Republicans have decisively taken control of the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC), securing all three available seats and solidifying their hold on the commission. Responsible for overseeing investor-owned utilities, commissioners balance their financial health against customer interests. Voters in urban centers like Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Butte, and Helena faced choices between seasoned Republicans and new political figures. Key issues included electricity rate hikes approved by the existing commission, Colstrip’s coal plant’s future amid federal pollution regulations, and a petition for incorporating climate impacts.
DISTRICT 2
Montana Sen. Brad Molnar, with over 30 years of political experience, emerged victorious in District 2, defeating Susan Bilo by a 21-point margin. The district includes south-central Montana, covering parts of Billings and Bozeman. Molnar expressed readiness to engage with regulatory matters, preparing for a November meeting to consult with agency staff. Despite past losses, Molnar noted Bilo was the only opponent to congratulate him. His political career spans legislative positions and prior PSC terms, driven by motivations to challenge federal emissions regulations and advocate for transitioning utilities to cooperative ownership.
Susan Bilo, an energy expert, focused her campaign on clean energy and criticized current commissioners for neglecting solar and wind solutions. Concerned about Montana lagging in energy transition, she supported a petition for climate impact consideration following the Held v. Montana ruling.
DISTRICT 3
Jeff Welborn, a Dillon-based former state senator, won the District 3 race. Welborn plans to engage with experts to address complex PSC issues and ensure energy reliability and affordability. His campaign aimed to protect consumers from abrupt rate hikes and advocate for agricultural interests. Democratic opponent Leonard Williams, a Butte journeyman electrician, congratulated Welborn and emphasized the need for Montana-generated electricity to serve its residents. Williams opposed the NorthWestern Energy rate hike as detrimental to low-income Montanans.
DISTRICT 4
In District 4, incumbent Jennifer Fielder secured a second term with 55% of the vote against Elana Evans. The district covers northwestern Montana, including parts of Missoula and Flathead valleys. Fielder claimed her leadership helped improve PSC’s reputation following previous internal conflicts. Evans, running as an independent, criticized NorthWestern Energy’s rate hikes and mobilized significant volunteer support to offer voters a choice. Despite her loss, Evans pledged continued advocacy for Montanans over corporate interests. This election may be the last with current PSC district boundaries, which a judge ruled likely unconstitutional earlier this year.
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