the redemption date. The Company hereby covenants that, if a Forsyth Redemption Demand shall be delivered to the Corporate Trustee, the Company, subject to subdivision (II) of this Article I, will deposit, on or before the redemption date, with the Corporate Trustee, in accordance with Article X of the Mortgage, an amount in cash sufficient to redeem the bonds of the Twentieth Series so called for redemption.

(II) All bonds of the Twentieth Series shall be issued and delivered to, and registered in the name of, the Forsyth Trustee (or, subject to Section 6.11 of the Forsyth Indenture, its nominee) in order to provide for the payment of the Company's obligation to make certain payments under the Loan Agreement, dated as of December 1, 1993, between the Company and the City of Forsyth, Rosebud County, Montana, relating to the Forsyth Bonds. The obligation of the Company to make payments with respect to the principal of and interest on bonds of the Twentieth Series shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, satisfied and discharged to the extent that, at the time that any such payment shall be due, there shall be in the Bond Fund established pursuant to the Forsyth Indenture sufficient available funds to fully or partially pay the then due principal of and interest on the Forsyth Bonds. The Corporate Trustee may conclusively presume that the obligation of the Company to make payments with respect to the principal of and interest on bonds of the Twentieth Series shall have been fully satisfied and discharged unless and until the Corporate Trustee shall have received a written notice from the Forsyth Trustee, signed by its President, a Vice President or a Trust Officer, stating (i) that there are not sufficient available funds in such Bond Fund to make timely payment of the principal of or interest on the Forsyth Bonds, and
(ii) the amount of funds required to make such payment. The Corporate Trustee may conclusively presume the statements contained in any such notice to be correct.


ARTICLE II
Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 2. Subject to the amendments provided for in this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, the terms defined in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, shall, for all purposes of this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, have the meanings spe- cified in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented.

Section 3. The Trustees hereby accept the trusts herein declared, provided, created or supplemented and agree to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein and in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, set forth and upon the following terms and conditions:

The Trustees shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made by the Company solely. In general, each and every term and condition contained in Article XVII of the Mortgage shall apply to and form part of this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture with the same force and effect as if the same were herein set forth in full with such omissions, variations and insertions, if any, as may be appropriate to make the same conform to the provisions of this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture.

Section 4. Whenever in this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture any of the parties hereto is named or referred to, this shall, subject to the provisions of Articles XVI and XVII of the Mortgage, be deemed to include the successors and assigns of such party, and all the covenants and agreements in this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company, or by or on behalf of the Trustees shall, subject as aforesaid, bind and inure to the respective benefits of the respective suc- cessors and assigns of such parties, whether so expressed or not.

Section 5. Nothing in this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, expressed or implied, is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or to give to, any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the bonds and coupons Outstanding under the Indenture, any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture or any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof, and all the covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and of the holders of the bonds and coupons Outstanding under the Indenture.

Section 6. This Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture shall be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY has caused its corporate name to be hereunto affixed, and this instrument to be signed and sealed by its President or one of its Vice Presidents, and its corporate seal to be attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries for and in its behalf, and MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, in token of its acceptance of the trust hereby created, has caused its corporate name to be hereunto affixed, and this instrument to be signed and sealed by one of its Vice Presidents or one of its Trust Officers, and its corporate seal to be attested by one of its Assistant Secretaries, and P.J. Crowley, for all like purposes, has hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal, as of the day and year first above written.

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

                                      By:  /s/ J. P. Pederson
                                           Vice President
Attest:

/s/ Patricia L. du Toit
Assistant Secretary

Executed, sealed and delivered by
THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY in the presence of:

/s/ Robert T. Hopewell

/s/ Jessica G. Eyde


MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
OF NEW YORK,
as Corporate Trustee

                                      BY:   /s/ Catherine F. Donohue
                                            Trust Officer

Attest:

/s/ Diana M. Hils
Assistant Secretary


                                            /s/ P. J. Crowley
                                            P.J. CROWLEY, as Co-
                                              Trustee

Executed, sealed and delivered
by MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW
YORK and P.J. CROWLEY in the presence of:

/s/ Allison M. Leuchick

/s/ Susan F. Donnelly


STATE OF MONTANA           )
                           )  ss.:
COUNTY OF SILVER BOW       )

On this 10th day of December, in the year 1993, before me, Susan Hawke, a Notary Public in and for the State of Montana, personally came and appeared J. P. Pederson, to me known and known to me to be a Vice President of THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY, the corporation that executed the within instrument, and ac- knowledged to me that such corporation executed the same, and being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at 1829 Utah Avenue, Butte, Montana; that he is a Vice President of THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY, the corporation described in and which executed the within and above instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by order of the Board of Directors of said corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by like order.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal the day and year in this certificate first above written.

