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Montana Public Service Commission
| Montana Public Service Commission | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Total Seats: | 5 |
| Term limits: | Two terms in any 16 year period |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Montana Annotated Code, Title 69, chapter 1, part 102 |
| Leadership: | Bill Gallagher |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 |
| Last election: | November 2, 2010 |
| Other Montana Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Public Instruction • Agriculture Director • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Director • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current chairman is Bill Gallagher (R) (District 5) and Bob Lake (R) (District 4) is vice chairman. Commissioners include Travis Kavulla (R) (District 1), Kirk Bushman (R) (District 2), and Roger Koopman (R) (District 3).
Authority
Title 69, chapter 1, part 102 of the Montana Code addresses the creation of the Public Service Commission.[1]
Under 69-1-102:
|
A public service commission is hereby created, whose duty it is to supervise and regulate the operations of public utilities, common carriers, railroads, and other regulated industries listed in this title. Such supervision and regulation shall be in conformity with this title. |
Qualifications
Title 69, chapter 1, part 103 of the Montana Code addresses states that commissioners must be qualified electors of the district from which they are elected.[2]
Elections
The commissioners are elected to four-year term from five districts throughout the state. The commissioners select a chair and vice chairman.[3]
Commissioners take office on the first Monday of January following the election. Commissioners may not serve more than 8 years in a 16-year period.[4]
2012
District 2
Incumbent Brad Molnar (R) could not seek re-election due to term limits. Kirk Bushman (R) defeated Chuck Tooley (D) in the November 6, 2012 general election.
| Montana Public Service Commission District 2 General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Chuck Tooley | 47.3% | 42,587 | |
| Republican |  Kirk Bushman |
52.7% | 47,385 | |
| Total Votes | 89,972 | |||
| Election Results via Montana Secretary of State. | ||||
District 3
Incumbent John Vincent (D) lost his bid for re-election to Roger Koopman (R) in the November 6, 2012 general election.
| Montana Public Service Commission District 3 General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | John Vincent Incumbent | 49.1% | 50,513 | |
| Republican | Roger Koopman |
50.9% | 52,330 | |
| Total Votes | 102,843 | |||
| Election Results via Montana Secretary of State. | ||||
District 4
Incumbent Gail Gutsche (D) lost her bid for re-election to Bob Lake (R) in the November 6, 2012 general election.
| Montana Public Service Commission District 4 General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Gail Gutsche Incumbent | 48.6% | 46,462 | |
| Republican | Bob Lake |
51.4% | 49,140 | |
| Total Votes | 95,602 | |||
| Election Results via Montana Secretary of State. | ||||
Vacancies
Under 69-1-106 of the Montana Code all vacancies are filled by appointment by the governor:[5]
|
Any vacancy occurring in the commission must be filled by appointment by the governor. The appointee shall hold office until the next general election and until a successor is elected and qualified. At the biennial election following the occurrence of any vacancy in the commission, there must be elected one member to fill out the unexpired term for which the vacancy exists. |
Divisions
The Public Service Commission has four main divisions:
- Energy
- Telecommunications
- Water/Sewer
- Transportation
- Pipeline Safety
Compensation
In 2010, Montana Public Service Commissioners were paid an estimated $88,528 according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
Contact information
Department address:
Public Service Commission
1701 Prospect Ave
P.O. Box 202601
Helena, MT 59620-2601
Phone: (406) 444-6199
TDD: (406) 444-4212
Fax: (406) 444-7618
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2011, "69-1-102. Creation of public service commission.," accessed December 10, 2011
- ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2011, "69-1-103. Composition of commission.," accessed December 10, 2011
- ↑ Montana Public Service Commission, "PSC Commissioners," accessed October 30, 2011
- ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2011, "69-1-105. Term of office -- term limits.," accessed December 10, 2011
- ↑ Montana Code Annotated 2011, "69-1-106. Vacancies.," accessed December 10, 2011
- ↑ The Council of State Governments,"The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," retrieved June 22, 2011
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