Forrest Wilson would like South Dakota voters to elect him to a six-year Public Utilities Commission term on Nov. 5.
The state’s three elected commissioners oversee the regulation of private utility companies, which provide essential services including telecommunications, electricity and natural gas. The commissioners are assisted by a staff of analysts and lawyers.
The job of a commissioner is to Commissioners are tasked with ensuring private utilities provide reliable services at fair rates. They also approve major projects, such as new power plants or transmission lines.
Wilson, a Democrat, is the program services director for the Lead-Deadwood Boys and Girls Club. He previously worked as a community service officer in Deadwood, a career adviser at the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, and an assistant registrar at South Dakota Mines.
Wilson and Libertarian candidate Gideon Oakes are challenging Republican incumbent Kristie Fiegen.
Following are portions of a Searchlight interview with Wilson, edited for length and clarity.
Why are you running?
I really want to stand up and represent the little guy. I want to represent the average, everyday person who pays utilities. The cost of living has gotten exponentially out of hand. And, while I can’t do anything about the cost of housing, I truly believe that utilities is a lever that could and should be pulled to alleviate some of that pressure on the average person.
Summit Carbon Solutions wants to build a carbon dioxide pipeline through South Dakota, to carry carbon emissions from ethanol plants to an underground storage site in North Dakota. Summit will need a PUC permit. What’s your view of the project?
Unfortunately, or fortunately, I don’t know all of the facts. And so, I am doing as much research as I possibly can while still, you know, trying to pay the bills. I cannot make an informed decision without knowing all the facts. And I don’t feel comfortable commenting on it because it might be on the docket in the future. And it will probably be something I will have to adjudicate.
Q&A: Meet Gideon Oakes, Libertarian candidate for Public Utilities Commission
Does the Public Utilities Commission fairly balance the interests of utility companies and their customers?
No. I feel the Public Utilities Commission doesn’t take into account where the people of this state are at financially.
The average person can’t really just call and talk face-to-face with the commissioners and have that frank conversation. But I feel the companies have far more access to the commission than the average person does.
How do you feel about wind, solar and batteries displacing some of the need for coal and natural gas?
Honestly, I believe we need to diversify our grid as much as humanly possible, and future-proof our grid as much as possible. The technology in wind and solar is advancing at a huge rate, and so are batteries.
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