“A 12.5 percent rate of return is reasonable only if you feel MDU should be in the running to displace Goldman Sachs as the reining poster-child for corporate greed and arrogance.” That was one of comments made this week during a public hearing in Sheridan hosted by the Wyoming Public Service Commission.

MDU is Montana Dakota Utilities which provides power to much of northern Wyoming.

MDU originally asked the commission to approve a 31 percent hike, but has since scaled that back. 

Commission chairman Alan Minier tells affiliate KROE the process for approving or disallowing the rate hike request will be similar to that of a court trail…(Click to hear comment from Alan Minier)

Another public hearing on the proposed rate hike is scheduled in Sheridan for February 23rd.

Meanwhile, a  couple is suing MDU for negligence in a natural gas explosion that destroyed their former home in Powell more than three years ago.

The lawsuit was filed by Jared and Lynne Collins, formerly of Powell.

A spokesman for MDU Resources Group said he could not comment on the suit until the company had more time to review it.

The lawsuit says the explosion occurred on Oct. 26, 2006, after a MDU employee restored natural gas service to the home and relit the furnace.

No one was in the home at the time, and the home was later demolished.

The Collinses are seeking damages for losses and other costs in an amount to be determined at a jury trial.