RANDY PINOCCI, COMMISSIONER

Randy Pinocci was elected to serve on the Public Service Commission in 2018. His district has changed twice since he was elected.  The district currently encompasses 20 house districts, and has the most square miles of any PSC district.

Prior to being elected to the PSC, Randy Pinocci was a small business owner while working full time in the printing business for over 32 years, specializing in political direct mail. He also has served as a statewide director for former United States Senator Conrad Burns, chair of the Second Amendment Committee for the Republican Party (the first of its kind in the United States, set up by former NRA President Charlton Heston). Pinocci also served in 2015 as a member of the Montana State House of Representatives. He served as a longtime member of the Board of Directors for the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA). During that time, he assisted in introducing and passing pro-gun laws in Montana. MSSA has passed more pro-gun law than any other state organization in United States history.

As a state legislator, Randy Pinocci championed issues such as welfare reform and expanding access to transportation services by passing a law to allow Uber to operate in Montana. Pinocci was successful in getting one of his bills signed into law that helped the real estate industry right here in Montana, an unusual accomplishment for a freshman legislator. He was known for being a citizen-first legislator crisscrossing his district regularly to meet with constituents and business owners to get their input on issues and legislation. As a Public Service Commissioner, Randy is committed to maintaining an aggressive schedule to raise awareness about the issues facing rate payers and engage citizens in utility matters. As a father, Randy is also passionate about safety. Randy has been outspoken on the issue of railroad safety and creating public awareness about the dangers of people walking on railroad tracks with earphones on. This has been a concern he has heard about from parents across his district.

While serving as a commissioner, Randy is committed to a market-based approach to safe, reliable, and affordable utility infrastructure. The issues that the PSC governs are often complex, but his favorite part of this role is engaging citizens in studying problems and coming up with long-term solutions that will serve them and their families for generations to come. Pinocci is shining light on public utilities being vulnerable to an enemy EMP attack, or a major solar storm such as the 1859 Carrington Flare event. "It is not a matter of if it will happen, it is a matter of when it will happen. Montana is not ready, but I will work with my fellow commissioners and all entities needed to make us ready," Pinocci says. Randy is a native Montanan, and resides in Sun River with his wife and three children.

Randy's statement on serving as a Montana Public Service Commissioner:

"I am a husband and a father first. Actively serving in my community has always been a passion of mine because all families face the same issues. The Public Service Commission is currently addressing concerns that will affect Montanans for generations to come, and I know it is important to have problem solvers that will not just get the job done, but will study complex issues, ask tough questions, and come up with next-generation solutions. I want Montanans to know that my door and my mind are open to all possible solutions, and those solutions come when we work together to do the job right."

TONY O'DONNELL, COMMISSIONER

Tony O’Donnell was elected to District 2 of the Montana Public Service Commission in November 2016. His district encompasses the south-central portion of the state, spanning from part of Yellowstone County to part of Missoula County.

As a homeowner in Billings for 22 years, Tony has an extended track record of civic involvement. He has held leadership positions in a number of organizations, including: United Way, Yellowstone County PTA, Christian Sportsman Club, Boy Scouts of America, local homeowners association, and Lions Club.

Tony has a genuine passion for work and has held 2-3 concurrent jobs throughout most of his life. Early in his career he spent several years in the financial and insurance professions. Prior to serving on the Montana Public Service Commission he worked at Lowe’s Home Improvement for 16 years, while simultaneously running a retail merchandising company.

Tony attended St. Mary’s College of California where he studied philosophy and theology. He prides himself on being a life-long learner and he enjoys engaging in political and philosophical debates with friends.

As a strong supporter of Economic Freedom, Tony is keenly interested in how regulators can apply Free Market principles to the mutual benefit of ratepayers, as well as regulated utilities.

Tony’s Statement on serving as a Montana Public Commissioner:

"As a homeowner, voter, and ratepayer in Billings for the last 22 years, I take my duty as public servant extremely seriously. Though often shrouded in a cloak of acronyms and technical definitions, the decisions that are made at the Public Service Commission directly impact the safety, as well as the finances of nearly every Montanan. High energy bills don’t just harm ratepayers by taking money out their pocket, they raise the price of everything that you buy from canned food to baby diapers. As a commissioner I’m committed to making sure that the supply of energy in Montana remains affordable and reliable for all ratepayers. My specific focus is energy security and grid security."

JAMES BROWN, PRESIDENT

James Brown was elected to the Public Service Commission in 2020. James feels it is both an honor and a privilege to represent the people of the State of Montana and James works hard every day to fairly represent the interests of regulated entities and ratepayers.

