Public Service Commission Faces Backlash: Are They Sabotaging Climate Action? Shocking Details Inside!

The Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) is facing pressure from over 40 organizations and businesses to reconsider its recent decision regarding climate change considerations in its regulatory processes. The groups, which include notable entities such as Families for a Livable Climate, the Montana Environmental Information Center, and Big Sky Resort, are represented by environmental advocacy organizations Earthjustice and the Western Environmental Law Center. They argue that the commission's September 2, 2025, ruling, which rejected a petition to mandate consideration of climate change impacts, is at odds with the state Constitution.

In an April 16 letter, the petitioners highlighted that the PSC typically has 20 days to rule on any motion for reconsideration. However, on October 1, 2025, the commission postponed its decision without providing the legal justification of “good cause,” as required by law. This delay comes at a time when the "environmental and economic impacts of climate change have only intensified across Montana," according to the letter. The groups cited alarming trends, including severe droughts, early wildfires, and extreme weather conditions leading to the warmest January and February on record in 2026 for various Montana towns.

The letter also noted that “snowpack in the State was below average this winter,” and that unprecedented floods in Northwest Montana—triggered by atmospheric rivers—resulted in a state of emergency, prolonged health advisories for drinking water, and significant damage to vital transportation infrastructure.

The PSC, in its original order rejecting the petitioners' proposals, stated that it lacked the authority as an “administrative agency” to declare a constitutional requirement to consider climate change impacts. The commission argued that the Montana Constitution does not permit administrative agencies to interpret constitutional provisions in that way. The chief legal counsel for the PSC emphasized that the agency must balance various rights, including the right to basic necessities like water and electricity, in its regulatory oversight.

While the PSC has been managing pressing matters such as a proposed $15.4 billion merger between NorthWestern Energy and Black Hills Corp, and the emerging issue of accommodating data centers as a new customer class, the stakeholders are concerned that neglecting climate change is already adversely affecting local economies. The groups argue that the current status quo could lead to significant economic losses in sectors like tourism, which could see annual declines of $263 million by mid-century due to reduced visits to national parks and declines in outdoor activities like angling and skiing, as highlighted in a 2023 report by Power Consulting Incorporated.

As of now, PSC spokesperson Jamey Petersen indicated that staff estimate a timeline of July for the reconsideration request to be addressed. However, Petersen did not provide insights into whether the commission shares the concerns raised by the petitioners regarding the economic repercussions of climate change. He stated, “Because the motion for reconsideration remains before the Commission in an open docket, the Commission will not comment on the merits of petitioners’ arguments, including their discussion of climate-related economic impacts, outside the formal proceeding.”

The original petition, submitted on February 28, 2024, has sparked a growing movement of advocacy, drawing attention to the pressing need for regulatory frameworks that account for climate change. As the impacts of climate change continue to manifest in Montana—through intensified weather events and economic challenges—the call for action from diverse stakeholders reflects a growing consensus on the urgency of addressing this critical issue.

With organizations ranging from environmental advocates to local businesses participating in this effort, the outcome of the PSC's reconsideration will likely have wide-reaching implications for Montana's environmental policies and economic future.