The Public Service Commission has scheduled a public hearing on MDU’s proposed electric rate request.
The utility has asked for a 12.3% rate increase. If approved, it would mean an increase of nearly $15 per month for a customer using 800 kilowatts of power per month.
"This is a substantial rate increase," said Commission Chairman Julie Fedorchak. She points out there are three interveners in the case — AARP, Wal-Mart and Marathon Oil.
"I think that speaks to the size of the increase," Fedorchak said.
Fedorchak said some of the things MDU is asking for include how to handle depreciation, as well as retirement costs, which she called "substantial."
"This one, I have a lot of questions about," Fedorchak said.
The hearing will be held May First.
In July, MDU received an interim rate increase of 8.9 percent, which raised the monthly bill by around $5.