A Dillon native, James is a 4th Generation Montanan. In the 19th Century, James’ great grandfather homesteaded in the Grasshopper Valley located in Beaverhead County. James’ grandfather, Jack Brown, developed the Elkhorn Hot Springs and Lodge located near Polaris.

James is a member of the Beaverhead County High School Class of 1989. James is also a graduate of the University of Montana – Missoula – with a double major in Political Science and History and a minor in Spanish. After college, James worked six years in Washington D.C. in the congressional offices of Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT), Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL) as her Legislative Director. 

Following his time in the Nation’s capital, James attended law school at the Seattle University School of Law, earning his J.D. in 2004. He then obtained a Master’s in Tax Law from the University of Washington Seattle in 2005 while clerking for Gerry Alexander, Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court. Brown returned home to Montana in 2006 and has engaged in the private practice of law since that time, primarily representing agriculture producers and small businesses. 

James is licensed to practice law in the States of Washington and Montana. He also has a Montana insurance producers license.

James is pleased to represent Montana on two national NARUC committees, the Committee on Gas and the Committee on Internal Relations.

James is an avid outdoorsman, with hiking, backcountry camping, fishing, and mountaineering being among his favorite pursuits. James also enjoys international travel, reading, and baseball.

President Brown's Remarks on Deregulation

U of M MERIT Study presented 12/8/2022 at PSC Resource Adequacy Forum 

President Brown's August 8th MDU Rate Remarks

JENNIFER FIELDER, VICE PRESIDENT

A resident of beautiful Thompson Falls, Jennifer Fielder was elected as a member of the Montana Public Service Commission in November 2020. Currently Commissioner Fielder represents District 4 which includes all or parts of Lincoln, Flathead, Sanders, Mineral, Lake, Missoula, and Ravalli Counties.

In January 2023, Commissioner Fielder was selected by her fellow Commissioners to serve as the agency’s Vice President. In addition to the Commission’s intensive regulatory workload, Fielder also serves as the agency lead on numerous special projects including a major Software Modernization Project, the department’s reorganization and Strategic Planning, and comprehensive review and revision of the agency-wide Internal Policies Manual. She is the agency’s designated representative on the State’s Information Technology Board and is a graduate of the National Association of Regulated Utility Commissions’ Utility Rate School course.

Prior to joining the Commission, Fielder served eight years in the Montana State Senate where she held the positions of Vice Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chair of the Senate Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee, Chair of the Council on River Governance, Chair of the Federal Lands Study Working Group, and was a member of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, Environmental Quality Council, and Water Policy Interim Committee. Much of her legislative work centered on sound stewardship of natural resources and protection of life and liberty. In 2015 she was awarded the “Keeper of the Tenth” award for her steadfast defense of the rights of the State and the people in accordance with the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Before entering politics, Fielder earned A.A.S. and B.S. Degrees and amassed over two decades of professional planning, design, and project management experience which periodically involved the types of industries regulated by the Commission including railways, pipelines, electric generation, telecommunications, water works, solid waste planning, and federal energy regulatory proceedings. Early in her career she was a fully certified professional ski instructor and coached collegiate level downhill skiing.

Jennifer is married to Paul Fielder, a retired wildlife biologist and current member of the Montana House of Representatives. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, hunting, fishing, boating, and helping her favorite charity - the American Lands Council, a national nonprofit dedicated to improving public access, environmental quality, and economic productivity on federally controlled public lands. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and appreciates the many opportunities she has had to serve her community, State, and country.

ANNIE BUKACEK, COMMISSIONER

Dr. Annie Bukacek was elected to the Public Service Commission November 8, 2022. Her campaign slogan for this position was “Let’s Keep the Lights On.” This slogan is in reference to acknowledgement of events that have threatened availability of life-sustaining utilities in other parts of the U.S. and Europe…and the need to avoid such crises in Montana. 

Having been a leader in grassroots advocacy for Montanans for over a decade, her passion for advocacy has now shifted focus to protecting availability and access to reliable and affordable power, water, and other utilities. She is determined to face the facts squarely, as real solutions can only arise from honest evaluation of the problems

Commissioner Bukacek has been a medical doctor for close to forty years, most of those years in Montana, and she has a penchant for helping people both in the medical field and in promoting good public policy.

PRESENTATIONS

Disclaimer:

The following short topical resource adequacy presentations are intended to provide factual content for education purposes. Unless otherwise designated, these presentations are produced by me. Therein, any opinions or perceived opinions should be considered mine, and not reflective of the Public Service Commission otherwise. PSC Docket 2022.09.087 led to the 12/2022 Resource Adequacy Forum in Helena that can be viewed here in total Thursday, December 8th   Friday, December 9th

Third Party Presentations:

U of M MERIT Study presented 12/8/2022 at PSC Resource Adequacy Forum