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Regulatory matters and revenues subject to refund | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2014
Regulated Operations [Abstract] |
Regulatory matters and revenues subject to refund | Regulatory matters and revenues subject to refund On April 8, 2014, Montana-Dakota submitted a request to the NDPSC to update the environmental cost recovery rider to reflect actual costs incurred through February 2014 and projected costs through June 2015 related to the recovery of Montana-Dakota's share of the costs resulting from the environmental retrofit required to be installed at the Big Stone Station. If approved, the rates would be effective with service rendered on and after July 1, 2014. 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. An interim increase of $4.3 million annually or approximately 4.0 percent went into effect for service rendered on or after November 17, 2013. On December 30, 2013, the NDPSC approved a settlement agreement for an increase in the same amount as the interim increase. A hearing on the rate design portion of the case was held February 5, 2014. The NDPSC voted to approve an order approving the allocation of the revenue increase to each rate class and the rate design on April 9, 2014. Final rates were implemented May 1, 2014. On February 27, 2014, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the NDPSC for approval of an electric generation resource recovery rider for recovery of Montana-Dakota's investment in the 88-megawatt simple-cycle natural gas turbine and associated facilities currently under construction near Mandan, ND. Montana-Dakota requested recovery of $7.4 million annually or approximately 4.6 percent above current rates. Advance determination of prudence and a certificate of public convenience and necessity were received from the NDPSC on April 11, 2012. On March 12, 2014, the NDPSC suspended the filing pending further review. The NDPSC has scheduled a hearing for this matter on May 28, 2014. 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. On April 30, 2014, WBI Energy Transmission reached a settlement in principle with FERC Trial Staff and all active parties to resolve the rate case. WBI Energy Transmission intends to file the settlement rates to take effect on an interim basis, effective May 1, 2014, pending final approval of the settlement. The settlement, if approved, will result in final rates which are lower than the rates which were originally requested in the rate case application.

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