Public Service Commission outlines 2025–27 budget, cites pipeline, reclamation and staffing pressures

The Public Service Commission on Oct. not specified presented its 2025–27 biennial budget request to the House Appropriations — Government Operations Division, detailing program workload, one-time federal funding opportunities and requested staff and technology funding.

Commissioner Randy Christmann, presenting the agency overview, told the committee, “I—m Randy Christmann, here to present the 2025 to 2027 biennial budget request,” and said commissioners Sherry Haugenhofer and Jill Kringstedt and budget specialist Sheila Zacker were available for questions.

The commission emphasized why the budget matters: it regulates utilities, pipelines and coal reclamation while overseeing abandoned mine lands (AML) work and weights-and-measures enforcement that affect public safety and commerce. The agency reported permitting more than 137,000 acres for mine activities, adding about 6,000 acres during the biennium, and cited cumulative investments tied to siting and generation reviews.

Inverted-pyramid details

Christmann summarized program workload and recent activity: the commission said it has overseen siting of almost 340 miles of pipelines, about 70 miles of electric transmission and more than 460 megawatts of wind generation — work the PSC said represents more than $5,000,000,000 in investment in North Dakota. The reclamation program reported six active surface coal-mining operations and that the state—s AML program filled 183 dangerous sinkholes in Adams, Bowman, Golden Valley, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Stark and Williams counties at a cost of about $137,000; the commission said the majority of those hazards are located along highways.

The PSC noted it has received four general-fund utility rate cases this biennium and described the effort required to review filings, including hiring consultants where needed. Christmann cautioned the committee against oversimplifying rate-case work as a straightforward percentage negotiation, citing Otter Tail filings as an example of complex, multi-document cases.

Staffing and compensation

The commission said staffing is the largest portion of its budget (about 51.5 percent in the current budget presentation) and described recent turnover and recruitment challenges. When asked, the agency said it is authorized 45 positions and currently has 44 filled. Christmann described a long period of retirements among seasoned staff that has left a high share of newer employees; he said 85 percent of current staff have been hired in the last five to six years. The PSC told members it relies on highly technical positions — for example, electrical engineers, economists, accountants and reclamation specialists — and that recruiting is made harder by competing offers from industry.

One-time and enhancement requests

The PSC reviewed one-time items from the prior biennium and current enhancement requests included in Governor Burgum—s executive budget. The agency said it did not use a previously appropriated $20,000 for a drone purchase after the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made a grant of just under $300,000 available to North Dakota; the PSC is now requesting authorization to use the federal grant and said the drone must be Department of Defense–cleared to meet grant rules. For the lidar payload that would be used with the drone, the PSC said the lidar cost is about $149,420 (federally funded), with a state share near $55,100.

Other requests described: intervention funding to support participation in multi-state and federal rulemaking and litigation (including FERC and other federal litigation), a targeted equity supplement for hard-to-recruit technical positions, professional-development funding, another weights-and-measures inspector focused on large devices, and ongoing costs tied to vehicle travel and lodging for inspectors. The PSC highlighted a longstanding $900,000 line item to support rail rate complaint cases, saying it has served as a deterrent even if rarely spent.

Questions and follow-up

Committee members pressed for clarification on indirect-cost recovery and vacant-FTE funding, drone procurement and grant restrictions, and how the commission manages employee training and mentoring burdens created by turnover. Representative Bosch asked about current staff size; Christmann answered that 45 is authorized and 44 are employed. Representative Brandenburg and others noted the increases in pipeline and transmission work and said that workload is likely to continue.

No formal votes were taken during the overview. Chairman Munson told commissioners the committee would call them back for additional hearings and detailed questions.

Ending

The PSC presentation closed after roughly a full committee Q&A. Members signaled interest in follow-up briefings on equity and position funding, technology migration and the federal grant that would fund the drone and lidar equipment.