ND Xcel gas customers to see high bills in July

Xcel Energy natural gas customers in North Dakota will see an increase in their monthly bills starting in July.

That’s a “pass-through” cost of the natural gas, brought on by the cold snap in Texas, which caused price spikes.

The impact to the consumer is about $200, spread out over 15 months. That was the compromise reached by the North Dakota Public Service Commission, after a “work session” on the issue.

North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Brian Kroshus says they opted to start in July for a couple of reasons.  “Starting in July we can spread those costs out over a longer period of time and July is not a high cost month for heating a home.”

The charge will be in effect through September, 2022. The PSC still has to formally approve the plan. And the Commission will hold a special meeting on it next week.

MDU started collecting the cost in June. MDU Spokesman Mark Hanson says the average MDU customer is seeing a $3.87 per month charge on the bill through December, and from January through September, that will go up to $4.48 per month.

NDPPR/KNOX