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Regulatory matters | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2017
Regulated Operations [Abstract] |
Regulatory matters | Regulatory matters On September 30, 2015, Great Plains filed an application for a natural gas rate increase with the MNPUC. Great Plains requested a total increase of approximately $1.6 million annually or approximately 6.4 percent above current rates to recover increased operating expenses along with increased investment in facilities, including the related depreciation expense and taxes. An interim increase of approximately $1.5 million or approximately 6.4 percent, subject to refund, was effective with service rendered on and after January 1, 2016. The MNPUC issued an order on September 6, 2016, authorizing an increase of approximately $1.1 million annually or approximately 5.2 percent with the requirement that Great Plains submit a compliance filing within 30 days. On September 22, 2016, Great Plains submitted the required compliance filing which included a refund plan to return the amount of interim revenues collected above the final rates. On December 22, 2016, the MNPUC issued an order approving the rates which were effective January 1, 2017. Great Plains issued refunds to customers on February 24, 2017. On April 29, 2016, Cascade filed an application with the OPUC for a natural gas rate increase of approximately $1.9 million annually or approximately 2.8 percent above current rates. The request includes rate recovery associated with pipeline replacement and improvement projects to ensure the integrity of Cascade's system. On October 6, 2016, Cascade, staff of the OPUC and the interveners in the case filed a stipulation and settlement agreement reflecting an annual increase of approximately $754,000 effective March 1, 2017. The OPUC issued an order approving the stipulation and settlement agreement on December 12, 2016. On June 10, 2016, Montana-Dakota filed an application for an increase in electric rates with the WYPSC. Montana-Dakota requested an increase of approximately $3.2 million annually or approximately 13.1 percent above current rates to recover Montana-Dakota's increased investment in facilities along with additional depreciation, operation and maintenance expenses including increased fuel costs, and taxes associated with the increases in investment. On December 28, 2016, Montana-Dakota and the interveners of the case filed a stipulation and agreement reflecting an increase of approximately $2.7 million annually or approximately 11.1 percent above current rates. On April 6, 2017, the WYPSC issued a final order approving the stipulation and agreement with rates effective with service rendered on and after March 1, 2017. On August 12, 2016, Intermountain filed an application with the IPUC for a natural gas rate increase of approximately $10.2 million annually or approximately 4.1 percent above current rates. The request includes rate recovery associated with increased investment in facilities and increased operating expenses. On January 17, 2017, Intermountain provided the IPUC with an updated revenue request of approximately $9.4 million. A hearing was held March 1-3, 2017. On April 28, 2017, the IPUC issued an order approving an increase of approximately $4.1 million or approximately 1.6 percent above current rates based on a 9.5 percent return on equity effective with service rendered on and after May 1, 2017. Intermountain is reviewing the final order. On September 1, 2016, and as amended on January 10, 2017, Montana-Dakota submitted an update to its transmission formula rate under the MISO tariff including a revenue requirement for the Company's multivalue project along with a true-up of prior year expenditures of $11.1 million, which was effective January 1, 2017. On December 2, 2016, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the MTPSC requesting authority to implement gas and electric tax tracking adjustments for Montana state and local taxes and fees that reflect the changes in state and local property taxes applicable to natural gas and electric utilities pursuant to Montana law. The requested tax tracking adjustments would result in an increase in revenues of approximately $814,000. On January 17, 2017, the MTPSC issued an order on the tax tracking adjustments. The gas tracking adjustment was approved as an increase to revenues of approximately $474,000 effective January 1, 2017. The electric tax tracking adjustment was approved as an increase to revenues of approximately $251,000 effective May 15, 2017. Montana-Dakota filed a motion for reconsideration of the electric tax tracking adjustment on January 27, 2017. The motion for reconsideration is pending before the MTPSC. On December 21, 2016, Great Plains filed an application with the MNPUC requesting authority to implement a natural gas utility infrastructure cost tariff of approximately $456,000 annually effective beginning with service rendered May 20, 2017. The tariff will allow Great Plains to recover infrastructure investments, not previously included in rates, mandated by federal or state agencies associated with Great Plains' pipeline integrity programs. This matter is pending before the MNPUC. On April 1, 