Just as summer is hitting and ratepayers across Northern Wyoming are burning less natural gas, the utility serving several cities and towns wants to charge more for delivering gas to homes and businesses.

Montana-Dakota Utilities has negotiated a settlement agreement that would increase natural gas rates for residential customers by 15%. The increase would result in a $2.12 million annual increase for the power company, down from the company's original $2.6 million request.

The compromise would result in an average monthly increase of $8.12 for residential customers — reduced from the initially proposed $9.80.

The Wyoming Public Service Commission will consider the settlement at a public hearing on June 24.

The utility serves approximately 20,000 customers across nine Wyoming commu

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