Support Bill Gallagher

To the editor,

Efficiency standards on our electric co-op is a nice way of saying that government bureaucrats will determine how to best operate our utility. It starts with Standards, becomes a Mandate, and then our bills go up so the Public Service Commissioner can make up for what they see as lacking in the operation of our co-op.

In the last legislative session, the Montana Electric Co-op Association and Flathead Electric both opposed House Bill 641. The bill singled out Flathead Cooperative and its customers as the only Montana Co-op to be saddled with the burden of the Public Service Commissioner regulating our conservation efforts. We are not now regulated is a huge reason our rates are so much lower than the rest of the state.

But Ken Toole supported adding this burdensome regulation and the corresponding higher costs for Flathead Electric and its customers. Thankfully, HB-641 died on a tie vote. There is no record of Ken Toole trying to exempt Flathead Electric Cooperative.

Bill Gallagher is officially endorsed by the Montana Chamber of Commerce. His experience managing a small — 142 customers — water and sewer company gives him the knowledge and experience necessary to understand the industry without ties to big industry that the Public Service Commission regulates.

I support Bill Gallagher for the Public Service Commission. He is knowledgeable without being an insider. Bill can ensure our utilities are able to be responsive to customers and reduce unintended consequences of regulation which cost us all in the end.

Sandy Welch

Martin City