CURRENT OCCUPATION: Physics Instructor, State Legislator CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: www.tomwoodsforpsc.com
relationships with legislators across the aisle. It has been an honor and a privilege to represent your interests in a process that normally puts regular people (and small businesses) at a disadvantage. I’m running for an open seat on the Public Service Commission because this state can do a far better job of protecting our ratepayers and promoting clean energy development for export to western markets.
Arrow-Circle-Right Briefly introduce yourself. I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and first came to work in Montana in 1982 when I was 19 years old. I met my wife Katie in 1992 and we moved to Bozeman in 1997. We are blessed with two great boys, Kelty and Finnian, who are 15 and 13. I first ran (successfully) for the state legislature in 2012 because I believe in government that serves the interests of people. As one of your legislators, my particular focus has been trying to bring fairness to the way our monopoly utility treats ratepayers. In four terms in the House of Representatives I’ve built good
Arrow-Circle-Right Would you approach your role in this position as a policy influencer, advocating as such, or as a regulator, applying and enforcing existing law? Please explain. Although the responsibility of a Commissioner is to enforce existing law, I would use my experience as a legislator to try to make desperately needed changes to the current regulatory structure. As a legislator, I have learned that there are laws that were put in place in order to rescue NWE from bankruptcy. The company has long since emerged from insolvency yet those laws are still on the books, granting them special privileges that are stifling innovation, driving up property taxes and inflating energy costs for ratepayers.
The current system of asset valuation has resulted in consumers being saddled with paying high return rates (10 percent or more) on inflated valuations. This is a strange and unfair means to compensate a utility. It has resulted in a system by which the company is incentivized to purchase more expensive facilities. Arrow-Circle-Right Do you favor the creation of an advocacy staff for the PSC (independent in action, but administratively tied), or to leave that responsibility to the Montana Consumer Council? Please explain. I am hesitant to create a new agency if the work can already be accomplished by an existing staff.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION DISTRICT 3
TOM WOODS
Arrow-Circle-Right Would you support alternative dispute resolution practices over the traditional contested case process when such matters come before the PSC? Why or why not? I’m uncertain that a parallel process would be of benefit. My hesitation comes from a suspicion that certain parties will game the system and pursue resolution in whichever system they felt would get them their desired result. With that said, I’m open to discussion on the matter. stop
EYE ON THE VOTE 2020
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