Regulators Add Travel Rundown To Meetings To Comply With Agency Policy

Yellowstone Public Radio | By Kayla Desroches

Published August 10, 2021 at 7:41 PM MDT

Montana Public Service Commission Chairman James Brown speaks to the Legislative Audit Committee about the PSC's audit results and how the PSC intends to improve future compliance with state financial policy on June 7, 2021.

Electric utility regulators on the Montana Public Service Commission are introducing a new agenda item to their meetings to ensure that members follow agency travel policy.

Commissioners detailed their business travel at a Tuesday meeting where Chairman James Brown said travel updates would be a permanent part of commission meetings from now on.

“This is a new agenda item which is intended to have the commission comply with its obligations under the bluebook,” he said.

The change follows a financial compliance audit the Montana Legislative Audit Division released in May. The audit found the PSC failed to follow agency financial policy in fiscal years 2019 and 2020.

Findings in the audit include mishandled travel funds, missing documentation and waste of state resources.