/s/ Susan Hawke
Susan Hawke
Notary Public, State of Montana
Residing at Butte, Montana
My Commission Expires June 1, 1996


STATE OF NEW YORK     )
                      )  ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK    )

On this 14th day of December, 1993, before me, Thomas J. Courtney, a Notary Public in and for the State of New York, personally came and appeared Catherine F. Donohue, to me known and known to me to be a Trust Officer of MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, the corporation that executed the within instrument, and acknowledged to me that such corporation executed the same, and, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that she resides at Bronxville, New York; that she is a Trust Officer of MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, the corporation de- scribed in and which executed the within and above instrument; that she knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation, and that she signed her name thereto by like authority.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal the day and year in this certificate first above written.

/s/ Thomas J. Courtney
Thomas J. Courtney
Notary Public, State of New York
   No. 24-4996233
Qualified in Kings County
Commission Expires May 11, 1994


STATE OF NEW YORK     )
                      )  ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK    )

On this 14th day of December, in the year 1993, before me, Thomas J. Courtney, a Notary Public in and for the State of New York, personally came and appeared P.J. CROWLEY, known to me to be one of the persons described in and who executed the within and foregoing instrument, and whose name is subscribed thereto, and acknowledged to me that he executed the same.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal the day and year in this certificate first above written.

/s/ Thomas J. Courtney
Thomas J. Courtney
Notary Public, State of New York
   No. 24-4996233
Qualified in Kings County
Commission Expires May 11, 1994


Exhibit 99(b)

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

TO

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

AND

W. T. CUNNINGHAM

As Trustees under The Montana

Power Company's Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of October 1, 1945

EIGHTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Providing, among other things, for

the succession of The Bank of New York, to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as the Corporate Trustee, and of W. T. Cunningham to P. J. Crowley, as the Co-Trustee, under such Mortgage and Deed of Trust and the amendment of Section 101 thereof.


EIGHTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

EIGHTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of August 5, 1994, between THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY, a corporation of the State of Montana (successor by merger to The Montana Power Company, a corporation of the State of New Jersey), whose post office address is 40 East Broadway, Butte, Montana, 59701 (hereinafter sometimes called the Company), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a corporation of the State of New York, whose principal corporate trust office is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York, 10286, which hereby is appointed successor Corporate Trustee to MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, and W. T. CUNNINGHAM, whose post office address is 3 Arlington Drive, Denville, New Jersey, 07834, who hereby is appointed successor Co-Trustee to P.J. CROWLEY (the successor Corporate Trustee and the successor Co-Trustee being hereinafter together sometimes called the Trustees), as successor Trustees under the Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of October 1, 1945 (such Mortgage and Deed of Trust, as executed and delivered and as thereafter from time to time amended and supplemented being hereinafter referred to as the Mortgage), which Mortgage was executed and delivered by The Montana Power Company, a corporation of the State of New Jersey (hereinafter sometimes called the Company--New Jersey) to Guaranty Trust Company of New York and Arthur E. Burke, to secure the payment of bonds issued or to be issued under and in accordance with the provisions of the Mortgage, reference to which Mortgage is hereby made, this instrument (hereinafter called the Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture) being supplemental thereto;

WHEREAS, the Mortgage was or is to be recorded in the official records of various counties in the states of Montana and Wyoming, which counties include or will include all counties in which this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture is to be recorded; and

WHEREAS, by the Mortgage, the Company--New Jersey covenanted that it would execute and deliver such supplemental indenture or indentures and such further instruments and do such further acts as might be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of the Mortgage and to make subject to the lien of the Mortgage any property thereafter acquired, made or constructed and intended to be subject to the lien thereof; and

WHEREAS, the Company--New Jersey executed and delivered to the Trustees its First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 1, 1954 (hereinafter called the First Supplemental Indenture); its Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1959 (hereinafter called the Second Supplemental Indenture); and

