Montana Public Service Commission

The Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners was established by the Montana legislature in 1907. In 1913 the Board of Railroad Commissioners was made ex officio the newly created Montana Public Service Commission. As such, it was given the authority to regulate a variety of public utilities. In 1971 the Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners was abolished and its work was taken over directly by the Public Service Commission.

The Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners was established by the Montana legislature in 1907. In 1913 the Board of Railroad Commissioners was made ex officio the newly created Montana Public Service Commission. As such, it was given the authority to regulate a variety of public utilities and transportation companies. In 1971 the Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners was abolished and its work was taken over directly by the Public Service Commission.

The Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners was established by the Montana legislature in 1907. The board, consisting of three members elected statewide, was given the authority to set rates and establish regulations governing freight and passenger transportation within the state. All railroads owning or operating any rail line in Montana were required to file annual reports. In addition the companies were required to report any accident, including time, place, names of injured and killed persons, and the value of property destroyed.

In 1913 the Board of Railroad Commissioners was made ex officio the newly created Montana Public Service Commission. In 1919 the Board also was made ex officio the Montana Trade Commission and the Montana Irrigation Commission. In 1971 the Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners was abolished and its work was taken over directly by the Public Service Commission.

In 1907 Montana's Tenth Legislative Assembly created the Board of Railroad Commissioners giving the Board the power and authority "to adopt... all necessary rates, charges, and regulations to govern and regulate freight and passenger tariffs, to correct abuses, and prevent unjust discrimination and extortion in the rates" of railroads in the state. The Board was to consist of three members who were "qualified electors of the state."

In 1913 the Thirteenth Legislative Assembly passed a law "making the Board of Railroad Commissioners of the State of Montana Ex Officio a Public Service Commission for the regulation and control of certain public utilities, prescribing the manner in which such public utilities shall be regulated and controlled, requiring such public utilties to furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities, [and] prohibiting unjust and unreasonable charges for services rendered by such public utilities." The secretary of the Board of Railroad Commissioners was to serve as the secretary of the Public Service Commission, but the business of the two bodies was to remain "entirely separate."

The legislature defined a public utility as "every corporation, both public and private, company, individual, associations of individuals, their lessees, trustees, or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever, that now or hereafter may own, operate or control any plant or equipment... for the production, delivery, or furnishing of... heat, street, railway service, light, power in any form or by any agency, water for business, manufacturing, household use, or sewerage service...., telegraph or telephone servce.".

In 1971 the Department of Public Service Regulation was created as the administrative and coordinating agency for the Public Service Commission. The Commission was retained and made the head of the new department. At that time the Board of Railroad Commissioners was abolished and its functions merged with those of the Public Service Commission.