Families for a Livable Climate v. Montana Department of Public Service Regulation

News outlets reported that on September 11, 2024, a Montana district court ruled against organizations that sought to compel action by the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) in response to their February 2024 petition requesting that the PSC initiate rulemaking to consider harmful climate change impacts in the regulation of public utilities. KTVH reported that the judge concluded that the PSC complied with state law by commencing an informal rulemaking process in which it was taking comments on the petition.

Petitioner organizations filed a proceeding in Montana District Court seeking to compel the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) to act on a petition requesting that the PSC initiate rulemaking to consider harmful climate change impacts in the regulation of public utilities. The rulemaking petition was submitted in February 2024. The petitioners asserted that the PSC had a clear legal duty under the Montana Administrative Procedures Act to deny the petition or initiate rulemaking proceedings within 60 days of submission.

Filing Year For Action