WHEREAS, the Company--New Jersey was merged into the Company on November 30, 1961, and to evidence the succession of the Company to the Company--New Jersey and the assumption by the Company of the covenants and conditions of the Company--New Jersey in the bonds and in the Mortgage contained and to enable the Company to have and exercise the powers and rights of the Company--New Jersey under the Mortgage in accordance with the terms thereof, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustees its Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 30, 1961 (hereinafter called the Third Supplemental Indenture); and

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustees its Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1970 (hereinafter called the Fourth Supplemental Indenture); its Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1971 (hereinafter called the Fifth Supplemental Indenture); its Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1974 (hereinafter called the Sixth Supplemental Indenture); its Seventh Supplemental Inden- ture, dated as of December 1, 1974 (hereinafter called the Seventh Supplemental Indenture); its Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 1, 1975 (hereinafter called the Eighth Supplemental Indenture); its Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1975 (hereinafter called the Ninth Supplemental Indenture); its Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1979 (hereinafter called the Tenth Supplemental Indenture); its Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1983 (hereinafter called the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture); its Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1984 (hereinafter called the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture); its Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1991 (hereinafter called the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture); its Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1993 (hereinafter called the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture); its Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1993 (hereinafter called the Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture); its Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 1, 1993 (hereinafter called the Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture) and its Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1993 (hereinafter called the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture); and

WHEREAS, the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Supplemental In- dentures were or are to be recorded in the official records of various counties in the states of Montana and Wyoming, which counties include or will include all counties in which this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture is to be recorded; and

WHEREAS, an instrument dated March 15, 1955 was executed by the Company--New Jersey appointing Karl R. Henrich as Co-Trustee in succession to said Arthur E. Burke, resigned, under the Mortgage and by Karl R. Henrich accepting the appointment as Co- Trustee under the Mortgage in succession to said Arthur E. Burke, which instrument was recorded in various counties in the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, an instrument dated June 29, 1962 was executed by the Company appointing H. H. Gould as Co-Trustee in succession to said Karl R. Henrich, resigned, under the Mortgage and by H. H. Gould accepting the appointment as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage in succession to said Karl R. Henrich, which instrument was recorded in various counties in the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, an instrument dated June 22, 1973 was executed by the Company appointing R. Amundsen as Co-Trustee in succession to said H. H. Gould, resigned, under the Mortgage and by R. Amundsen accepting the appointment as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage in succession to said H. H. Gould, which instrument was recorded in various counties in the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, an instrument dated July 1, 1986 was executed by the Company appointing P.J. Crowley as Co-Trustee in succession to said R. Amundsen, resigned, under the Mortgage and by P. J. Crowley accepting the appointment as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage in succession to said R. Amundsen, which instrument was recorded in various counties in the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the property described in the Mortgage, the Company has acquired certain other property, rights and interests in property; and

WHEREAS, the Company--New Jersey or the Company has heretofore issued, in accordance with the provisions of the Mortgage, the following series of First Mortgage Bonds:

                                                  Principal      Principal
                                                   Amount         Amount
Series                                             Issued       Outstanding

2-7/8% Series due 1975. . . . . . . . . . . .    $40,000,000       NONE
3-1/8% Series due 1984. . . . . . . . . . . .      6,000,000       NONE
4-1/2% Series due 1989. . . . . . . . . . . .     15,000,000       NONE
8-1/4% Series due 1974. . . . . . . . . . . .     30,000,000       NONE
7-1/2% Series due 2001 (Fifth). . . . . . . .     25,000,000    $25,000,000
8-5/8% Series due 2004. . . . . . . . . . . .     60,000,000       NONE
8-3/4% Series due 1981. . . . . . . . . . . .     30,000,000       NONE
9.60% Series due 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . .     35,000,000       NONE
9.70% Series due 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . .     65,000,000       NONE
9-7/8% Series due 2009. . . . . . . . . . . .     50,000,000       NONE
11-3/4% Series due 1993 . . . . . . . . . . .     75,000,000       NONE
10/10-1/8% Series due 2004/2014 . . . . . . .     80,000,000       NONE
8-1/8% Series due 2014. . . . . . . . . . . .     41,200,000       NONE
7.70% Series due 1999 (Fourteenth). . . . . .     55,000,000     55,000,000
8-1/4% Series due 2007 (Fifteenth). . . . . .     55,000,000     55,000,000
8.95% Series due 2022 (Sixteenth) . . . . . .     50,000,000     50,000,000
Secured Medium-Term Notes (Seventeenth) . . .     68,000,000     68,000,000
7% Series due 2005 (Eighteenth) . . . . . . .     50,000,000     50,000,000
6-1/8% Series due 2023 (Nineteenth) . . . . .     90,205,000     90,205,000
5.90% Series due 2023 (Twentieth) . . . . . .     80,000,000     80,000,000

which bonds are also hereinafter sometimes called bonds of the First through Twentieth Series, respectively; and

