MDU Applies for Authority to Implement Tracking Adjustment

On November 23, MDU applied for Authority to Implement a Tracking Adjustment for Montana State and Local Taxes and Fees for Tariff Rates 56 and 87.

According to the Notice of Application and Intervention Deadline put out by the Department of Public Service Regulation, MDU claims that they need the adjustment to reflect an approximately 7.10% increase in Montana state and local taxes and fees for its electric operations and an 11.19% increase in the same taxes and fees for its natural gas operations. They also want to true-up their actual tax recovery for 2021. If the application is approved, the net effect of MDU’s request will increase revenue collected from electric service by $954,348 and decrease revenue collected from gas service by $473.869. A copy of the filing is available to the public at the Commission’s offices at 1701 Prospect Avenue, P.O. Box 202601, Helena, Montana 59620-2601, and online at the Commission’s website https://psc.mt.gov under Docket No. 2022.10.092. A copy of the filing may also be available at the office of the Montana Consumer Counsel or MCC, which represents consumer interests before the Commission, 111 North Last Chance Gulch, Suite 1B, Helena, MT 59601, 406-444-2771.

Anyone directly affected by the application who desires to be a party in this proceeding must petition to intervene no later than December 13. To give time for due process: data requests can be issued no later than December 20, 2022; MDU must respond to data requests within five business days of service (excluding state-recognized holidays) or by December 27, 2022, whichever is earlier; parties wishing to submit comments or request a hearing must do so no later than January 3, 2023; and the commission may hold a public hearing, if requested by an intervenor or upon its own action, at the Commission’s offices. If the Commission does not issue an order by January 9, 2023, the rates will be considered approved. Those wishing to intervene must file an electronic petition on the Commission’s website at http://eddi.mt.gov. All filings must be made in EDDI, hard copies are not required. They must also mail a copy of the petition to MCC at the address stated above, and to MDU’s attorney, Michael W. Green, Crowley Fleck PLLP, 900 N. Last Chance Gulch, Suite 200, Helena, MT 59601.

Those who do not wish to formally intervene may submit written public comments on the matter to the Commission at their office in Helena, through the Commission’s website at http://psc.mt.gov (select “Documents & Proceedings” tab; select “Comment on a Proceeding”; select “Continue as Guest”; complete form; select “Submit”), or by email to [email protected].