WASHINGTON (KFGO) – An administrative law judge has ruled that Bismarck-based Basin Electric Cooperative should return $471 million to its customers.
The ruling from a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission administrative law judge says Basin should not have included costs from the cooperative’s non-utility coal gasification plant near Beulah in its electric rates. Basin says it’s studying the initial decision and they are avenues for appeal.
Judge (Scott) Hempling issued his initial decision for our Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proceeding. We are still evaluating the decision, but there are a number of findings that are contrary to the positions we made in the case. Discussing an active proceeding in front of FERC is a delicate matter, but we will continue to aggressively defend our collective interests in the proceeding as this moves to the full FERC commission, said Andy Buntrock, a spokesman for Basin Electric.
“This is one step in a long process and Basin Electric Power Cooperative remains committed to the cooperative principles and serving our members,” Buntrock added.
Basin was not under federal oversight until 2019 when two of its members came under FERC jurisdiction.
The wholesale power supplier sells electricity to utilities in nine states, including North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, serving about 3 million customers.
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