Ken Toole For Public Service Commission
PO Box 1462
HELENA

********For Immediate Release 2/2/2010********
Subject: Toole responds to Gallagher PSC Filing
Contact: Ken Toole
Phone: 439-4793

Ken Toole, vice-chairman of the Public Service Commission, who is running for re-election to the PSC District 5 seat said he doesn't know Bill Gallagher personally but he is aware that Gallagher owns a utility in Helena which is regulated by the PSC. "It is a legal and ethical question. How he can serve on the PSC while he owns a utility business" Toole said, "I hope he is running to serve the public, not because he has a particular business interest in his company coming before the PSC". Toole concluded by saying he was sure this and many other issues would be discussed in the campaign.

Toole said welcomes Gallagher to the race and hopes to have a campaign based on issues and qualifications to fill the office. "I have a clear record of working for small consumers in Montana over a long period of time." Toole said, "Standing up to big utility corporations isn't the easy thing to do, but it is the right thing to do." Toole, one of Montana's leading opponents to electric deregulation, served in the state senate as Chair of the Energy and Telecommunications committee before being elected to the PSC. He also headed up the effort to buy back the hydro-electric dams on Montana's rivers after they were sold to Pennsylvania Power Company. Toole pointed to his record on the PSC as the best evidence for voters to consider in this race.

Toole opposed the buy-out of Northwestern Energy by a foreign investment bank. The sale had been supported by many interest groups in the state but was denied by the PSC. Today that investment bank is no longer in business.

Toole organized a group of small customers to file a consumer complaint against QWEST Corporation for earning excessive profits. The complaint was resolved by QWEST giving $16 million in rate reductions to Montana consumers and agreeing to extend broad band service to 28 rural Montana communities.

Toole initiated a proceeding before the PSC to require disclosure of utility executive salaries in Montana. Toole said he hopes there will be additional proceedings in this matter this spring.