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.
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More than a dozen Montana organizations are suing the state’s utility oversight board over climate concerns. They argue that by not accounting for climate change, the Public Service Commission's decisions can have major environmental, economic and health impacts for Montanans.
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The Public Service Commission’s District 5 seat is up for election. Voters from the Blackfeet Indian Reservation to Helena and parts of Missoula will get to choose who represents them on the board. MTPR’s Clayton Murphy talks with Deputy Editor of the Daily Montanan Keila Szpaller about who’s running and what the race could mean for voters.
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Two candidates are vying for the open District 1 seat on the Public Service Commission. This district is the biggest in the state by land and covers much of eastern Montana, from the Rocky Boy’s Reservation to Glendive and Miles City. MTPR’s Clayton Murphy speaks with Keila Szpaller, deputy editor of the Daily Montanan, about the race and what this election may mean for Montanans.
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