WHEREAS, Section 120 of the Mortgage provides, among other things, that any power, privilege or right expressly or impliedly reserved to or in any way conferred upon the Company by any provision of the Mortgage, whether such power, privilege or right is in any way restricted or is unrestricted, may be in whole or in part waived or surrendered or subjected to any restriction if at the time unrestricted or to additional restriction if already restricted, and the Company may enter into any further covenants, limitations or restrictions for the benefit of any one or more series of bonds issued thereunder, or the Company may cure any ambiguity contained therein or in any supplemental indenture or may (in lieu of establishment by Resolution as provided in
Section 8 of the Mortgage) establish the terms and provisions of any series of bonds other than said First Series, by an in- strument in writing executed and acknowledged by the Company in such manner as would be necessary to entitle a conveyance of real estate to record in all of the states in which any property at the time subject to the lien of the Mortgage shall be situated; and

WHEREAS, Section 101 of the Mortgage provides that any Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Company and publishing notice thereof in the manner set forth in such Section; and

WHEREAS, Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York has given written notice to the Company that it has resigned as Corporate Trustee under the Mortgage, such resignation to take effect at the close of business on August 5, 1994, unless previously a successor Corporate Trustee shall have been appointed as provided in the Mortgage, in which event such resignation shall take effect immediately upon the appointment of such successor Corporate Trustee; and

WHEREAS, P.J. Crowley has given written notice to the Company that he has resigned as Co-Trustee under the Mortgage, such resignation to take effect at the close of business on August 5, 1994, unless previously a successor Co-Trustee shall have been appointed as provided in the Mortgage, in which event such resignation shall take effect immediately upon the appointment of such successor Co-Trustee; and

WHEREAS, Section 102 of the Mortgage provides that the Company, pursuant to the order of its Board of Directors, may appoint a successor Trustee if a Trustee shall resign; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires that The Bank of New York and W.T. Cunningham act as successor Corporate Trustee and Co- Trustee, respectively, under the Mortgage; and

WHEREAS, The Bank of New York and W.T. Cunningham are eligible and qualified to serve as Corporate Trustee and Co- Trustee, respectively, under the Mortgage, in compliance with Sections 35, 88 and 99 of the Mortgage, and are willing to accept such appointment as successor Trustees; and

WHEREAS, The Company has agreed to publish notice of such appointment as provided in Section 102 of the Mortgage;

WHEREAS, the Company now desires (pursuant to the provisions of Section 120 of the Mortgage) to add to its covenants and agreements contained in the Mortgage certain other covenants and agreements to be observed by it and to alter and amend in certain respects the covenants and provisions contained in the Mortgage; and

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery by the Company of this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company by appropriate Resolutions of said Board of Directors;

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH: That, pursuant
to Section 102 of the Mortgage and by order of its Board of Directors, the Company hereby appoints The Bank of New York as successor Corporate Trustee under the Mortgage, subject to the conditions of Article XVII thereof, effective at the close of business on August 5, 1994;

That The Bank of New York, a bank or trust company having its principal office and place of business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, hereby accepts its appointment by the Company as successor Corporate Trustee under the Mortgage;

That, pursuant to Section 102 of the Mortgage and by order of its Board of Directors, the Company hereby appoints W.T. Cunningham as successor Co-Trustee under the Mortgage, subject to the conditions in Article XVII thereof, effective at the close of business on August 5, 1994;

That the undersigned, W.T. Cunningham, a citizen of the United States of America, hereby accepts his appointment by the Company as successor Co-Trustee under the Mortgage;

That the Company will proceed with the publication of the notice of appointment as provided in Section 102 of the Mortgage in substantially the following form:

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of October 1, 1945, as amended and supplemented

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CORPORATE TRUSTEE
AND SUCCESSOR CO-TRUSTEE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 102 of the above-mentioned Mortgage, that The Montana Power Company has appointed The Bank of New York and W. T. Cunningham, respectively, as successor Corporate Trustee and successor Co- Trustee under the Mortgage, and that The Bank of New York and W.T. Cunningham have accepted such appointments, effective at the close of business on August 5, 1994.

