Minnesota regulators approve 4.25% rate increase for Dakota Electric

It is less than the cooperative sought, its first since 2015.

June 19, 2020 at 10:09PM
Power lines in Apple Valley.
Power lines in Apple Valley. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Minnesota utility regulators have unanimously approved an $8.5 million, or 4.25%, rate increase for Dakota Electric Association, just short of what the cooperative was seeking.

Dakota Electric, which has 108,000 customers, had asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for a rate increase of $8.7 million.

The PUC Thursday essentially adopted the rate increase approved by an administrative law judge. Such judges are often appointed to rate cases and other contested issues before the PUC.

Dakota Electric's last rate increase was in 2015.

Dakota Electric — which also has customers in parts of Scott, Rice and Goodhue counties — is the only Minnesota retail electric cooperative whose rates are subject to PUC approval.

Dakota purchases electricity from Great River Energy, a wholesale power cooperative based in Maple Grove.

Mike Hughlett • 612-673-7003

about the writer

about the writer

Mike Hughlett

Reporter

Mike Hughlett covers energy and other topics for the Minnesota Star Tribune, where he has worked since 2010. Before that he was a reporter at newspapers in Chicago, St. Paul, New Orleans and Duluth.

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