Kirk Bushman for Public Service Commissioner - District 2
Republican
By Denise Rivette
Montana Independent News posed the same four questions to all candidates in the Montana Public Service Commissioner - District 2. Republican Kirk Bushman’s views are presented in their entirety below.
What are the Montana values that will guide your decision-making?
I am running for Public Service Commissioner because I am well qualified for the job.
I was asked and encouraged to do so by Montanans who are concerned about this agency. I believe citizens need to be involved with their government. I have 4 children aged 10 to 16 and we should stop borrowing from the future of our children and make good responsible decisions for today’s challenges. My expectation is to work with utility companies and state agencies in a manner that benefits the customers (rate payers).
What skills, knowledge and experience do you possess that make you the better candidate?
Commissioners should have experience that demonstrates they are familiar with economic and investment principles, as well as technical topics such as the generation and transmission of electricity, production and transport of natural gas, and telecom.
I have an engineering degree from Montana State University. I have worked with Montana’s largest energy producers and consumers to help them meet regulatory and production challenges. I have also served as a PSC Commissioner from 2013-2016. I will ensure that investments made by our utilities are both technically and economically responsible for the rate payers of Montana. I will push back on the agendas of the environmentalists using federal policy to push costly technology that doesn’t solve the challenges of today.
What are your top priorities to address during your term if you are elected?
I do not have any agenda for serving as a commissioner. My priorities would simply be to:
Establish working relationships with the other commissioners and PSC staff.
Become familiar with existing current PSC dockets and make well informed decisions based on Montana Laws and regulations.
Push back on technically unsound Federal Policy that is not good for Montana.
What actions will you take to address those priorities?
While initiating working relationships with Montana’s Governor, Congressmen and Senators, I will review Federal Policy, utility portfolios and procurement plans for the upcoming years. Items that benefit Montanans will be highlighted and put forth to Citizens of Montana. Items that do not benefit Montanans will be highlighted and demonstrated to the folks who pay the bills.