Gov. Greg Gianforte has appointed Kirk Bushman to fill a seat on the Montana Public Service Commission while Commissioner Brad Molnar remains suspended. Bushman, who previously served on the five-member regulatory board from 2013 through 2016, will hold the temporary appointment through July 8, 2027.
The PSC regulates Montana's electric, natural gas, telephone, and water utilities — decisions that land directly on the monthly bills of Helena residents served by NorthWestern Energy. Gianforte cited Bushman's engineering background in announcing the appointment, saying he brings decades of relevant expertise to the role.
Molnar's suspension left the commission with a vacancy at a time when the PSC faces ongoing proceedings related to utility rates and infrastructure investment. Bushman's prior experience on the board means he returns to familiar procedural ground, though the energy landscape has shifted considerably since his first tenure a decade ago.
The appointment is temporary by design and does not replace any permanent election process for the seat. Helena-area ratepayers with pending matters before the commission — including any proceedings tied to NorthWestern's recent rate filings — will have Bushman as one of five commissioners weighing those decisions through mid-2027.