Dave Gates Generating Station
Deer Lodge County, Montana · EIA plant ID 56908 · Operator: NorthWestern Energy DGGS
Nameplate203MWSummer 132 MW
Generators3in service
Net generation345GWh12 mo to Aug 2026
Capacity factor30%gas/coal/oil units, summer MW
Heat rate11,944Btu/kWhfossil units, electric fuel, HHV
First online2011Runs as baseload
The 12-month figures include preliminary EIA-923 months, which EIA revises. Final data runs through Dec 2025.
Monthly net generation
EIA-923, all units at the plant. Net of station use; storage can go negative.
FinalPreliminary
Capacity factor by year
Net MWh ÷ (summer MW × hours), gas/coal/oil units. Each year uses that year's EIA-860 ratings; the hollow dot is the latest 12 months.
Heat rate by year
Electric fuel MMBtu × 1000 ÷ net MWh (Btu/kWh, HHV), fossil units only; CT + CA counted as one combined-cycle block.
Annual data table
| Year | Net GWh | Capacity factor | Heat rate (Btu/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 329.4 | 28.4% | 11,681 |
| 2012 | 361.8 | 31.1% | 12,399 |
| 2013 | 447.3 | 38.6% | 11,742 |
| 2014 | 412.4 | 35.6% | 11,648 |
| 2015 | 427.7 | 36.9% | 11,796 |
| 2016 | 262.9 | 22.6% | 12,840 |
| 2017 | 251.3 | 21.7% | 12,715 |
| 2018 | 220.9 | 19.1% | 12,516 |
| 2019 | 226.7 | 19.6% | 12,497 |
| 2020 | 179.3 | 15.4% | 13,357 |
| 2021 | 263.7 | 22.8% | 12,344 |
| 2022 | 406 | 35.0% | 11,682 |
| 2023 | 547.5 | 47.2% | 11,250 |
| 2024 | 474.7 | 40.8% | 11,412 |
| 2025 | 502.7 | 43.4% | 11,302 |
Fuel capability
Gas-fired turbines (CT/GT/CA/CS) that can also burn liquid fuel. EIA-860 Schedule 3 for capability, EIA-923 for actual burn.
StatusLikely still dual fuel
Liquid fuel burned · 36 mo67,954 MMBtu
Last month with liquid burnOct 2025
Switch while operatingYes
Net summer MW on gas128
Net summer MW on oil128
Time gas → oilup to 1 h (EIA 1H)
Time oil → gasup to 1 h (EIA 1H)
Generators
EIA-860 (annual) with EIA-860M updates through Sep 2026. EIA-923 reports generation by plant, prime mover and fuel, not by unit, so unit-level output isn't shown.
| Gen ID | Technology | Prime mover | Nameplate MW | Summer MW | Online | Status | Planned retirement | OEM / model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | GT | 67.7 | 44.1 | Jan 2011 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| 2 | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | GT | 67.7 | 44.1 | Jan 2011 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| 3 | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | GT | 67.7 | 44.1 | Jan 2011 | Operating | — | coming soon |
Owner / operator
Operator: NorthWestern Energy DGGS. Ownership shares by in-service nameplate MW (EIA-860 Schedule 4; units not listed there are wholly owned by the operator).
| NorthWestern Energy DGGS | 100.0% | 203 MW |
Nearby plants
Within 80 km.
| Basin Creek Plant | 55 MW | 33.8 km |
| Flint Creek Hydroelectric LLC | 2 MW | 35 km |