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Regulatory matters
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 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.
IPUC
On May 4, 2020, Intermountain filed a request with the IPUC for authority to facilitate access for RNG producers to its distribution system to move RNG to the producers' buyers. Intermountain has executed contracts with three RNG producers to facilitate such access. Intermountain intends to completely insulate utility customers from all potential impacts of RNG production. If any startup or extraordinary expenses are incurred, the RNG producer will be billed for the actual expenses that are incurred. Additionally, Intermountain will be collecting an access fee that will be recorded as non-utility revenue. On June 12, 2020, the IPUC issued an accounting order approving this request.
On May 12, 2020, Intermountain filed a request with the IPUC to use deferred accounting for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 7, 2020, the IPUC approved this request with an accounting order to track expenses and revenues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This order had an immediate effective date.
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. On May 22, 2020, the MNPUC approved this request with an accounting order to track expenses and revenues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This order had an immediate effective date.
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. On June 18, 2020, the MTPSC approved this request with an accounting order to allow Montana-Dakota to defer costs related to the retirement of the plants with an immediate effective date.
On May 8, 2020, Montana-Dakota filed a request with the MTPSC to use deferred accounting for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This matter is pending before the MTPSC.
On June 22, 2020, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the MTPSC for a natural gas rate increase of approximately $8.6 million annually or approximately 13.4 percent above current rates. The requested increase was primarily to recover investments in facilities that were made to enhance system safety and reliability, as well as the depreciation, taxes and operation and maintenance costs associated with this increase in investment. The Company requested an interim rate increase of approximately $4.9 million or approximately 8.2 percent, subject to refund, to be effective February 1, 2021. 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. On July 23, 2020, a modified settlement agreement adjusting the amortization period of deferred costs was filed with the NDPSC. On August 5, 2020, the NDPSC approved the combined settlement.
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.
On July 17, 2020, Montana-Dakota filed an annual update to its transmission cost adjustment rider with the NDPSC requesting to recover revenues of approximately $15.5 million, which includes a true-up of the prior period adjustment, resulting in an increase of approximately $6.3 million over current rates. This filing includes approximately $3.3 million related to transmission capital projects. 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 natural gas 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
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.
WUTC
On May 27, 2020, Cascade filed a request with the WUTC to use deferred accounting for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This matter is pending before the WUTC.
On May 29, 2020, Cascade filed its annual pipeline cost recovery mechanism requesting an increase in annual revenue of approximately $1.0 million or approximately 0.4 percent. The filing includes a proposed effective date of November 1, 2020. This matter is pending before the WUTC.
On June 19, 2020, Cascade filed an application with the WUTC for a natural gas rate increase of approximately $13.8 million annually or approximately 5.3 percent above current rates. The WUTC has 11 months to render a final decision on the rate case. The requested increase was primarily to recover investments made in infrastructure upgrades, as well as increased operation and maintenance costs. This matter is pending before the WUTC.
WYPSC
On May 14, 2020, Montana-Dakota filed separate requests for its electric and natural gas services with the WYPSC to use deferred accounting for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 1, 2020, the WYPSC approved these requests with an accounting order to track expenses and revenues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This order had an immediate effective date.