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

August 5, 1994

That the Company, in consideration of the premises and of $1.00 to it duly paid by the Trustees at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and in further evidence of assurance of the estate, title and rights of the Trustees and in order further to secure the payment of both the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the bonds from time to time issued under the Mortgage, according to their tenor and effect and the performance of all the provisions of the Mortgage (including any modification made as in the Mortgage provided) and of said bonds, and to confirm the lien of the Mortgage on certain after-acquired property, hereby grants, bargains, sells, releases, conveys, assigns, transfers, mortgages, pledges, sets over and confirms (subject, however, to Excepted Encumbrances as defined in Section 6 of the Mortgage) unto W.T. Cunningham, who has been appointed successor Co-Trustee as hereinabove provided, and (to the extent of its legal capacity to hold the same for the purposes hereof) to The Bank of New York, which has been appointed successor Corporate Trustee as hereinabove provided, as Trustees under the Mortgage, and to their successor or successors in said trust, and to said Trustees and their successors and assigns forever, all property, real, personal and mixed, of the kind or nature specifically mentioned in the Mortgage, or of any other kind or nature (whether or not located in the State of Montana), acquired by the Company after the date of the execution and delivery of the Mort- gage, as heretofore supplemented (except any herein or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted), now owned or, subject to the provisions of subsection (I) of
Section 87 of the Mortgage, hereafter acquired by the Company (by purchase, consolidation, merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way) and wheresoever situated, including (without in anywise limiting or impairing by the enumeration of the same the scope and intent of the foregoing or of any general description contained in the Mortgage) all lands, power sites, flowage rights, water rights, water locations, water appro- priations, ditches, flumes, reservoirs, reservoir sites, canals, raceways, dams, dam sites, aqueducts, and all other rights or means for appropriating, conveying, storing and supplying water; all rights of way and roads; all plants for the generation of electricity by steam, water and/or other power; all powerhouses, gas plants, street lighting systems, standards and other equipment incidental thereto, telephone, radio and television systems, air-conditioning systems and equipment incidental thereto, water works, water systems, steam heat and hot water plants, substations, lines, service and supply systems, bridges, culverts, tracks, ice or refrigeration plants and equipment, offices, buildings and other structures and the equipment thereof; all machinery, engines, boilers, dynamos, electric, gas and other machines, regulators, meters, transformers, generators, motors, electrical, gas and mechanical appliances, conduits, cables, water, steam heat, gas or other pipes, gas mains and pipes, service pipes, fittings, valves and connections, pole and transmission lines, wires, cables, tools, implements, apparatus, furniture and chattels; all franchises, consents or permits; all lines for the transmission and distribution of electric current, gas, steam heat or water for any purpose including towers, poles, wires, cables, pipes, conduits, ducts and all apparatus for use in connection therewith; all real estate, lands, easements, servitudes, licenses, permits, franchises, privileges, rights of way and other rights in or relating to real estate or the occupancy of the same and (except as herein or in the Mortgage expressly excepted) all the right, title and interest of the Company in and to all other property of any kind or nature appertaining to and/or used and/or occupied and/or enjoyed in connection with any property hereinbefore or in the Mortgage described.

TOGETHER with all and singular the tenements, hereditaments, prescriptions, servitudes and appurtenances belonging or in anywise appertaining to the aforesaid property or any part thereof, with the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders and (subject to the provisions of Section 57 of the Mortgage) the tolls, rents, revenues, issues, earnings, income, product and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title and interest and claim whatsoever, at law as well as in equity, which the Company now has or may hereafter acquire in and to the aforesaid property and franchises and every part and parcel thereof.

IT IS HEREBY AGREED by the Company that, subject to the provisions of subsection (I) of Section 87 of the Mortgage, all the property, rights, and franchises acquired by the Company (by purchase, consolidation, merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way) after the date hereof, except any herein or in the Mortgage expressly excepted, shall be and are as fully granted and conveyed hereby and as fully embraced within the lien hereof and the lien of the Mortgage as if such property, rights and franchises were now owned by the Company and were specifi- cally described herein and conveyed hereby.

