UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________________________________
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 11, 1996
THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Montana 1-4566 81-0170530
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
40 East Broadway, Butte, Montana 59701
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (406) 723-5421
ITEM 5. Other Events - Attached news release from Montana Power
dated December 11, 1996
MPC'S BOARD ANNOUNCES SUCCESSION PLAN
BUTTE -- Directors of The Montana Power Company today
announced that their long-term succession plan for leadership of
the company calls for Robert P. Gannon to succeed Daniel T. Berube
as chairman of the board and chief executive officer.
Berube said today that he had informed MPC's board of
directors that he plans to retire at the end of 1997, a year from
now and less than a year before his required retirement.
Berube said directors accepted his decision, and issued their
statement of intention that Berube be succeeded by Robert P.
Gannon, the company's vice chairman and president.
"The board's purpose in making this announcement is to
clarify its intent about my successor, as a means of assisting in
a smooth transition," the chairman said.
"In businesses like ours, good practice is to develop a
succession plan and make it public in anticipation of expected
events," Berube said. "That's exactly what we're doing now. The
board's intention is that Bob Gannon will become chief executive
officer on July 1, 1997, and that he will become chairman of the
board upon my retirement at the end of 1997. The board will take
its final actions at appropriate times to meet these dates.
"I believe Montana Power is fortunate to have a person of
Bob's ability, who is prepared to step into this position. I'm
pleased the board shares my confidence in planning to have Bob
succeed me.
"We have worked through a restructuring of this company,"
Berube said. "With much of the transition work now completed, the
company will be directed by new leadership.
"So it makes a great deal of sense to me that I complete my
work over the next 12 months, so we make this change of leadership
at the conclusion of the 1997 business year, which also is the
calendar year," Berube said. "That's what I expressed to the
board."
Berube, 63, became Montana Power's chief executive officer on
January 1, 1992, and became chairman of the board July 1, 1992.
Gannon, 52, was named president of Montana Power on January
1, 1990, and became vice-chairman of the board January 23, 1996,
with his primary responsibility to direct the company's
restructuring.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY
(Registrant)
By /s/ J.P. Pederson
J. P. Pederson
Vice President and Chief
Financial and Information
Officer
Dated: December 11, 1996
