Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
The North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold public input sessions on April 3 and 5 regarding a request from Otter Tail Power Company to increase its rates for electric service, and for the first time will offer the opportunity to participate from home using web conferencing.
Public input sessions will be held on two separate days. The first session will be held Tuesday, April 3, at 5 p.m. central time via interactive television from locations across the state.
The second session will be held on Thursday, April 5, at noon central time using a web conferencing system. The system will allow anyone interested in participating to join from anywhere they have a computer with a camera and Internet access. There will also be an option to join by telephone.
The proposed increase is for $13.14 million annually over current rates, or an 8.7 percent overall increase. If approved, rates would increase for residential customers by an average of about $11.50 a month and by approximately $22 a month for businesses.
During the sessions, officials from Otter Tail will provide a presentation and give those attending a chance to ask questions about the proposal. Public input sessions are not considered part of the formal technical hearing, but the PSC Commissioners will be attending and using the information gathered at the sessions to identify areas of concern that may require further investigation during the formal technical hearing, which is currently scheduled for July 11.
The PSC is a constitutionally created state agency with authority to permit, site and regulate electric and gas utilities, telecommunications companies, power plants, electric transmission lines, pipelines, railroads, grain elevators, auctioneers, commercial weighing devices, pipeline safety and coal mine reclamation. For more information, contact the Public Service Commission at (701) 328-2400 or http://www.psc.nd.gov.
