Brad Molnar may be singing that Rolling Stones song today about the latest happenings from the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC).

For those of you who don’t know what a PSC does (and actually care about it) here is what their website tells us: “…ensure that public utilities in Montana provide adequate service to customers at reasonable rates. In its decisions, the commission tries to balance the interests of ratepayers who are concerned about utility costs with the utilities’ need to have the opportunity to earn a fair rate of return on their investment.”

There are five commissioners elected from five districts across the state. They serve four year terms. The Chairman and Vice Chairman are elected by the Commissioners.

That’s “pretty cool.”

Coming into 2011, the PSC was bubbling over with anticipation as the GOP took control of the commission. The GOP controls the commission 3-2 over the Democrats. Previously, the Democrats controlled the PSC 4-1.

In what could be defined as having visions of sugar- plums dancing through his head, PSC District 2 Commissioner Brad Molnar (the only Republican when the PSC was 4-1 in Democratic control) seemed to have felt since he was the “senior” Republican that he would be anointed to the throne of Chairman. Continue reading →