Former Flathead resident named commission chairman

Former Flathead-area resident and businessman Bill Gallagher is the new chairman of the Montana Public Service Commission.

Gallagher’s colleagues voted unanimously Monday to elect him to the chairmanship. Gallagher represents Flathead, Glacier, Lewis and Clark, Teton, Pondera and Lake counties on the PSC’s District 5 seat.

Gallagher, 54, managed insurance offices in Kalispell, Polson, Missoula, Deer Lodge and Plains, where he lived and taught high school. He and his wife, Jennifer, operated a tourism-oriented business and are the former owners of the Polson Days Inn.

Gallagher, who currently lives in Helena, said his priority as the agency’s leader is representing the public and not special interests or their lobbyists.

“I am confident that I assume leadership of a Public Service Commission that will not forget it is the public that we are responsible to,” Gallagher, a Republican, said. “It is a new day.”

Earlier Monday, Montana Supreme Court Justice James A. Rice administered the oath of office to incoming commissioners Bob Lake, R-Hamilton; Roger Koopman, R-Bozeman; and Kirk Bushman, R-Billings.

The incoming commissioners join current members Gallagher and Travis Kavulla, R-Great Falls, to form the state’s first all-Republican PSC.

The new commission also unanimously elected Lake to serve as vice chairman.

Gallagher, who has served on the commission for two years,  described the PSC’s staff as “a small group of dedicated, hardworking, underpaid employees who provide the underpinning of the work that is accomplished here.”

Commissioner Lake in his acceptance comments said he’s honored to serve as vice chairman, adding that the new commission has the team in place to work toward improving the state’s economy.

“I think we have the opportunity in this commission to have some very significant changes to the Montana ratepayers as far as the cost of their energy and other services,” he said. “I think we have the opportunity to have a fairly significant input to the economic development of the state of Montana.”

The PSC generally regulates private, investor-owned natural gas, electric, telephone, private water and sewer companies doing business in Montana. The agency also regulates certain limited transportation service providers.