Dakota Electric plans to file a rate case with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) seeking permission to increase overall electric utility revenue by about 4.3%.

Review process
The Minnesota Department of Commerce – Division of Energy Resources and the MPUC will review Dakota Electric’s rate filing and examine our records.

Interim rates
State law allows us to collect higher rates on an interim basis while our rate filing is reviewed. If the MPUC approves our request for a 3.0% interim increase, the additional charge will apply to electricity use beginning in November, for which members will begin receiving bills in December.

The interim increase will remain in effect until the MPUC determines final rates. If the approved overall total increase is lower than interim rates, we will refund members the difference with interest. If the overall total increase is higher, we will not charge members the difference.

The monthly bill for a typical residential member using 700 kilowatt-hours of electricity will increase about $2.85 as a result of the proposed interim increase, which will appear on bills as “Interim Rate Adjustment.”

For residential and small general service members, the interim adjustment applies to the monthly fixed charge, energy charge and resource and tax adjustment. The interim adjustment also applies to the demand charge for commercial members.

Member involvement
Members may comment on the proposed final increases at public hearings that will be scheduled by an administrative law judge from the MPUC. Dakota Electric will provide details about the hearings in local newspapers, a bill insert and on our website. Members may also provide written comments about the rate increase to the MPUC. Instructions for written submissions will appear in a future bill insert and on our website.