Bozeman Daily Chronicle Friday, January 11, 2008
PSC hopefuls address area Republicans
By DAVE RICHARDSON Chronicle Staff Writer
"Olson, a four-term state representative from Roundup, has served eight years on the state House Energy and Telecommunications Committee, twice as its chairman.
Prior to his election to the state House, Olson spent 12 years working for energy giant Halliburton, and also worked for the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, he said.
Wagman previously served two terms in the state House representing Livingston, but his resume lists no direct experience in the energy industry or with legislative energy policy."
Representative Alan Olson Announces Run for PSC
October 18, 2007
State Representative Alan Olson has announced his intent to run for a seat on the Montana Public Service Commission.
Olson, a four term legislator from Roundup, has spearheaded GOP energy policy in the Montana House of Representatives for the last three legislative sessions. Olson served as Chairman of the House Federal Relations, Energy and Telecommunications Committee for the last two sessions. The Representative from Roundup was the first Chairman of the Interim Committee on Energy and Telecommunications, serving on that committee for two interim sessions.
“As a freshman legislator and member of the house energy committee,” said Olson, “I saw that de-regulation would have serious consequences for residential rate payers and realized we needed to do something.”
Olson brought legislation to the energy and telecommunications interim committee that would prohibit a utility from pledging utility assets as collateral for non utility business acquisitions. That legislation became law in 2005. Working to stabilize electric rates for consumers, Olson brought legislation in 2003, 2005 and 2007 that repealed large parts of the 1997 de-regulation laws. The largest of these changes will allow North Western Energy to own regulated energy generation, making the utility no longer totally market reliant. This legislation became law on October 1st of this year.
PSC District 3 encompasses Musselshell, Meagher, Wheatland, Golden Valley, Broadwater, Jefferson, Silver Bow, Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Madison, Gallatin, Park, Sweetgrass and Stillwater counties. Commissioners are elected for four year terms and serve to represent the state’s interest in regulated utility transactions. Olson has said that providing reliable, safe and low cost utilities for the people of Montana will be his goal as a commissioner.