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Montana Public Service Commission, Utility Division records, 1913-1986

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana. Public Service Commission
Title
Montana Public Service Commission, Utility Division records
Dates
1913-1986 (inclusive)
Quantity
31.5 linear ft
Collection Number
RS 501 (Formerly RS 297)
Summary
This collection is a subgroup (Division) of the Montana Public Service Commission records, RS 501. The Utility Division is now, as of 2025, named the Regulatory Division. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Public Service Commission records. These records consist primarily of annual reports (1914-1986) made by electric utility companies, gas companies, heating utility companies, water companies, telegraph companies, telephone companies, and pipeline companies to the Montana Public Service Commission. There are also accident reports (1957-1966) for electric and gas utilities.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

The Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners was established by the Montana legislature in 1907. In 1913 the Board of Railroad Commissioners was made ex officio the newly created Montana Public Service Commission. As such, it was given the authority to regulate a variety of public utilities. In 1971, the Montana Board of Railroad Commissioners was abolished and its work was taken over directly by the Public Service Commission. As of 2025, the Utility Division is now the Regulatory Division.

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Content Description

These records consist predominantly of annual reports (1914-1986) made by electric utility companies, gas companies, heating utility companies, water companies, telegraph companies, telephone companies, and pipeline companies to the Montana Public Service Commission. The reports include a vast amount of data on the history, financing, corporate ownership, physical plants, and production. Many of the reports are accompanied by rate schedules and regulations. Some of the reports are copies of the reports made to the Federal Power Commission and do not directly reflect their Montana operations.

In addition there are accident reports (1957-1966) for electric, gas, and telephone utilities; appraisal reports (1919-1927) for several electric utilities; and other reports (1922-1953) for several water companies.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Library & Archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Library & Archives before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Name of Collection. Collection Number. Box and folder number. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by subgroup and then by series.

Location of Collection

33:1-2

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

Processing Note

In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Public Service Commission were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 501, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Public Service Commission's various Divisions and Predecessor Agencies that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 501. Rather than reprocessing over 80 linear feet of PSC materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids and provide access to them via links in the primary finding aid. This decision has allowed the MTHS archival staff to maintain intellectual control over the collection, while removing the need to reprocess it. It also keeps State Agency finding aids at manageable sizes. Please read the scope and content note carefully to determine if this subgroup pertains to your research needs.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Electric utilities--Montana.
  • Gas companies--Montana.
  • Pipelines--Montana.
  • Public utilities--Montana.
  • Telegraph--Montana.
  • Telephone companies--Montana.
  • Water utilities--Montana.

Geographical Names

  • Montana--Commerce.

Finding aid prepared by Ellie Arguimbau; Updated by Lindsey Mick
2007; 2025

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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