The GOP Public Service Commission is Raising Your Power Bill by over 9% in Eastern Montana.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 3, 2023
CONTACT
hadley@montanademocrats.org
Looming PSC Rate Hike Is Just One More Example of Republican “Leadership” Hitting Montanans in the Pocketbook
Helena, MT – The Republican-controlled Montana Public Service Commission is set to approve a 9.1% rate hike for residential customers in Eastern Montana, after PSC staff made the recommendation at Monday's meeting, despite strong opposition from residents and customers.
At a community meeting in Sidney, MT, the CEO of Prairie Community Hospital said that their monthly power bill had jumped from $831.89 to $2,368.14 between July 2019 and July 2023 – a 185% hike. Now, the Republican-controlled PSC is letting their power company, Montana Dakota Utilities (MDU), hike their rates again.
A rate hike will affect seniors, families, farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and the Eastern Montana economy. This comes after the PSC is considering a 28% hike for Northwest Energy customers.
“Montanans cannot afford the Last Best Place when Republicans are in charge – first they hike your property taxes, then they let power companies hike your energy bill,” says Sheila Hogan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party. “Seniors, working families, Montanans on fixed incomes: everyone is getting hit in the pocketbook. Everyone except Gianforte’s wealthy friends, who got a cushy capital gains tax handout this session.”
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