Montana Public Service Commission

Unofficial election results show Ann Bukacek received 56% of votes over Democrat John Repke, who received 43%. As of 6 p.m. Wednesday about 85% of votes have been counted.

For around $110,000 a year, Montana Public Service commissioners take on a four-year commitment to balance company interests with the needs of the customers the utilities serve.

The South Dakota and Nebraska subsidiary will become NorthWestern Energy Prairies Corporation, and the Montana subsidiary will keep the name NorthWestern Corporation. Both will fall under a new holding company, NorthWestern Energy Group.

A letter sent to lawmakers, media outlets and others last week from two members of the Montana Public Service Commission cites a “probable lack of energy leading to ‘rolling blackouts’ in eastern Montana this summer" as one reason for state leaders to back the Colstrip coal-fired power plant.

Annie Bukacek has a thin lead over former state Rep. Derek Skees for the Public Service Commission District 5 seat.

There is a Republican primary in District 1, which includes most of north-central and northeast Montana, and Republican and Democratic primaries in District 5, which covers part of the northwest part of the state.

The district represents counties near the Continental Divide in northwest Montana. It’s one of two district seats on the ballot this year.

A panel of federal judges has struck down the current map outlining the districts for Montana’s utility oversight commission and implemented a new one. The order comes days before the filing deadline for candidates running for the commission.

An upcoming election of utility regulators is still up in the air after a panel of federal judges met Friday to consider the constitutionality of Public Service Commission districts.

The state of Montana is warning residents of a scammer targeting electric utility and co-op customers and attempting to defraud them of hundreds of dollars.