Local News – Monday, Nov 3
Otter Tail Power Company filed a request with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to increase electric rates for its Minnesota customers. This request initiates an 18- to 24-month review process during which the PUC evaluates the company’s costs for providing electric service and then sets rates in a manner the PUC deems reasonable for both the company providing the service and the customers who depend on it.
As part of the state regulatory process, Otter Tail Power requested PUC permission to increase rates on an interim basis beginning January 1, 2026. If the PUC approves this request, the overall interim bill increase of approximately 12.6 percent remains in place until the PUC completes its highly structured review designed to balance public interest, utility viability, and legal rigor. During this 18- to 24-month interim period, a typical residential customer’s bill would increase approximately $13.15 a month; a typical business customer’s bill would increase approximately $43.67 a month. Each customer’s interim increase will be different based on the rates they’re on and how much energy they use.
The company anticipates the PUC will make its final rate decision in the first quarter of 2027; final rates likely will not impact customers’ bills until the second or third quarter of 2027.
According to Otter Tail Power Company President Tim Rogelstad, while inflation is one of the primary drivers behind this request, customers benefit from infrastructure investments that support immediate and long-term reliability; grid resilience efforts that reduce, and potentially prevent, service disruptions; and the transition to renewable resources.
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A Saturday morning accident in Otter Tail County has led to a fatality. A Semi Tractor Trailer driven by 62-year-old John Floyd Mayfield of Perham was traveling westbound on Highway 210. A Toyota 4Runner driven by 55-year-old Sandra Marie Olson of Fergus Falls was eastbound on 210. The Toyota drifted into the westbound lane while negotiating a curve and collided head-on with the semi near Mile Marker 39 in Tordenskjold Township, resulting in the fatality of the 4Runner driver. Olson was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. The Semi driver was not injured. Assisting the State Patrol were the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, Ringdahl Ambulance, and Underwood Fire Department.
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The next Chamber Connects meeting of the Morris Area Chamber of Commerce will start at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the Regional Fitness Center, 626 East 2nd Street in Morris. The meeting offers a chance to network with other Chamber members.
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The First Lutheran Church Fall Dinner and Silent Auction will be serving from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Morris church on 200 East 5th Street. There will be dine-in, take-out and home delivery to Morris residents available. Call the church at 320-589-3242 by 3 p.m. Wednesday to arrange for delivery. Silent auction bidding instructions will be posted on the church website. Dinner menu includes ham, garlic mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, rye bread and a pumpkin roll. Tickets are $15 per meal. Packaged homemade lefse will also be for sale.
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Hancock School’s Veterans Day program will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 11 in the Gym.
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The Stevens County Board of Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday on the second floor of the Stevens County Courthouse. On the agenda: a solar update for the DAC as they consider a system that will produce 106 percent of the DAC’s energy use; a Sherburne County resolution for consideration for other counties to work to actively repeal the moratorium on nuclear power construction; and a request to approve the registration application of Vannur Vapes of Morris to sell Low Potency Hemp Edibles at their retail store.
