Tuesday's primary election will sort out a crowded Republican field for two open seats on the Montana Public Service Commission — the five-member board that regulates monopoly utilities and, by extension, has a direct hand in what Helena-area NorthWestern Energy customers pay each month. Five Republican candidates are vying for the two seats, while a single Democrat has filed in each district, setting up the general election matchups once the primary dust settles.

The PSC's authority over rate cases, infrastructure approvals, and utility contracts makes it one of the more consequential statewide offices that doesn't always get top billing in a primary cycle. For Helena residents, the commission's decisions ripple through every power and natural gas bill — NorthWestern Energy, which serves most of the capital city, operates under PSC oversight.

The crowded Republican field means vote-splitting is a real factor Tuesday. With five candidates divided across two seats, relatively small differences in turnout in communities like Helena, Billings, and Great Falls could determine who advances. The lone Democrat in each district will face the top Republican finishers in November.

Polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Lewis and Clark County voters can check their polling location and sample ballot at the county election office or at electionresults.mt.gov.