Committee hears proposal to change Public Service Commission from three at-large seats to five district seats

Senate Concurrent Resolution 4015, a proposal to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to change how the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) is chosen, drew an extended hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Senator Jeff Magram, senator for District 8 and sponsor of the resolution, told the committee that the measure would remove the constitutionally mandated three-member, at-large commission and replace it with a five-member commission elected from five compact, contiguous districts and serving four-year terms. “Senate concurrent resolution 4015 is a resolution to put on the ballot to change the makeup of the public service commission from a 3 member board elected at large to a 5 member board elected in districts,” Magram said.

Supporters told the committee the change is intended to expand geographic representation on the PSC after recent high-profile energy matters. Lanny Kenner, who identified himself as District 7, testified that “to have the voices heard from a…