Exxon Mobil cuts Montana refinery runs due to power cost Friday December 29, 1:14 PM EST NEW YORK, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil (XOM), the No.1 U.S. oil company, said Friday it has cut back production at its 56,000 barrel per day Billings, Montana, refinery due to "sky high" electricity costs.

"We've cut back our runs at the refinery as a result of sky high power bills," said a spokeswoman.

The company would not say how much it has limited its output at the refinery, which produces mostly for local usage.

Industry sources said other refiners in the Big Sky region of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho were also cutting production due to high electricity costs, but none were immediately available for comment.

Power costs have surged in the U.S. tracking surging natural gas costs, with the highest spikes in U.S. northeastern edge of the Western power grid.

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-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), December 30, 2000