The Montana Public Service Commission is launching an investigation into Century Link Communication’s “legacy infrastructure” where customers in rural areas continue to report telephone problems like the inability to reach 911. Kiela Szpaller with the Daily Montanan reports the PSC adopted a staff recommendation into the adequacy of Century Li...
Public Service Commission To Review Re-districting This Week
A judge has ruled the 5 Public Service Commission districts don’t truly represent the number of residents in each but should and January 7th, there will be a hearing to help determine what to do about it. Representative Derek Skees who is running for a Public Service Commission seat was on Voices of Montana Monday. https://northernbroadcasting...
Public Service Commission To Lower Power Rates Year
The Montana Public Service Commission has approved lower rates effective January 1st for its residential electric customers of NorthWestern Energy, cutting the average yearly bill $21.12. Natural gas customers will see a decrease in their yearly bill by $13.56. Residential electric customers of Montana Dakota Utilities will see an annual reduc...
Media Company Sues PSC Over Access To Information
Lee Enterprises has filed a petition in District Court in Helena documenting two times in which its reporters sought Montana Public Service Commission records and were asked for up-front payments including $31,000 in one case. The newspaper group says the PSC shouldn’t be requiring hefty payments for legal reviews before releasing inform...
Heating Bills Projected To Significantly Increase This Winter
According to the Montana Public Service Commission rising natural gas prices could boost heating bills by as much as 62% this winter. The announcement comes after the federal Energy Information Administration forecast higher winter heating prices for every region of the country. The winter heating period began October 1st and ends March 31st. ...
Northwestern Energy To Begin Construction On Laurel Power Plant Ahead Of Schedule
NorthWestern Energy informed the Public Service Commission Tuesday it is withdrawing its request for regulatory preapproval to build a new natural gas-fired power plant in Laurel. It will get construction started saying in a press release in order to accelerate the commercial operation date of the Laurel Generating Station and to take full adv...
PSC Addresses Northwestern Energy’s Recent High Power Rates
The Office of Consumer Counsel told the Public Service Commission Tuesday NorthWestern Energy customers have been paying too much for power since July. It asked the utility regulators to dismiss the case that led to a rate hike because it changed the base rates NorthWestern agreed to in its last general rate case less than two years ago. North...
Missoula District Judge Denies Motion From NorthWestern For Lawsuit
A lawsuit challenging the state’s pre-approval statute can proceed following Missoula District Court Judge Jason Marks’ ruling denying NorthWestern Energy’s motion filed with support from Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and the Montana Public Service Commission to dismiss the lawsuit. At issue is the constitutionality of the stat...
Public Service Commission To See Administrative Shakeup Following Audit
Members of the Legislative Audit Committee called unprofessionalism at Montana’s Public Service Commission a betrayal of public trust Monday as they reviewed a financial audit showing a lack of control at the agency. Auditors estimated the PSC books were off as much as $100,000 over two years ending June 30th 2020. Debts went unpaid and revenu...
Public Service Commission Facing Audit Over Past Two Fiscal Years
The Legislative Audit Division has released a financial-compliance audit report on the Public Service Commission for the past two years raising concerns over management and misuse of funds. Northern News Network’s Eric Young has more. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/6-02_537.mp3