By Dave Thompson

BISMARCK, N.D. (Prairie Public Radio) – Otter Tail Power Company’s North Dakota customers will see an extra charge on their power bills starting in July.

The Public Service Commission has approved a “Generation Resource Cost Recovery Rider,” for the Astoria Station natural gas plant in South Dakota. PSC chairman Brian Kroshus says for an Otter Tail customer using 1000 megawatts of natural gas per month, the rider will cost $2.70.

Kroshus says the natural gas plant will help replace the aging Hoot Lake plant in Fergus Falls, Minnesota – which is coal fired.

The cost to build the Astoria station is $158 million.