PRESS RELEASE: Moorhead Public Service receives national commendation for electric restoration efforts in response to Hurricane Milton

For Immediate Release on Friday, January 3, 2025

Moorhead Public Service (MPS) has received a national commendation from the American Public Power Association for its support in electric power restoration efforts in response to Hurricane Milton.

On October 7, 2024, MPS sent four linemen to assist the communities within the Kissimmee Utility Authority and the Orlando Utilities Commission, which suffered widespread outages as a result of Hurricane Milton.

Mutual aid is at the heart of what public power does. At its core, it’s about neighbors helping neighbors—even when our neighbor is a fellow utility hundred (or thousands) of miles away. “MPS is proud to have linemen that are able to help our neighbors in need,” said General Manager Travis Schmidt.

MPS participates in the American Public Power Association’s Mutual Aid Network, which coordinates with utilities and authorities during widespread power outages.

For more information about MPS and its commitment to mutual aid, visit www.mpsutility.com or www.publicpower.org/mutualaid.

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Please contact the following individual for more information regarding this press release:

Travis L. Schmidt, General Manager

Moorhead Public Service

Phone: 218.477.8084

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Moorhead Public Service, 2901 S. Frontage Road, Suite 2, P.O. Box 779, Moorhead, MN 56561-0779 ♦ 218.477.8000, Option 4

Providing safe and reliable electricity and water to the community of Moorhead since 1895.

For information about Moorhead Public Service, visit our Web site at www.mpsutility.com.

Receive updates from Moorhead Public Service at www.twitter.com/mpsutility or www.facebook.com/mpsutility.

Moorhead Public Service (MPS) is focused on protecting the health of every household in our community, by following all provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act.  In accordance with the Lead and Copper Rule Revision under the Safe Drinking Water Act, MPS has completed and submitted our service line materials inventory to the Minnesota Department of Health.  Lead is not found in Moorhead’s source water or treated water when it leaves MPS’ drinking Water Treatment Plant. Lead in drinking water comes from lead service lines that connect the watermain to the home and household premise plumbing.

The service line inventory is publicly available, and you can check the materials for your service line by visiting the Lead Inventory Tracking Tool (LITT) by clicking this link. You may also contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To complete the service line inventory, MPS staff has been reviewing historical water distribution system maintenance data to determine which homes in Moorhead have an LSL. MPS has also completed service line inventories by performing door-to-door verifications, as well as requesting that customers complete MPS’s Lead Service Line Inventory survey that can be found by clicking this link.

As of 11/15/2024, MPS has confirmed that approximately 85 percent of all service lines are non-lead, 13 percent require further verification, and 2 percent have been verified as lead. For additional information on how to reduce exposure in drinking water please visit MPS’ website. MPS customers with a confirmed lead service line, galvanized, or service lines requiring more information, will be receiving a letter in the coming week.

Proposed 2024 Budget and Rates

Moorhead Public Service (MPS) is locally governed by a six-member board of MPS customers known as the Moorhead Public Service Commission (Commission). Each fall, the Commission has the responsibility of establishing the utility’s rates and budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Preliminary estimates indicate that rate increases for MPS customers in 2024 may be between 0 and 4 percent for electric rates and between 2 and 5 percent for water rates.

The Moorhead Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing to consider changes in electric and water rates in Moorhead. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 5:30 PM, in the Auditorium at the Hjemkomst Center, 202 First Avenue North, Moorhead, Minnesota.

For thirty (30) days subsequent to the closing of the hearing and prior to the adoption of a rate change, written testimony will be received and considered by the Commission. To be considered by the Commission, written comments should be e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or be postmarked no later than Friday, November 17, 2023, and mailed to the Moorhead Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 779, Moorhead, MN 56561‑0779. The person providing the comments must provide her/his name and address along with the comments.

A formal decision regarding MPS’ 2024 rates will be determined at the Commission’s meeting on or about
December 19, 2023.

Click on the following for information regarding Moorhead Public Service’s (MPS’) proposed 2024 budget and rates:

• Reports to the Moorhead Public Service Commission by MPS staff:
  • 08/15/2023 Review Preliminary 2024 Budget Timetable, Appoint Budget Working Group, and Set Date for Water and Electric Rate Hearings
  • 08/21/2023 Regional Residential Electric and Water Rate Comparisons
  • 10/17/2023 Accept Report #1 on the Proposed 2024 Budget
  • 10/17/2023 2024 Water Rate Hearing – PowerPoint Presentation
  • 10/17/2023 2024 Electric Rate Hearing – PowerPoint Presentation
  • 10/17/2023 Commercial/Industrial Fact Sheet – 2024 Electric and Water Rate Proposals 
  • 10/17/2023 Residential Fact Sheet – 2024 Electric and Water Rate Proposals 

Check back for updates to this information throughout the 2024 budget process.

Proposed 2023 Budget and Rates

Moorhead Public Service (MPS) is locally governed by a six-member board of MPS customers known as the Moorhead Public Service Commission (Commission). Each fall, the Commission has the responsibility of establishing the utility’s rates and budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Preliminary estimates indicate that rate increases for MPS customers in 2023 may be between 0 and 4 percent for electric rates and between 2 and 5 percent for water rates.

The Moorhead Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing to consider changes in electric and water rates in Moorhead. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at 5:30 PM, in the Auditorium at the Hjemkomst Center, 202 First Avenue North, Moorhead, Minnesota.

For thirty (30) days subsequent to the closing of the rate hearing and prior to the adoption of a rate change, written testimony shall be received and considered by the Commission. To be considered by the Commission, written comments should be postmarked no later than Saturday, November 18, 2022, and mailed to: Moorhead Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 779, Moorhead, MN 56561-0779.

A formal decision regarding MPS’ 2023 rates will be determined at the Commission’s meeting on or about December 20, 2022.

Click on the following for information regarding Moorhead Public Service’s (MPS’) proposed 2023 budget and rates:

• Reports to the Moorhead Public Service Commission by MPS staff:
  • 08/16/2022 Review Preliminary 2023 Budget Timetable, Appoint Budget Working Group, and Set Date for Water and Electric Rate Hearings
  • 08/19/2022 Regional Residential Electric and Water Rate Comparisons
  • 10/18/2022 Accept Report #1 on the Proposed 2023 Budget
  • 10/18/2022 2023 Electric Rate Hearing – PowerPoint Presentation
  • 10/18/2022 2023 Water Rate Hearing – PowerPoint Presentation
  • 10/18/2022 Residential Fact Sheet – 2023 Electric and Water Rate Proposals
  • 10/18/2022 Commercial/Industrial Fact Sheet – 2023 Electric and Water Rate Proposals
  • 12/20/2022 Approve Final 2023 Budget and Rates

Check back for updates to this information throughout the 2023 budget process.

For Immediate Release on Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Beginning on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 14th Street from 12th Avenue to 9th Avenue South in Moorhead will be closed for a watermain replacement project at the intersection of 14th Street and 10th Avenue South. This closure is anticipated to last 10 days, weather permitting.

Motorists should follow the detour route or determine an alternate route during this street closure.

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Please contact the following individual for more information regarding this press release:

Jake Long, Water Distribution Supervisor

Moorhead Public Service

Phone: 218.477.8074

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Moorhead Public Service, 500 Center Avenue, P.O. Box 779, Moorhead, MN 56561-0779 ♦ 218.477.8000, Option 4

Providing safe and reliable electricity and water to the community of Moorhead since 1895.

For information about Moorhead Public Service, visit our Web site at www.mpsutility.com.

Receive updates from Moorhead Public Service at www.twitter.com/mpsutility or www.facebook.com/mpsutility.