ABOUT ME
Putting My Experience
to Work
I am a 54-year-old male who is married, and I have 3 children. One is 22 and is an apprentice lineman for the Power Industry, another is 19 and does underground locating for the Power, Gas and Communications industry, and my 15-year-old is still in high school.
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I have over 30 years’ experience in the Utility Industry. I have worked in gas, water, sewer, communications, fiber optics and the Power industry. I am an accredited Journeyman Lineman. I am the 4th generation in my family to be a Power worker. My sons are now the 5th generation. I have extensive knowledge in the Power industry, from generation, stations, transmission, distribution all the way to the house meter. I have done years of trouble work. I have worked up the chain all the way to an area superintendent. I have installed miles of fiber optics and am a fiber splicer. I have years of training in management, maintenance, training instructor, safety, utility homeland security and federal requirements for the utility industry. I am also trained in OSHA, NEC, NESC.
The PSC is a regulatory agency. They are in place to make sure the utilities are available, maintained, safe and at a fair price to the consumer. They are the consumers advocates both for and against the utilities. The PSC should not be an enemy to the utilities but a big brother, to help in ways that will benefit the consumer.
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Energy is life. Some may not understand this, but in these days, most can’t live without gas and electricity. Water is in fact life, but we need the electricity to transport the water. Most people do not live around a flowing water, gas, or electric source. All these vital energy sources must be transported and made usable where a consumer decides to reside. Without these resources availability most people would not reside where they do. The Public Service Commission makes sure these services are available, safe and at a reasonable rate.
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PLATFORM
Relevant experience:
30+ years in the Utility Industry – Water, Gas and Journeyman Electrical Lineman. Worked up the ladder into management running District Area.
Why are you running for this office?
There are no commissioners or candidates with utility experience. The PSC's main objective is to help the utilities offer all services to the consumer. Quality, reliable service at an affordable price. You have to balance the requirements of the consumers with the desire for the utility to make money.
What do you hope to accomplish in this office?
To ensure the PSC understands what the Legislation meant when they created them. The PSC is there to help the utilities to supply quality services. The PSC is also to limit the rates the utilities can charge for those services. All entities must work together for the common goal.
What makes you stand out as a candidate?
I am the only one with experience in the industry. Utilities have been my whole life's work. I feel I am the best person to bring these entities together. The last 2 years consequences are damaging our utilities, if we don't work together with the supply chain issues the consumers WILL be losing reliability of services fairly soon.
Q – The Russia v Ukraine conflict is unique in that energy supplies are funding the war, but the supporters of the defenders need to buy their energy from the aggressor. They then use those energy deliveries to manufacture weapons for the defenders: SO WHAT LESSONS ON ENERGY ARE WE LEARNING FROM THE RUSSIA V UKRAINE CONFLICT?
A - I have stated this numerous times in debates. Montana should become energy independent within its state boarders. If we control our own energy we can separate from the grid and keep the Feds out. We have enough electricity and enough water. We need to drill for more gas and use all dumps for methane. Inside Montana we have one of the largest gas storage facilities in the west. Montana needs to fill that storage tank, not Canada. The Federal Government is restricting, shutting down our utilities without an answer for replacement. If we are independent within Montana state, we can refute federal control.
Russia being the us and Montana Ukraine.
10th amendment gives state sovereignty.
The Federalist No. 39, at 245
EPA v. Brown, 431 U.S. 99 (1977).
New York v. United States, 505 U.S. 144 (1992)
Justice Scalia stated “Federal Government may not compel the States to implement, by legislation or executive action, federal regulatory programs”
I do not feel there is enough data available to answer this question. Obviously we are not privy to all the data the PSC has. PSC should be looking at alternate fuel sources. They may be able to easily switch the plant over and stay running.
This mess is created by the Federal Oversight. Since it is a regulatory issue they may be able to shift some of the loss to other plants. Generate more Hydro and sell on the open market and offset some of the loss. I would hope the Utility and the PSC could try to work together to come up with a scenario that will work best for both the Utility and the rate payer. This does happen and it is known this could happen, historically they drop the whole expense on the rate payer. I think they should look at all options before that happens. I would need to investigate other options before I could answer this properly, as well as speak with the Utilities for their plans.
I do not feel there is enough data available to answer this question. Obviously we are not privy to all the data the PSC has. PSC should be looking at alternate fuel sources. They may be able to easily switch the plant over and stay running.
This mess is created by the Federal Oversight. Since it is a regulatory issue they may be able to shift some of the loss to other plants. Generate more Hydro and sell on the open market and offset some of the loss. I would hope the Utility and the PSC could try to work together to come up with a scenario that will work best for both the Utility and the rate payer. This does happen and it is known this could happen, historically they drop the whole expense on the rate payer. I think they should look at all options before that happens. I would need to investigate other options before I could answer this properly, as well as speak with the Utilities for their plans.
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