ND Public Service Commissioner Seeks Elected Seat

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Appointed Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak is seeking a permanent seat in 2014.

Gov. Jack Dalrymple appointed Fedorchak to fill the post in 2012, after it had been vacated by Republican Kevin Cramer who was elected to the U.S. House.

Fedorchak is slated to start her campaign Monday in Bismarck and Fargo. No challengers have announced a bid for her seat.

The three-member commission regulates coal mining, land reclamation, pipelines, electric and gas utilities, grain elevators, telecommunications and auctioneers. A great deal of its recent workload has involved determining locations for pipelines, natural gas processing factories, and wind energy projects.

Commissioners are elected for six-year terms and are paid more than $95,000 annually.