PROVIDED that the following are not and are not intended to be now or hereafter granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, hypothecated, affected, pledged, set over or confirmed hereunder and are hereby expressly excepted from the lien and operation of the Mortgage, namely:
(1) cash, shares of stock, bonds, notes and other obligations and other securities not specifically pledged, paid, deposited, delivered or held under the Mortgage or covenanted so to be;
(2) merchandise, equipment, apparatus, materials or supplies held for the purpose of sale or other disposition in the usual course of business; fuel, oil and similar materials and supplies consumable in the operation of any of the properties of the Company; all aircraft, tractors, rolling stock, trolley coaches, buses, motor coaches, automobiles, motor trucks, and other vehicles and materials and supplies held for the purpose of repairing or replacing (in whole or part) any of the same;
(3) bills, notes and accounts receivable, judgments, demands and choses in action, and all contracts, leases and operating agreements not specifically pledged under the Mortgage or cove- nanted so to be; the Company's contractual rights or other interest in or with respect to tires not owned by the Company;
(4) the last day of the term of any lease or leasehold which may be or become subject to the lien of the Mortgage; (5) electric energy, gas, steam, water, ice, and other materials or products generated, manufactured, produced, purchased or acquired by the Company for sale, distribution or use in the ordinary course of its business; all timber, minerals, mineral rights and royalties and all Gas and Oil Production Property, as defined in Section 4 of the Mortgage; (6) the Company's franchise to be a corporation; and (7) any property heretofore released pursuant to any provisions of the Mortgage and not heretofore disposed of by the Company; provided, however, that the property and rights expressly excepted from the lien and operation of the Mortgage in the above subdivisions (2) and (3) shall (to the extent permitted by law) cease to be so excepted in the event and as of the date that either or both of the Trustees or a receiver or trustee shall enter upon and take possession of the Mortgaged and Pledged Property in the manner provided in Article XIII of the Mortgage by reason of the occurrence of a Default as defined in Section 65 thereof.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all such properties, real, personal and mixed, granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, pledged, set over or confirmed by the Company as aforesaid, or intended so to be, unto W.T. CUNNINGHAM and (to the extent of its legal capacity to hold the same for the purposes hereof) unto THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustees and their successors and assigns forever.

IN TRUST NEVERTHELESS, for the same purposes and upon the same terms, trusts and conditions and subject to and with the same provisos and covenants as are set forth in the Mortgage, this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture being supplemental thereto.

AND IT IS HEREBY COVENANTED by the Company that all the terms, conditions, provisos, covenants and provisions contained in the Mortgage shall affect and apply to the property hereinbefore described and conveyed and to the estate, rights, obligations and duties of the Company and the Trustees and the beneficiaries of the trust with respect to said property, and to the Trustees and their successors as Trustees of said property in the same manner and with the same effect as if the said property had been owned at the time of the execution of said Mortgage and Deed of Trust, and had been specifically and at length described in and conveyed to the Trustees, by said Mortgage and Deed of Trust as a part of the property therein stated to be conveyed.

The Company further covenants and agrees to and with the Trustees and their successors in said trust under the Mortgage, as follows:

ARTICLE I.

Amendment of Section 101 of the Mortgage

Section A. The second paragraph of Section 101 of the Mortgage hereby is amended by adding a new sentence at the end thereof to read as follows:

"In the absence of a Default or the occurrence of an event which, after notice, the passage of time, or both, would constitute a Default, any Trustee theretofore appointed by the Company as provided in
Section 102 hereof also may be removed at any time by an instrument in writing executed by order of its Board of Directors, duly acknowledged by its President or a Vice President and filed with such Trustee. Should any Trustee be so removed by the order of the Board of Directors, the Company shall publish notice thereof in the manner hereinabove provided in this Section 101."

ARTICLE II.
Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 2. Subject to the amendments provided for in this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, the terms defined in the Mortgage shall, for all purposes of this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, have the meaning specified in the Mortgage.

