Gov. Greg Gianforte is accepting applications for a temporary appointment to the Montana Public Service Commission, filling a vacancy in District 2, which covers south-central Montana.
The appointment, announced Tuesday, will carry the selected candidate through July 9, 2027. Applicants must reside within District 2 to be eligible. The governor's office did not specify in the announcement what prompted the vacancy or whether the seat became open through a resignation, death, or other circumstance.
The Public Service Commission regulates Montana's investor-owned utilities, including NorthWestern Energy, which serves Helena and much of the state. Commission decisions on rate cases, infrastructure investments, and energy resource planning directly affect what Helena-area residents pay for electricity and natural gas.
The governor's office did not announce a deadline for applications in the initial release. Residents interested in applying or tracking the appointment can contact the Office of the Governor directly.