2017, Montana-Dakota implemented Phase 2 of the electric rate case approved by the MTPSC on March 25, 2016. The annual increase of $4.7 million is effective with service rendered on and after April 1, 2017. Montana-Dakota previously filed an application with the NDPSC on October 14, 2016, for an electric rate increase which also included a requested return on equity to be used in the determination of applications previously filed by Montana-Dakota for a renewable resource cost adjustment rider, an electric generation resource recovery rider, and a transmission cost adjustment rider. On April 7, 2017, Montana-Dakota, the NDPSC Advocacy Staff and the interveners in the case filed a settlement agreement resolving all issues in the general rate case. The settlement agreement included a net increase of approximately $7.5 million or 3.7 percent above previously approved final rates and a true-up of the return on equity used in the interim renewable resource cost adjustment, the electric generation resource recovery and transmission cost adjustment riders of 9.45 percent; a return on equity of 9.65 percent for base rates and the renewable resource cost adjustment rider on a go-forward basis; and a return on equity of 9.45 percent through December 31, 2019, for the natural gas-fired internal combustion engines and associated facilities included in the electric generation resource recovery rider. If the settlement agreement is approved by the NDPSC, final rates will be less than the interim rates currently in effect. Therefore, Montana-Dakota will refund the difference to customers, which is approximately 19 percent of the amount collected from the general rate case interim increase, along with refunds, if any, to reflect true-ups for the various riders. The amount of refunds, less amounts previously accrued, are not expected to be material to the consolidated financial statements. A hearing on the settlement was held on April 10, 2017. This matter is pending before the NDPSC. The background information related to the settlement and related applications are discussed in the following paragraphs. On October 26, 2015, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the NDPSC requesting a renewable resource cost adjustment rider for the recovery of the Thunder Spirit Wind project. On January 5, 2016, the NDPSC approved the rider to be effective January 7, 2016, resulting in an annual increase on an interim basis, subject to refund, of $15.1 million based upon a 10.5 percent return on equity. The interim rate is pending the determination of the return on equity in the general rate case application filed October 14, 2016, as discussed in this note. On October 26, 2015, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the NDPSC for an update to the electric generation resource recovery rider. On March 9, 2016, the NDPSC approved the rider to be effective with service rendered on and after March 15, 2016, which resulted in interim rates, subject to refund, of $9.7 million based upon a 10.5 percent return on equity. The interim rates include recovery of Montana-Dakota's investment in the 88-MW simple-cycle natural gas turbine and associated facilities near Mandan, North Dakota, and the 19 MW of new generation from natural gas-fired internal combustion engines and associated facilities near Sidney, Montana. The net investment authorized for the natural gas-fired internal combustion engines and the return on equity on both investments are pending the general rate case application filed October 14, 2016, as discussed in this note. On November 25, 2015, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the NDPSC for an update of its transmission cost adjustment rider for recovery of MISO-related charges and two transmission projects in North Dakota. On February 10, 2016, the NDPSC approved the transmission cost adjustment effective with service rendered on and after February 12, 2016, resulting in an annual increase on an interim basis, subject to refund, of $6.8 million based upon a 10.5 percent return on equity. The interim rate is pending the determination of the return on equity in the general rate case application filed October 14, 2016, as discussed in this note. On October 14, 2016, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the NDPSC for an electric rate increase of approximately $13.4 million annually or 6.6 percent above current rates. The request includes rate recovery associated with increased investment in facilities, along with the related depreciation, operation and maintenance expenses and taxes associated with the increased investment. Montana-Dakota requested an interim increase of approximately $13.0 million or approximately 6.5 percent, subject to refund, to be effective within 60 days of the filing. On November 21, 2016, Montana-Dakota filed and on November 30, 2016, the NDPSC approved a revised interim increase of approximately $11.7 million, based on adjustments accepted by the NDPSC, or approximately 5.8 percent above current rates, subject to refund, effective with service rendered on or after December 13, 2016. This matter is pending the approval of the settlement agreement by the NDPSC, as previously discussed.

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