Montana-Dakota Utilities filed with the Montana Public Service Commission on Nov. 4 a request to increase electric prices. If approved, it would increase the monthly bill for a typical non-space heating residential customer by about $17.

The main reasons for the increase request are because of increased investments since 2018, including an 88-megawatt simple cycle combustion turbine, the associated depreciation with the increased investments, and increases in property taxes, labor, software maintenance expenses, insurance expenses and other recent inflationary increases.

“We recognize prices have increased for many day-to-day necessities because of inflation increasing in mid-2021 and exceeding 8% in early 2022; however, a good portion of the investments that are part of this regulatory request were made before rising inflation,” said Nicole Kivisto, president and CEO of Montana-Dakota Utilities. “We believe the investments are prudent to ensure safe and reliable electric service to our customers. Current prices do not reflect the cost of providing electric service to our Montana customers, which is why we are requesting this increase.”

The proposed increase is for $10.5 million annually over current prices, or about a 15% overall increase. Montana-Dakota serves about 25,600 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                   19.2%

Small General               15.1%

Large General               12.9%

Municipal Pumping      15.4%

Outdoor Lighting          10.3%

Total Request              15.2%

The last increase in electric prices was 14.7% and implemented in two phases – September 2019 and September 2020.

The Montana PSC has up to 10 months to issue a decision on the proposed increase request.

Montana-Dakota also filed a request with the PSC to implement an interim price increase of $1.7 million, or 2.7%. For a typical non-space heating residential customer, the monthly impact would be about $2.33. The interim increase is subject to refund if the final increase authorized by the PSC is less than the interim.

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:

• Volume I Letter Application – Appendices – Direct Testimonies
• Volume II Statements A-O – Workpaper Statements C-L
• Volume III Interim Application
• Electric Depreciation Study

Montana-Dakota Utilities files electric price increase request in North Dakota

Montana-Dakota Utilities filed with the North Dakota Public Service Commission on May 16 a request to increase electric prices. If approved, it would increase the monthly bill for a typical non-space heating residential customer by about $14.94.

The main reasons for the increase request are because of increased investments since 2017, including an 88-megawatt simple cycle combustion turbine, the associated depreciation with the increased investments, and increases in property taxes, labor, software maintenance expenses, insurance expenses and other recent inflationary increases.

“We recognize prices have increased for many day-to-day necessities because of inflation increasing in mid-2021 and exceeding 8% in early 2022; however, a good portion of the investments that are part of this regulatory request were made before rising inflation,” said Nicole Kivisto, president and CEO of Montana-Dakota Utilities. “We believe the investments are prudent to ensure safe and reliable electric service to our customers. Current prices do not reflect the cost of providing electric service to our North Dakota customers, which is why we are requesting this increase.”

The proposed increase is for $25.4 million annually over current prices, or a 12.3% overall increase. Montana-Dakota serves about 93,500 electric customers in 119 North Dakota 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                   17.3%

Small General Service 18.4%

General Service              7.8%

Municipal Lighting         7.3%

Municipal Pumping      13.8%

Outdoor Lighting            4.2%

Total Request              12.3%

The last increase in electric general rates was 3.7% percent effective in August 2017.

The North Dakota PSC has up to seven months to issue a decision on the proposed increase request.

Montana-Dakota also filed a request with the PSC to implement an interim price increase to go into effect within 60 days of the filing. The interim request is for $11.4 million, or 6.6%. For a typical non-space heating residential customer, the monthly impact would be about $5.33. The interim increase is subject to refund if the final increase authorized by the PSC is less than the interim.

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:

• Application, Appendices, Direct Testimonies
• Statements A-L, Work Papers
• Interim Application
• Depreciation Study

South Dakota has no rate cases at this time.

Wyoming has no rate cases at this time.