OPINION: Whose side is the PSC on, anyway?

Oops...they’ve done it again….On Tuesday, April 21, the Montana Public Service Commission reversed their decision of March 16 in favor of NorthWestern Energy, again. At that meeting the commission told NWE they would have to provide more details about their acquisition of an additional 25% of Colstrip Unit 4 for $1. The PSC told the utility there were too many unanswered questions by concerned citizens and the Montana Consumer Council before they would approve. (Talon Energy of Pennsylvania wants half of the 25%, so NWE has now reduced the purchase to 12.5% for fifty cents.) If the PSC pre-approves this transaction then the “hidden” costs of repair and maintenance will be passed on to the consumer, again. In other words, another rate hike for NorthWestern's customers, who already pay some of the highest electrical rates in the Northwest.

The stated purpose of the Public Service Commission is “to balance the interests of the ratepayers who are concerned with utility rate increases, with the need to maintain a financially sound utility”. However, for the past 12 years, the Republican majority on the PSC has acquiesced to every rate hike that NWE has requested. Without the utility providing any details or answers about this transaction, there is no way of knowing what costs lurk behind this ‘fire sale’ deal.

Then there is the issue of the 5 year coal contract. At a meeting on February 17, NorthWestern asked the PSC for a protective order to keep hidden from the public minor details such as the price of coal. The commission agreed to that request until later in the year, when they will decide whether to make their decision permanent. But if their past decisions are prologue to future ones, then it doesn’t bode well for the ratepayer whose utility bill will again reflect that cost.

In these days of Covid-19 when unemployment is at unprecedented levels, toilet paper is scarce and costly, household incomes have dropped, and our already sky high electrical rates may get even more so, whose side is the PSC on? Not the ratepayers! Instead they appear to be working for the shareholders of NWE.

From January 2, 2009, when NorthWestern customers first started paying for Colstrip Unit 4, through January 2, 2020, the shareholders have seen their stock price go up 208%. It went from $23.55 -$71.67 over those 11 years. (Macrotrends.net) During that same time period, Montana household income has increased around 17%. (Montana US Census Bureau & American Community Survey, 2019)

This Public Service Commission is called “public” for a reason. It is not called the Corporate Service Commission. The members are each elected from 5 districts by the public, and the 374,000 Montanans who get their power from this monopoly utility have no choice where their power comes from.

The public has a right to know the details of both the 12.5% purchase and the coal contract. The PSC owes it to the public to keep them informed about meetings, and communicate with them about decisions that are made and why they make them.

There is an educated and professional PSC office staff who do the research and advise the commissioners about issues that come up. Often the PSC commissioners go against their recommendations, especially when it involves NWE. These commissioners are the third highest paid officials in the state; they owe their job to the electorate and not the management and shareholders of NorthWestern Energy.

The voters need to ask the commissioners how and why decisions are made, and to demand accountability, transparency and communication from them. This is an election year and three of the commission seats will be on the ballot. Elections have consequences; it matters who gets elected to the Public Service Commission. It should be someone who will serve the citizens of Montana with honesty and integrity.

Valerie McMurtry

Candidate for Public Service Commission, District 2