Former state Rep. Gail Gutsche of Missoula, who is challenging Public Service Commissioner Doug Mood in a western Montana district, staked out a big fundraising lead in reports filed Thursday.

Gutsche, a Democrat, reported raising nearly $18,000 since entering the race this spring, compared to only $525 for Mood, the incumbent Republican.

However, neither candidate has a primary opponent, giving them each plenty of time to gear up for the fall general electioin.

In the other two PSC races in Montana, state Rep. Alan Olson, R-Roundup, was the fundraising leader in the open south-central and southwestern district, and Billings Mayor Ron Tussing out-raised all opponents in his bid to win the southeastern Montana district held by Commissioner Brad Molnar, R-Laurel.

The five-member PSC regulates utilities in Montana and often affects energy policy in the state.

Three of its seats have contested races this year, and all three are expected to be hard-fought, potentially close contests.

Candidates in all three districts filed their first campaign fundraising reports on Thursday. Here's a breakdown on the money chase in each district:

• District 2, southeast Montana: Tussing and Billings electrician Tom Curry are running against each other in the Democratic primary on June 3, for the chance to take on Molnar this fall.

Tussing reported raising $10,400 through last Saturday, while Curry had taken in nearly $3,200. Most of Tussing's donors were from Billings and elsewhere in the district, but he also garnered donations from prominent Helena Democrats, including former Attorney General Joe Mazurek and Public Service Commissioner Ken Toole. Tussing also contributed $1,500 of his own money.

PSC Chairman Greg Jergeson, a Democrat from Chinook, gave the maximum $130 to Curry, most of whose donations came from people living in the district.

Molnar reported raising $7,000 and paid $1,500 out of his own pocket for campaign signs.

• District 4, western Montana: Gutsche had many contributors from Missoula and around western Montana, including union representatives, conservationists and legislators. Gutsche was a state representative from Missoula until 2006.

Mood, of Seeley Lake, also a former legislator, had only seven individual contributors.

• District 3, south-central and southwest Montana: Olson, who's running against Democrat John Vincent of Gallatin Gateway for this open seat, reported raising $11,500.

Much of his money came from fellow Republican legislators and lobbyists and businesspeople in energy industries, such as coal, oil and gas.

Vincent, a former speaker of the House and Gallatin County commissioner, raised about $5,000, including donations from legislators and former legislators, conservationists and longtime Democratic contributors.

He also received a donation from Public Service Commissioner Bob Raney, whose seat he is trying to fill. Raney, a Livingston Democrat, decided not to run for re-election.