HELENA — Former state Rep. Gail Gutsche, a Missoula Democrat, said this week she’s running for the Public Service Commission seat held by Republican Commissioner Doug Mood.
Gutsche, 53, said she’d be an advocate for energy conservation and development of more “renewable” power resources, such as wind power.
“Montana has the opportunity to bring back fair and reasonable utility rates, but we cannot do so by maintaining the status quo,” she said. “Cleaner, greener, leaner energy is possible, available and necessary.”
The five-member Public Service Commission regulates public utilities in the state, including electric, natural gas and telephone companies. So far, Gutsche is the only challenger to Mood, who represents PSC District 4 in western Montana.
District 4 covers Missoula, Ravalli, Sanders, Mineral, Powell, Granite and Lincoln counties and includes the cities of Missoula, Hamilton, Deer Lodge, Philipsburg, Libby, Thompson Falls and Superior.
Mood, of Seeley Lake, is running for re-election to a second four-year term as commissioner. He also is a former state representative.
Gutsche criticized Mood for his 1997 vote in favor of the electric utility deregulation bill, which eventually led to the sale and disintegration of Montana Power Co.
(home)“When the Legislature deregulated electricity, Montana ratepayers lost big,” she said. “Utility bills are sky-high and our once low-cost energy has disappeared. Doug Mood supported this failed attempt at deregulation that led to our present woeful and expensive situation.”…
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