CTC Global commends the State of Montana for its visionary commitment to strengthening and modernizing its electric transmission infrastructure. With the recent passage of Senate Bill 301 in 2025, and House Bill 729 in 2023, Montana has taken bold legislative steps that prioritize the deployment of advanced technologies – most notably, high-efficiency, high-capacity transmission conductors. These complementary pieces of legislation establish both the regulatory framework and financial pathway needed to deliver a more reliable, efficient, and resilient electric grid.
Senate Bill 301, signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte on May 12, 2025, streamlines the regulatory process for building or upgrading transmission facilities rated over 69 kilovolts. The bill empowers the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) to evaluate proposals within a clearly defined 300-day window, bringing greater certainty to the development cycle. But more importantly, it explicitly encourages the use of advanced transmission technologies, including advanced conductors, high-voltage systems, and grid-enhancing monitoring tools. The bill underscores Montana’s intention to modernize its grid not just by building more, but by building smarter.
For utilities and transmission developers, SB 301 opens the door to solutions like CTC Global’s ACCC® Conductor. Engineered with a hybrid carbon fiber core, the ACCC® Conductor offers exceptional performance by allowing utilities to dramatically increase line capacity – often doubling the ampacity of existing steel-core conductors – without requiring significant tower or structural modifications. In addition to increasing the grid’s carrying capacity, ACCC® Conductor operates at lower temperatures and exhibits significantly reduced thermal sag. These characteristics directly support Montana’s goals of improving system reliability, mitigating wildfire risk, and meeting growing power demand without expanding the footprint of the existing grid.
Supporting this progress is House Bill 729, enacted in May 2023, which lays the financial foundation for utilities to invest in Advanced Conductors. HB 729 authorizes the PSC to develop cost-effectiveness criteria that account for more than just initial capital expense. Utilities can now seek rate recovery for Advanced Conductor deployments if they deliver quantifiable benefits, including lower electrical losses, reduced operating costs, and improved environmental performance. Notably, the bill defines Advanced Conductors as those that demonstrate at least a 10% improvement in electrical efficiency compared to conventional conductors of similar size—precisely the performance edge that ACCC® delivers.
Together, these two bills form a milestone in Montana’s journey toward a smarter, cleaner, and more reliable energy future. SB 301 removes regulatory delays and ensures that modern transmission solutions are prioritized in planning processes, while HB 729 ensures that the financial returns of those investments can be responsibly recovered through Montana’s rate-setting mechanisms. This coordinated approach encourages utilities to make the kinds of upgrades that provide lasting benefits to customers, the environment, and the broader Western energy market.
CTC Global has already contributed to Montana’s modernization efforts, having worked with NorthWestern Energy and other regional partners to install ACCC® Conductors on key transmission corridors. These projects have proven the value of Advanced Conductors in real-world applications, where higher efficiency, greater capacity, and reduced maintenance translate directly into operational and economic gains.
We applaud Montana’s leadership for creating a legislative blueprint that will inspire other states to follow suit. At CTC Global, we remain committed to helping Montana – and the nation – achieve the high-performance grid required to support a clean energy transition and a more resilient future.
