PSC Adopts Strategic Plan, Charts Road Map To Good Governance
HELENA, Montana —
After 18 months of intensive efforts by commissioners and staff, the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) officially adopted its 2021-2024 Strategic Plan on August 30th and subsequently delivered to the Montana Legislature’s Interim Budget Committee on September 14th.
Adoption of the plan marks an important milestone in the Commission’s ongoing efforts to put the Department of Public Service Regulation on a path to excellence. The document incorporates a wealth of invaluable input from commissioners, staff, legislators, the legislative auditor, and a management consulting firm.
Commissioner Jennifer Fielder, who has led the planning effort for the Commission, said the process involved 14 full commission meetings and synthesizing about 20 pounds of notes into 24 easy-to-read pages. While it was a lot of work, she said it was worth the effort. “It was definitely worthwhile. We used a team effort to create a really solid basis for the agency’s direction and a clear roadmap for transforming the department into a model of good governance. I’m very optimistic about the progress we have made and will continue to make in the coming years.”
Although several objectives are well underway or substantially complete, several others will require legislative support during the upcoming 2023 session. The biggest ticket items include complete modernization of the agency’s electronic case management system, expansion of the railway safety program, and dedicated personnel to aid the Commission in navigating the changing energy landscape and ensuring adequate resources are available throughout Montana.
Commission President James Brown is pleased with the tremendous strides the agency has made in the past year and believes the Strategic Plan will guide further efforts in a methodical way. “We still have some wrinkles to iron out, but with a sound plan like this and a unified agency committed to its tenets, I’m confident that good governance can and will thrive throughout the Department of Public Service Regulation again. We are definitely on the right track.”
The full plan can be found on the commission web site at https://psc.mt.gov/_docs/Publications/PSC-STRATEGIC-PLAN-2021-24-ADOPTED-8-30-22.pdf
The Commission regulates private investor-owned natural gas, electric, telephone, water, and sewer companies, certain motor carriers, and oversees natural gas pipeline safety and intrastate railroad safety. The Commission works to ensure that Montanans receive safe and reliable service from regulated public utilities while paying reasonable rates. For more information, visit psc.mt.gov or contact the Commission at 1-800-646-6150. Follow the Commission at Twitter.com/@MT_PSC or visit Facebook.com/MontanaPSC.
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