08/29/2026
Did you see the recent temporary increase just approved on electric and it may be set to a permanent higher rate?
Starting September 1, Montana-Dakota Utilities customers will see a temporary electric rate increase approved by the North Dakota Public Service Commission. For the average residential customer, that’s approximately $13 more per month, or about $156 a year and before anyone says, “It’s only $13,” remember that $13 can mean very different things to different households. For a family already choosing between groceries, childcare, gas, medication, rent and utilities, another $13 every month matters.
There’s another important piece: MDU has requested a much larger permanent rate increase of approximately 14%. That 14% has NOT been permanently approved. The PSC will conduct a full regulatory review, which is expected to continue into 2027. The temporary increase is essentially in place while that review happens.
So what does this mean for North Dakota?
It means we need to pay attention to what happens next. We should be asking what costs MDU is asking customers to absorb, what the PSC determines is reasonable, and what the final permanent rate will actually look like and if you’re already struggling with your energy bill, please don’t assume there isn’t help available.
North Dakota’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help eligible households with energy costs, including electricity. It can also provide weatherization assistance, furnace cleaning/repair/replacement and certain emergency assistance. Both renters and homeowners can apply, and LIHEAP applications are now accepted year-round.
https://www.hhs.nd.gov/applyforhelp/liheap
For the current 2025-2026 eligibility period, a household of 1 can have monthly income up to $3,378, a household of 2 up to $4,418, and a household of 4 up to $6,497, although allowable deductions and other eligibility factors can affect the determination.
You can apply through North Dakota Health and Human Services’ Apply for Help portal, which also lets you check for other assistance programs such as SNAP and Medicaid.
Don’t wait until your power is about to be shut off to ask for help. If this increase is going to put your household in a difficult position, look into LIHEAP now and for everyone else: this is something worth watching. A temporary increase is not necessarily the final rate. The regulatory review matters, and so does public participation.
$13 a month might not break everyone’s budget but for some North Dakota families, it absolutely can.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HAVE YOUR CONCERNS HEARD?
1. Submit a public comment to the PSC. This is probably the easiest place to start. The PSC has an online system where the public can comment on an existing case. You can also contact the Commission directly (https://www.psc.nd.gov/home).
2. Reference the actual case number: PU-26-241. That makes your comment much more useful than simply saying, “I don’t like MDU’s rate increase.”( https://apps.psc.nd.gov/cases/pscasesearch?utm_source=chatgpt.com #)
3. Ask specific questions. This is where I think advocacy can become much more powerful.
Instead of simply saying “Don’t raise our rates,” ask the PSC to examine:
* What specifically is driving MDU’s requested 14.5% increase?
* Which expenses are increasing?
* Which costs have already been recovered through other rate mechanisms?
* What return on equity is MDU requesting?
* Are all proposed capital investments necessary and “used and useful” for North Dakota customers?
* What alternatives did MDU consider before requesting the increase?
* How would the proposed increase affect low-income, elderly and fixed-income customers?
* Could the permanent increase ultimately be lower than what MDU requested?
* What consumer protections or assistance should accompany the increase?
And these aren’t random questions. In previous MDU rate proceedings, the PSC examined issues including the value of utility property, the company’s rate of return, what constitutes a reasonable rate of return, and whether rates are just and reasonable.
4. Get other people involved. One person’s story is easy to overlook but 100 North Dakota customers submitting thoughtful comments about the same concern is much harder to ignore. You could encourage people to submit comments individually rather than copying and pasting the exact same message.
5. Attend or participate in public hearings. The PSC has historically held public-input sessions where customers could speak directly to commissioners, including in-person, telephone and virtual participation. Those public-input sessions aren’t the same thing as the formal technical hearing, but the PSC has said commissioners use the information gathered to identify issues requiring further investigation.
I am not opposed to the increase, I would just like to understand its purpose better.
My utilities are tied into my rent, living on the military base, I am uncertain how this will affect us AND I know this will affect hundreds of thousand of people.
Use your voice, it matters.
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