Montana Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers § 69-5-111. Judicial remedies

(1) Whenever an electric facilities provider is failing or omitting or about to fail or omit to do anything required of it by this part or is doing or is about to do anything or to permit anything to be done contrary to or in violation of this part, the electric facilities provider affected may file a complaint in the district court setting forth the acts or omissions complained of and requesting an injunction.

(2) If an affidavit showing that grounds exist that an electric facilities provider is in violation of this part is filed with the complaint, a temporary restraining order must be issued without notice. A copy of the temporary restraining order, complaint, and affidavit must be served upon the defendant, together with an order to show cause why the temporary restraining order should not be made permanent, within 5 days after issuance of the temporary restraining order. The hearing on the order to show cause must be held at a date specified in the order and may not be more than 10 days after service of the order and must take precedence over all matters pending before the district court. A judgment making the injunction permanent or dissolving the temporary restraining order that was issued and dismissing the complaint must be made before 10 days after the hearing on the order to show cause.

(3) Any party aggrieved by the order may appeal to the supreme court of Montana by filing a notice of appeal in the district court within 20 days from entry of the order. The appeal must be perfected within 20 days after filing the notice of appeal and must take precedence over all matters pending before the supreme court of Montana.