The commission that regulates utilities in Montana has a new executive director. The Public Service Commission selected David Sanders for the role.
The commission is made up of five elected commissioners. The executive director position was created after a 2021 legislative audit found the commission was falling short in administrative matters.
Former legislator Brad Tschida was the previous holder of the position. He stepped down in September.
Announcing the new hire, the commission said Sanders held previous positions in the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. House of Representatives.
-
The governor has filled a utility commission seat left vacant after sexual harassment claims against the former commissioner. A judge has ruled that the Montana Republican Party’s new bylaws infringe on state primary elections. The Meta settlement over social media harms to minors will send at least $89 million to Montana. -
NorthWestern Energy must go back to the drawing board after state regulators said their 20-year proposal for providing electricity is “deficient.” The utility company has 30 days with an optional extension to return an edited plan. -
Bozeman and Missoula declared 100% clean electricity goals in 2019 and have been chipping away at this effort ever since. Now both cities have committed to a new renewable energy plan that gets them closer to carbon neutrality by 2030. -
The Public Service Commission, which regulates Montana utilities, is closing public comment on NorthWestern Energy’s controversial 20-year plan on July 28. The proposal has drawn criticism from private citizens and environmental advocacy organizations.
-
Democratic House candidates try to separate from the pack. Senate Republican candidate Kurt Alme tries to downplay the last-minute maneuver that put him into the race. Senate Democratic candidate Reilly Neill promises to hold President Trump accountable if she's elected. And this may be the last time voters elect members of the state Public Service Commission. -
The state’s largest utility is signing agreements to power data centers. But, the details of those agreements have remained unavailable to the public. Now a coalition of climate and energy groups is demanding state regulators release that information.
