Rate increase

PUBLIC NOTICE
Pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and the Wyoming Public Service Commission’s (Commission) Rules, notice is hereby given that a public hearing is scheduled regarding the Application of Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU or the Company) for a natural gas service general rate increase of $1,052,167 or 6.96 percent per year. MDU is also requesting approval of changes to its tariffs. The Wyoming Office of Consumer Advocate has intervened in this matter. The public hearing is set to commence on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, at 9:00 a.m., in the Commission’s hearing room located at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
MDU is a public utility as defined in Wyo. Stat. § 37-1-101(a)(vi)(D), subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction pursuant to Wyo. Stat. § 37-2-112.MDU filed its Application on May 23, 2019, together with exhibits and revised tariff sheets, requesting authority to increase its natural gas utility service rates by approximately $1,052,167 per year or 6.96 percent. In the Application, MDU is requesting a 10.3% return on equity equating to an overall return of 7.754% on rate base. MDU requests that the increase be made effective upon the completion of Commission proceedings.
MDU states if the proposed rate requests are approved, the average residential natural gas customer using an average of 88 dekatherms on an annual basis can expect an increase of $3.94 or 8.4% per month. Due to rate design and individual customer load factors and usage characteristics, the percentage rate change to individual customers within each rate schedule may be higher or lower than the average for the customer rate class or rate schedule. The impact on individual bills may vary from the proposed increase in rates. Further, the rates ultimately approved by the Commission on an individual customer class basis may be lower or greater than those being proposed by the Company. Customers interested in knowing exactly how the natural gas rate proposals would affect their actual bills should contact MDU.
All interested persons are encouraged to attend the public hearing which will be conducted in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and the Wyoming Public Service Commission Rules and Special Regulations. Interested persons may appear and be heard, either in person or through counsel, as provided by Commission Rule.
The Commission’s hearings are open to all persons. If you wish to attend the hearing and you require reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the Commission at (307) 777-7427 (Voice or TTY) in Cheyenne during regular business hours or write them at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002, to make arrangements. Communications impaired persons may also contact the Commission by accessing Wyoming Relay (TTY) by dialing 711. Please mention Docket No. 30013-351-GR-19 (Record No. 15261) in your correspondence. If you wish to listen to the hearing scheduled in this matter go to http://psc.wy.us at the appropriate time and follow the instructions to connect to the hearing.
Dated: December 16, 2019
First Publ., Thurs., Dec. 19, 2019
Second Publ., Tues., Dec. 24, 2019