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Regulatory matters and revenues subject to refund | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2013
Regulated Operations [Abstract] |
Regulatory matters and revenues subject to refund | Regulatory matters and revenues subject to refund On September 26, 2012, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the MTPSC for a natural gas rate increase. Montana-Dakota requested a total increase of $3.5 million annually or approximately 5.9 percent above current rates. The requested increase includes the costs associated with the increased investment in facilities, including ongoing investment in new and replacement distribution facilities, an operations building, automated meter reading and a new customer billing system. Montana-Dakota requested an interim increase, subject to refund, of $1.7 million or approximately 2.9 percent. On April 12, 2013, the MTPSC issued an interim order authorizing an interim increase of $850,000 annually to be effective with service rendered on or after April 15, 2013, subject to refund. A hearing was held August 5-6, 2013. On December 21, 2012, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the SDPUC for a natural gas rate increase. Montana-Dakota requested a total increase of $1.5 million annually or approximately 3.3 percent above current rates. The requested increase includes the costs associated with the increased investment in facilities, including ongoing investment in new and replacement distribution facilities, an operations building, automated meter reading and a new customer billing system. On June 19, 2013, Montana-Dakota filed a notice of intent to implement an interim rate increase, subject to refund, of $1.5 million effective with service rendered on or after July 22, 2013. On October 24, 2013, Montana-Dakota and the SDPUC Staff filed a settlement stipulation, which reflects a natural gas rate increase of $900,000 annually or approximately 2.0 percent. On November 5, 2013, the SDPUC approved the settlement stipulation, with rates to be effective with service rendered on and after December 1, 2013. On February 11, 2013, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the NDPSC for approval of an environmental cost recovery rider for recovery of Montana-Dakota's share of the costs resulting from the environmental retrofit required to be installed at the Big Stone Station. The costs proposed to be recovered are associated with the ongoing construction costs for the installation of the BART air-quality control system. On February 27, 2013, the NDPSC suspended the filing pending further review. On May 31, 2013, Montana-Dakota filed revisions to its filing to reflect revised budget amounts. A hearing was held on September 16, 2013. On June 14, 2013, Montana-Dakota filed for an advance determination of prudence with the NDPSC to add filterable particulate matter pollution control equipment at Montana-Dakota's Lewis & Clark generating station to comply with the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule, projected to be completed in 2016. Project cost is estimated to be $27.7 million. An informal hearing was held on September 25, 2013. On October 9, 2013, the NDPSC issued an order approving the advance determination of prudence. On September 18, 2013, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the NDPSC for a natural gas rate increase. Montana-Dakota requested a total increase of $6.8 million annually or approximately 6.4 percent above current rates. The requested increase includes the costs associated with the increased investment in facilities, including ongoing investment in new and replacement distribution facilities, an operations building, automated meter reading and a new customer billing system. Montana-Dakota requested an interim increase, subject to refund, of $4.5 million or approximately 4.2 percent. On October 9, 2013, the NDPSC approved the interim increase to be effective with service rendered on or after November 17, 2013. On October 23, 2013, Montana-Dakota and the NDPSC Advocacy Staff filed a settlement agreement that resolved the revenue requirement portion of the application and reflected a natural gas rate increase of $4.3 million annually or approximately 4.0 percent, and agreed that Montana-Dakota will only implement $4.3 million of interim rate relief. The NDPSC has scheduled an informal hearing on the settlement on November 13, 2013. On October 31, 2013, WBI Energy Transmission filed a general natural gas rate change application with the FERC for an increase of $28.9 million annually to cover increased investments of $312 million, increased operating costs, and the effect of lower storage and off system volumes. WBI Energy Transmission requested the rates to be effective December 1, 2013.

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