Montana PSC Schedules MDU Public Listening Session April 18

The Montana Public Service Commission will hold a public listening session on Montana-Dakota utilities Co.'s 2021 Biennial Electric Integrated Resource Plan in Sidney, on April 18 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Richland County Extension meeting room.

In general MDU's IRP indicates that the least-cost electricity for MDU customers will result from retiring Lewis & Clark 1 on March 31, 2021, Heskett I and 2 by March 31, 2022, relying on energy supply contracts and MISO market purchases through May 31, 2026, and building an 88 MW natural gas-fired simple cycle combustion turbine in 2023. MDU will also issue a request for proposals for supply and demand-side resources prior to the next IRP in 2023.

According to Zack Rogala, PSC's attorney, "Every two years, the Commission requires regulated electric utilities in Montana to comprehensively analyze their operations to facilitate the most reliable and cost-effect energy resources to meet customer demand. MDU's IRP centers on four main areas: load forecasting, demand-side analysis, supply-side analysis, and integration and risk analysis. This plan includes a 20-year planning horizon, in this case, including years 2021-2040. MDU projects an average growth rate for summer peak demand of 0.93%, and energy requirements are expected to increase at a rate of 0.84%.

Copies of MDU's four volume IRP can be found at various public libraries throughout MDU's service territory, including: Miles City, Scobey, Glendive, Baker, Terry, Sidney, Wolf Point, Forsyth, Plentywood, and Wibaux. Copies of the IRP are also available at Rocky Mountain College, Yellowstone Baptist College, Little Big Horn College, Fort Peck Community College, Dawson Community College, Miles Community College, and Montana State University-Billings. The IRP is also available electronically on the Commission's website at http://www.psc.mt.gov, under docket number 2021.09.117.

Anyone needing accommodation for a physical hearing or sight impairment in order to attend or participate in the listening session, should contact the Commission at (406)444-6170 at least one week prior to the meeting. The Commission will make every effort to assist in accommodations for individual impairments.