Utilities

Bismarck, Mandan, and the surrounding communities have ready access to reliable, affordable utilities. The large reserves of lignite coal, natural gas, and oil in the Bismarck-Mandan area make North Dakota a net exporter of natural gas and electricity.

Capital Electric Cooperative, Montana-Dakota Utilities Company, and Mor-Gran-Sou Cooperative provide electric power in the Bismarck-Mandan region. Capital Electric Cooperative and Mor-Gran-Sou Cooperative purchase the bulk of their power from Basin Electric Cooperative, while Montana-Dakota Utilities Company is a net exporter of power. All are members of the Mid-Continent Area Power Pool (MAPP). Electricity supplied to the Bismarck-Mandan area is competitively priced, often with reduced industrial rates for large energy users.

Montana-Dakota Utilities Company is also the supplier of natural gas.  The average cost for industrial users is $.297dk, plus the cost of gas.  The average cost of firm contract rates is $..73/dk, plus the cost of gas, and for interruptible services rates $.485/dk, plus the cost of gas.  The 2003 average cost of gas was $3.48/dk.

The cities of Bismarck and Mandan provide water and sewer treatment services. The source of water for both communities is the Missouri River. Rated capacity for Bismarck is 30 mgd and 12 mgd for Mandan. The cost of treated water ranges from $1.60 to $2.67 per 1000 gallons. Rated sewer treatment capacity for Bismarck is 7.5 mgd and 2.2 mgd for Mandan.