PSC approves 2 natural gas rate increases

BISMARCK, N.D. (Jeff Beach – North Dakota Monitor) The North Dakota Public Service Commission on Thursday approved natural gas rate increases for two utilities.

The increase approved for Montana-Dakota Utilities customers is a lower than an interim rate that customers had been paying since January, so those customers will see a rate decrease starting in January.

The initial rate increase request from MDU was 7.5%, made in November 2023. The PSC approved an interim rate increase of 6.5%.

Thursday, the commission approved a 6% increase.

The average monthly increase for an MDU residential customer will be $3.55 and $3.47 for a Wahpeton residential customer.

Commissioner Julie Fedorchak noted that MDU has invested $35 million in infrastructure since its last rate increase in 2021.

Northern States Power Company, part of Minnesota-based Xcel Energy, asked for a 9.4% rate increase for its North Dakota customers.

In March, the PSC approved an interim rate increase of 8.7%

Thursday, the PSC approved an overall rate increase of 8.2%, though the increase for residential customers is 9%.

Fedorchak said the company went many years without a rate increase. While there have been rate increases in recent years, she said North Dakota natural gas rates remain well below the national average.

In December, there will be a hearing on an electric rate increase for Otter Tail Power Co.