Montana-Dakota Utilities rate cases
Montana-Dakota Utilities is a regulated utility under the jurisdiction of regulatory commissions in the states it serves. The rates customers pay are approved by each state’s regulatory commission. When the costs of providing safe and reliable electric and natural gas service exceed what customers are paying in rates, Montana-Dakota files a rate increase request with the applicable state regulatory commission.
Requested increases are the result of additional costs necessary to maintain a safe and reliable system; upgrade aging infrastructure and technology; meet growing demand; and compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements, such as environmental mandates.
The company does not have authority to change rates without approval by a state regulatory commission. Click on your state below to review information about recently approved or pending rate case filings.
Montana
Montana-Dakota Utilities files electric price increase request in Montana
Montana-Dakota Utilities filed with the Montana Public Service Commission on September 30, a request to increase electric prices. If approved, it would increase the monthly bill for an average residential customer by about $19.33.
The primary reasons for the request are due to the investments made since the last regulatory proceeding in 2023, the corresponding depreciation associated with these investments, and increased operation & maintenance expenses. The company’s investments include the acquisition of a 122.5 MW wind facility and the repower of two existing wind facilities. The investments are needed to maintain safe and reliable service.
The proposed increase is $14.1 million annually over current prices, or about a 20.2% overall increase.
Montana-Dakota serves about 25,500 electric customers in 30 Montana communities.
Based on a study that determines how much it costs to serve each customer group, the increase by each group is as follows:
Residential 21.5%
Small General 21.6%
Large General 18.7%
Municipal Plumbing 30.7%
Lighting 21.5%
Total Request 20.2%
The last increase in electric prices was 9.1% and implemented October 1, 2023.
The Montana PSC has up to nine months to issue a decision on the proposed increase request.
Montana-Dakota encourages customers to use energy wisely. Conservation tips, information on energy assistance and information on the company’s balanced billing program can be found on this website.
North Dakota
North Dakota has no rate cases at this time.
South Dakota
South Dakota has no rate cases at this time.
WYOMING
Montana-Dakota Utilities files electric price increase request in Wyoming
Montana-Dakota Utilities filed with the Wyoming Public Service Commission on June 30 a request to increase electric prices. If approved, it would increase the monthly bill for an average residential customer by about $27.80.
The primary reasons are increased operation & maintenance expenses, the investments made since the last regulatory review in 2016, and the corresponding depreciation on those infrastructure investments. The investments are needed to maintain safe and reliable service.
The proposed increase is $7.5 million annually over current prices, or about a 24% overall increase. To put the request in perspective, the last time Montana-Dakota filed an electric price increase was 2016, meaning the current request averages an annual increase of 2.7 percent, about 1 percent lower than annual inflation, over that nine-year period.
Montana-Dakota serves about 17,600 electric customers in six Wyoming communities.
Based on a study that determines how much it costs to serve each customer group, the increase by each group is as follows:
Residential 26.00%
Small General 30.74%
Large General 15.15%
Lighting 15.81%
Irrigation Service 40.10%
Total Request 24.36%
The last increase in electric prices was 11% and implemented March 1, 2017. On May 1, 2019, prices were decreased by approximately $1.1 million because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
The Wyoming PSC has up to nine months to issue a decision on the proposed increase request.
Montana-Dakota encourages customers to use energy wisely. Conservation tips, information on energy assistance and information on the company’s balanced billing program can be found on this website.
The full filing can be viewed by clicking the following links: