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Regulatory matters
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Regulated Operations [Abstract]  
Regulatory matters Regulatory matters
The Company regularly reviews the need for electric and natural gas rate changes in each of the jurisdictions in which service is provided. The Company files for rate adjustments to seek recovery of operating costs and capital investments, as well as reasonable returns as allowed by regulators. Certain regulatory proceedings and cases may also contain recurring mechanisms that can have an annual true-up. Examples of these recurring mechanisms include: infrastructure riders, transmission trackers, renewable resource cost adjustment riders, as well as weather normalization and decoupling mechanisms. The following paragraphs summarize the Company's significant regulatory proceedings and cases by jurisdiction, including the status of each open request, as well as updates to those reported in the 2019 Annual Report. The Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, the timing of final decisions of the various regulators and courts, or the effect on the Company's results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
MNPUC
On September 27, 2019, Great Plains filed an application with the MNPUC for a natural gas rate increase of approximately $2.9 million annually or approximately 12.0 percent above current rates. The requested increase was primarily to recover investments in facilities to enhance safety and reliability and the depreciation and taxes associated with the increase in investment. On November 22, 2019, Great Plains received approval to implement an interim rate increase of approximately $2.6 million or approximately 11.0 percent, subject to refund, effective January 1, 2020. This matter is pending before the MNPUC.
On April 20, 2020, Great Plains filed a request with the MNPUC to use deferred accounting for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This matter is pending before the MNPUC.
MTPSC
On November 1, 2019, Montana-Dakota submitted an application with the MTPSC requesting the use of deferred accounting for the treatment of costs related to the retirement of Lewis & Clark Station in Sidney, Montana, and Units 1 and 2 at Heskett Station near Mandan, North Dakota. This matter is pending before the MTPSC.
NDPSC
On August 28, 2019, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the NDPSC for an advanced determination of prudence and a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct, own and operate Heskett Unit 4, an 88-MW simple-cycle natural gas-fired combustion turbine peaking unit at the existing Heskett Station near Mandan, North Dakota.
On September 16, 2019, Montana-Dakota submitted an application with the NDPSC requesting the use of deferred accounting for the treatment of costs related to the retirement of Lewis & Clark Station in Sidney, Montana, and Units 1 and 2 at Heskett Station near Mandan, North Dakota.
On April 2, 2020, a combined settlement, for the previously discussed matters, was filed with the NDPSC. The settlement recommended approval of the advanced determination of prudence and deferred accounting. A consolidated hearing was held on April 30, 2020. This matter is pending before the NDPSC.
On April 24, 2020, Montana-Dakota filed a request with the NDPSC to use deferred accounting for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This matter is pending before the NDPSC.
OPUC
On March 26, 2020, Cascade filed a request with the OPUC to use deferred accounting for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This matter is pending before the OPUC.
On March 31, 2020, Cascade filed a general rate case with the OPUC requesting an increase in annual revenue of approximately $4.9 million or approximately 7.2 percent, which included a request for an additional recovery of environmental remediation deferred costs of approximately $364,000. This matter is pending before the OPUC.
SDPUC
Montana-Dakota has a transmission cost recovery rider that allows annual updates to rates for actual costs for transmission-related projects and services. On February 28, 2020, Montana-Dakota filed a change to its transmission cost recovery rates to reflect projected charges for 2020 assessed to Montana-Dakota for transmission-related services provided by MISO and Southwest Power Pool, along with the projected transmission service revenues or credits received for the same time period. Montana-Dakota also requested recovery of two transmission capital projects. Total revenues of approximately $764,000, which reflects a true-up of the prior period adjustment, were requested resulting in a decrease in current rates of approximately $15,000 or approximately 1.9 percent. Also included was approximately $87,000 related to transmission capital projects. On April 20, 2020, the SDPUC approved the rates as requested with an effective date of May 1, 2020.
Montana-Dakota has an infrastructure rider rate tariff that allows for annual adjustments for recent projected capital costs and related expenses for projects determined to be recoverable under the electric tariff. On February 28, 2020, Montana-Dakota filed an annual update to its infrastructure rider requesting to recover a revenue requirement of approximately $1.3 million annually, which includes the prior period true-up adjustment, resulting in an increase of approximately $242,000 from revenues currently included in rates effective July 1, 2019. On April 29, 2020, the SDPUC approved the rates as requested with an effective date of May 1, 2020.
On May 1, 2020, Montana-Dakota filed a request with the SDPUC to use deferred accounting for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This matter is pending before the SDPUC.
WYPSC
On May 23, 2019, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the WYPSC for a natural gas rate increase of approximately $1.1 million annually or approximately 7.0 percent above current rates. The requested increase was to recover increased operating expenses and investments in distribution facilities to improve system safety and reliability. On December 17, 2019, Montana-Dakota filed a settlement agreement with the WYPSC reflecting an annual increase in revenues of approximately $830,000 or approximately 5.5 percent. On January 15, 2020, the WYPSC approved the settlement agreement with rates effective on March 1, 2020.