North Dakota Public Service Commission

North Dakota couple plans to ‘dig in’ if Summit pipeline is approved

Jessica and James Tiegs of Ellendale, North Dakota, look through a folder of information they have compiled on carbon capture pipelines on Nov. 12, 2024. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)ELLENDALE, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — James and Jessica Tiegs are among the holdout landowners who have refused to sign on to the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project to take carbon…

PSC approves 2 natural gas rate increases

North Dakota Public Service Commission members, from left, Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, Randy Christmann and Julie Fedorchak conduct a public input session on proposed natural gas rate increases on July 29, 2024, in Bismarck. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)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…

Democrat House candidate questions ties to Summit; Republican says claims are bogus

Republican U.S. House candidate Julie Fedorchak, left, and Democratic-NPL Party candidate Trygve Hammer. (Contributed)BISMARCK, N.D. (Amy Dalrymple – North Dakota Monitor) — Republican U.S. House candidate Julie Fedorchak continues to face questions from her opponent about her family’s connection to a controversial carbon dioxide pipeline project, as well as criticism about accepting campaign donations from the industry she regulates. Democrat…

North Dakota regulators inch closer to Summit pipeline decision

Administrative Law Judge Hope Hogan, left, and Public Service Commissioner Sheri Haugen-Hoffart conduct a hearing April 22, 2024, in Mandan on the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)(Jeff Beach – North Dakota Monitor) A North Dakota state agency on Monday moved closer to making a decision on what developers are calling the world’s largest carbon capture…

North Dakota regulators weigh Xcel Energy and MDU natural gas rate increases

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – Two North Dakota natural gas utility providers are proposing to increase residential gas rates between 7.5% and 12.5% in coming months after holding public input sessions with the state’s Public Service Commission in July. The increases would affect North Dakota residents who receive natural gas from Northern States Power Company, a part of Xcel…

Fedorchak Campaign Files Complaints With FEC And FCC

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO/NORTH DAKOTA MONITOR) — Julie Fedorchak’s campaign has filed complaints with two federal agencies over video and text messages sent last week that falsely stated she had dropped out of the U.S. House race. Complaints were filed with the Federal Election Commission and Federal Communications Commission asking the agencies to investigate. The campaign’s attorney says the complaint to…

ND PSC issues Cease and Desist order to communications company

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) – The North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) has issued a Cease and Desist Order against Bright Sound Communications ordering the company to stop all marketing of its services in North Dakota. Last fall the PSC received complaints from businesses alleging Bright Sound was misrepresenting them on sales calls. PSC staff uncovered several instances in which customers…

Xcel Energy Fined After 2019 Fire At Senior Living Facility

North Dakota Public Service Commission says gas was leaking and wasn't vented properly

FARGO, N.D. — Xcel Energy will pay a $12,000 fine for a natural gas leak that led to an explosion and fire at Riverview Place in Fargo. The fire broke out January 4, 2019 at the senior living complex and damaged four of the 24 apartments. No one was hurt but the building was evacuated for several hours. North Dakota…

Audit Shows Lapse in PSC Bonding Protection

State Auditor Josh Gallion says state law requires agencies to maintain a bond that essentially acts as insurance.

BISMARCK, N.D.–A state audit shows the North Dakota Public Service Commission had a 17-month bonding lapse, which left the agency vulnerable to potential theft. State Auditor Josh Gallion says state law requires agencies to maintain a bond that essentially acts as insurance should an employee embezzle or commit theft, while the legal case against the worker makes its way through…