N.D. Admin. Code § 69-01-01-01
1. Jurisdiction. The commission's duties are prescribed by the legislative assembly. The commission has jurisdiction over railroads, telecommunications companies, pipeline, electric, and heating companies, weights and measures, siting of energy plants and transmission facilities, reclamation of mined lands, and all other public utilities engaged in business in this state.
The commission does not have jurisdiction over the rates of rural electric cooperatives, most small telephone companies, or cable television.
a. Commissioners. The three public service commissioners are statewide elected officials, each serving a six-year term with one commissioner's term expiring every two years. The commissioners are responsible for the exercise of the powers and duties of the commission. Although the workload is divided among the commissioners, each commissioner exercises equal power and shares equal responsibility for each decision. b. Executive secretary. The public service commission appoints an executive secretary who coordinates, supervises, and directs the commission's day-to-day operations and advises and assists the commission in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities. The executive secretary handles all administrative matters relating to personnel, accounting, purchasing, payroll, and budget preparation.
Currently, the executive secretary also serves as the director of the public utilities division.
c. Counsel. The attorney general is the attorney for the commission, but based on commission recommendation has appointed counsel to act as legal advisor to the commission. d. Commission divisions. The commission has seven divisions:
Abandoned mine lands division Accounting division Legal division Public utility division Reclamation division Compliance division
a. Abandoned mine lands division. The abandoned mine lands division administers a federal program to remove hazards and environmental problems associated with
abandoned mines. The division investigates abandoned mine lands sites, designs reclamation projects, submits applications for federal funds, and manages construction projects under public contracts.
The division makes recommendations on applications for the siting of energy conversion and transmission facilities and on enforcement of commission orders permitting electric powerlines, gas pipelines, and electrical generation plants.
The division also responds to complaints, inquiries, and requests for information about activities or companies within the commission's jurisdiction. It promotes consumer understanding of the regulatory process and facilitates public participation.
4. Inquiries. General inquiries to the public service commission may be addressed to the executive secretary of the commission. Specific inquiries about the functions of each division may be addressed to the division director. Requests for hearings, rulings, or participation in rulemaking should be addressed to the executive secretary, unless the public notice directs otherwise.
The commission's telephone number is 701-328-2400. Fax: 701-328-2410. E-Mail: ndpsc@state.nd.us.
Correspondence should be addressed as follows:
Public Service Commission 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 408 Bismarck, ND 58505-0480
History: Amended effective August 1, 1981; December 1, 1981; August 1, 1983; March 1, 1986; October 1, 1987; October 1, 1989; February 1, 1992; May 1, 1993; April 1, 1994; May 1, 1995; February 1, 1998; February 1, 2000; June 1, 2005; June 9, 2025.
General Authority: NDCC 28-32-02.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 28-32-02.1
Organizational Chart
Full-time Employees: 41
July 1, 1997