PSC Executive Director Addresses Missoula Water Rate Increases

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The City of Missoula has proposed a series of yearly price increases for water, sewer, and storm water rates that will total approximately 21 percent from 2025 to 2027.

A Talk Back listener brought up this topic to David Sanders, the Executive Director of the Montana Public Service Commission, asking if there was anything the PSC could do to forestall those rate increases.

PSC Executive Director David Sanders Appeared on Talk Back

Sanders began by stating that the citizens of Missoula and all of Montana have the basic right to question the actions of their elected officials, in this case, the proposed increases in water, sewer, and wastewater rates.

“One of the things that is very important about my job at the Public Service Commission is the input that we get from the public,” began Sanders. “As you know, constitutionally, the people of Montana under Article Two, sections eight and nine of the Montana constitution, the people have a right to know what their government is doing, along with all the subordinate governments to the state and they have a right to participate.”

A Listener Asked if the PSC Could Intervene in Missoula Water Cost Increases

Sanders said, however, that the PSC would have no authority to intervene in the Missoula Water issue.

“We focus on the things that are within our current statutory purview and within our regulatory purview in that our power really comes from the legislature,” began Sanders, “Our power to regulate things is circumscribed by statute created by the legislature and signed into law by the governor.”

Having lived in Missoula until recently, Sanders acknowledged the rapid increase in the cost of services.

“Missoula has been facing extraordinarily high increases in costs over the last four years in everything from housing to food to fuel to insurance to health care, you name it,” he said. “With water being one of the necessities of life, it seems like a very large price increase there would have a disastrous effect on a number of people living on the margins.”

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Sanders Said It's Up to Missoulians to Challenge Rate Increases with City Council

Sanders said it’s up to the citizens of Missoula to put pressure on local government to address the cost increases.

“In the case of your municipal utility, it's really up to the citizens to sort of arm themselves with the facts and scrutinize these rates and then organize frankly within your community to be able to make your voices heard,” he said.

According to the Engage Missoula website, “The total proposed increase for 2025 would add $4.33 to the average residential customer’s total monthly bill for water, wastewater, and storm water services. This proposed rate increase would be effective on January 1, 2025, with additional increases occurring in 2026 and 2027.”

A public hearing addressing the rate increases before the Missoula City Council has been scheduled for October 21.