The Basin Board of Directors is slated to take a final vote on the 2026 rates at its September or October meetings. That plan would amount to approximately a 9.8% increase in the cost of power from its member cooperatives. This is a $7 to $10 increase per month on average residential usage. This will vary based on individual usage. These estimates are preliminary, however, and are subject to change.
Basin has cited a variety of reasons for seeking the additional revenue. The primary reason is the Bismarck-based power generator is raising capital to build new generation stations in its service territory. These stations are needed to supply adequate power for the growing appetite for electricity in the central United States.
Secondarily, Basin is required to provide adequate power generation resources to satisfy regional grid stability requirements. In times of maximum demand, Basin must literally overbuild infrastructure to meet the highest possible demand.
Basin is also faced with increasing costs to build generation and transmission facilities. For instance, the Dry Fork Station in Gillette was constructed at a cost of $800 per megawatt produced. Today, generation facilities are running about $2,800 per megawatt.
PRECorp officials recognize these challenges Basin is confronting, but is advocating for a softer impact on its members.
Some of the softening strategies include the predictable distribution of Basin capital credits to cooperatives, which would alleviate the pressure at the local level. Additionally, PRECorp is calculating a cost of power adjustment for 2026. This adjustment would compensate members for actual power costs in 2025.
Details and specific numbers remain under review.
PRECorp CEO Brian Mills hosted a telephone town hall meeting August 27 for members.
Another town hall is set for Thursday, November 20, at 6:30 p.m. to offer additional details.