A week after removing its former president from that job, the state’s utility regulator has elected first-term commissioner Jeff Welborn to its top leadership post.

The Montana Public Service Commission voted Tuesday to put Jeff Welborn in the position previously occupied by Brad Molnar, who was voted out of the president role on Oct. 21. Commissioners Welborn, Jennifer Fielder and Anne Bukacek voted to demote Molnar, arguing that he hasn’t satisfactorily executed his duties and the time had come for a commission “reset.” Welborn is a former state lawmaker from Dillon who joined Montana’s utility board in January.

The same coalition that ousted Molnar, who remains on the PSC, voted to install Welborn as the agency’s president, describing Welborn as a thoughtful, communicative and fair ar

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