Section 3. The Trustees hereby accept the trusts herein declared, provided, created or supplemented and agree to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein and in the Mortgage set forth and upon the following terms and conditions:

The Trustees shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made by the Company solely. In general, each and every term and condition contained in Article XVII of the Mortgage shall apply to and form part of this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture with the same force and effect as if the same were herein set forth in full with such omissions, variations and insertions, if any, as may be appropriate to make the same conform to the provisions of this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture.

Section 4. Whenever in this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture any of the parties hereto is named or referred to, this shall, subject to the provisions of Articles XVI and XVII of the Mortgage, be deemed to include the successors and assigns of such party, and all the covenants and agreements in this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company, or by or on behalf of the Trustees shall, subject as aforesaid, bind and inure to the respective benefits of the respective suc- cessors and assigns of such parties, whether so expressed or not.

Section 5. Nothing in this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, expressed or implied, is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or to give to, any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the bonds and coupons Outstanding under the Mortgage, any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture or any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof, and all the covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and of the holders of the bonds and coupons Outstanding under the Mortgage.

Section 6. This Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture shall be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY has caused its corporate name to be hereunto affixed, and this instrument to be signed and sealed by its President or one of its Vice Presidents, and its corporate seal to be attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries for and in its behalf, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, in token of its acceptance of the trust hereby created, has caused its corporate name to be hereunto affixed, and this instrument to be signed and sealed by one of its Vice Presidents or one of its Assistant Vice Presidents, and its corporate seal to be attested by one of its Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries or Assistant Treasurers, and W.T. CUNNINGHAM, for all like purposes, has hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal, as of the day and year first above written.

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY

                              By: /s/ J.P. Pederson
                                     Vice President
Attest:

 /s/ R.M. Ralph
Assistant Secretary

Executed, sealed and delivered by
THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY in the presence of:

/s/ W.C. Verbael

/s/ L.J. O'Farrell


THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as successor Corporate Trustee

                              BY: /s/ David G. Sampson
                                      Vice President


Attest:

/s/ Alfia Monastra
Assistant Treasurer


                                  /s/ W.T. Cunningham    [L.S.]
                                  W.T. CUNNINGHAM, as successor
                                    Co-Trustee

Executed, sealed and delivered
by THE BANK OF NEW YORK and
W.T. CUNNINGHAM in the presence of:

/s/ Helen M. Cotiaux

/s/ Robert F. McIntyre


STATE OF MONTANA         )
                         )  ss.:
COUNTY OF SILVER BOW     )

On this 5th day of August, in the year 1994, before me, Susan Hawke, a Notary Public in and for the State of Montana, personally came and appeared J.P. Pederson, to me known and known to me to be a Vice President of THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY, the corporation that executed the within instrument, and acknowledged to me that such corporation executed the same, and being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at 1829 Utah Avenue, Butte, Montana; that he is a Vice President of THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY, the corporation described in and which executed the within and above instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by order of the Board of Directors of said corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by like order.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal the day and year in this certificate first above written.

/s/ Susan Hawke
Susan Hawke
Notary Public, State of Montana
Residing at Butte, Montana
My Commission Expires June 1, 1996


STATE OF NEW YORK   )
                    )  ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK  )

On this 5th day of August, 1994, before me, W. Cassels, a Notary Public in and for the State of New York, personally came and appeared David G. Sampson, to me known and known to me to be a Vice President of THE BANK OF NEW YORK, the corporation that executed the within instrument, and acknowledged to me that such corporation executed the same, and, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at 220 Hulls Hill Rd., Southbury, Connecticut; that he is a Vice President of THE BANK OF NEW YORK, the corporation described in and which executed the within and above instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal the day and year in this certificate first above written.

/s/ W. J. Cassels
WILLIAM J. CASSELS
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 01CA5027729
Qualified in Bronx County
Certificate Filed in New York
  County
Commission Expires May 16, 1996


STATE OF NEW YORK   )
                    )  ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK  )

On this 5th day of August, in the year 1994, before me, W. Cassels, a Notary Public in and for the State of New York, personally came and appeared W.T. CUNNINGHAM, known to me to be one of the persons described in and who executed the within instrument, and whose name is subscribed thereto, and acknowledged to me that he executed the same.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal the day and year in this certificate first above written.

/s/ W. J. Cassels
WILLIAM J. CASSELS
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 01CA5027729
Qualified in Bronx County
Certificate Filed in New York
  County
Commission Expires May 16, 1996