Susan Bilo for Public Service Commissioner - District 2
Democrat
By Denise Rivette
Montana Independent News posed the same four questions to all candidates in the Montana Public Service Commissioner - District 2. Democrat Susan Bilo’s views are presented in their entirety below.
What are the Montana values that will guide your decision-making?
I have a strong work ethic and a “can-do” attitude. I believe planning ahead and being prepared are important. Truth and facts matter. I will make decisions with an open mind, integrity, and fairness.
What skills, knowledge and experience do you possess that make you the better candidate?
I have 27 years-worth of energy related experience stemming from numerous energy and water efficiency and renewable energy programs and projects. Through my education, training, and work experience, I gained knowledge and an understanding of energy and its economic, societal, and environmental impacts. I understand the connection between the energy we use and the health of our planet that supports humans and all life.
I have experience serving on boards and committees working as part of a team to develop long-term plans including climate action plans. Thus, I understand the process and importance of developing plans that guide decision-making to proactively prepare us for the future.
My experience working to reduce renewable energy policy barriers will help me determine how the PSC can work with Senate and House Energy and the Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committees to develop beneficial policies. For example, I will work with legislators to address Montana’s 50-kilowatt net metering cap that serves as a barrier to businesses and institutions that want to produce their own electricity.
I will use my research and information-gathering skills to learn what other investor-owned utilities as well as customer-owned electric cooperatives are doing to keep energy bills affordable, provide reliable energy, and transition toward a clean energy economy. For example, I am already researching Idaho Power’s mission of 100% Clean Energy By 2045 plans. My communication skills have been honed over the years. I am comfortable speaking, giving presentations, and discussing controversial issues.
My combination of experience, knowledge and skills makes me uniquely qualified to serve on the PSC at this pivotal moment in Montana history. I will bring a much-needed balance.
What are your top priorities to address during your term if you are elected?
My priorities are to integrate more renewable energy into our infrastructure, keep energy bills affordable, and make sure our energy systems are reliable and resilient.
What actions will you take to address those priorities?
I will work with energy experts and PSC staff to make sure Commissioners have updated, factual information on multiple energy sources and will consider the economic, societal, and environmental impacts of those sources when it is time to develop long-term plans. Utility scale wind and solar (with battery storage) power plants are cheaper than fossil fuel power plants. Renewables need to be given serious consideration because they tackle affordability, reliability, and climate change all together. Wind and solar fuels are free and stabilize electricity bills.
To further address affordability, I will encourage the expansion and better marketing of utility efficiency incentives that help ratepayers reduce energy use and lower bills. Another strategy is to invite competition by developing fair and reasonable Qualifying Facility contract terms that attract businesses that want to build renewable energy projects. Montana must also consider western organized energy markets for trading as well as buying cheaper wholesale electricity.
Montana’s utility grid must be expanded, but also modernized for reliability and resiliency. I will propose micro-grids that reduce line losses and prevent widespread power outages. I support smart-grid technologies that reduce peak demand and costs and give ratepayers control over when and how they use energy. Reliability entails investing in battery storage - regardless of the energy source - and looking at how climate-caused drought impacts hydroelectric generation.
I will learn what other utilities are doing to protect the grid from extreme weather events. For example, I will research how the Electric Reliability Council of Texas addressed their recent wide-spread electric power outages. I will also learn what is being done to protect systems from vandalism and hacking.
Affordable, clean, and reliable energy depends on Montana leaders taking a holistic, big- picture view of where we are and where we need to head to “keep the lights on” and keep Montana economically competitive and prepared for a changing future. I will make this my mission as your Public Service Commissioner.