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Regulatory matters
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 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.
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. On October 26, 2020, the MNPUC issued a final order authorizing an annual increase in revenues of approximately $2.6 million or approximately 11.5 percent. Great Plains shall submit compliance filings within 30 days of the order.
MTPSC
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 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. On October 28, 2020, the NDPSC approved the increase with rates effective November 1, 2020. Due to COVID-19, the NDPSC extended the recovery period of the under-recovered balance of approximately $1.6 million to two years, which was included in the total increase.
On August 26, 2020, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the NDPSC for a natural gas rate increase of approximately $9.0 million annually or approximately 7.8 percent above current rates. The requested increase was primarily to recover investments in facilities to enhance system safety and reliability and the depreciation and taxes associated with the increase in investment. Montana-Dakota also requested an interim increase of approximately $6.9 million or approximately 6.0 percent, subject to refund, to be effective January 1, 2021. 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. On October 20, 2020, the OPUC approved this request.
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. On September 30, 2020, Cascade filed a settlement agreement with the OPUC reflecting an annual increase in revenues of approximately $3.2 million or approximately 4.8 percent. This filing includes a proposed effective date of February 1, 2021. 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. On August 19, 2020, the SDPUC approved this request with an accounting order to track expenses and revenues related to the COVID-19 pandemic beginning on March 13, 2020.
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. On October 14, 2020, Cascade filed an update requesting an increase in annual revenue of approximately $1.1 million or approximately 0.5 percent, which reflects actual costs as of September 30, 2020. On October 29, 2020, the filing was approved with rates effective November 1, 2020.
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.
FERC
On September 1, 2020, Montana-Dakota filed an update to its transmission formula rate under the MISO tariff for its multi-value project for $12.9 million, which is effective January 1, 2021.