Operating Costs

Utility Costs

Bring your business to North Dakota and you will access some of the most affordable utilities in the United States.  This is due to an abundant supply of coal, oil and other natural resources.

The cost and availability of energy are key factors in industrial location decisions.  Our extension reserves of untapped coal and natural gas guarantee power will be delivered to North Dakota business and industry now and far into the future.  In addition, North Dakota ranks ninth among states for daily production of crude oil with 3,072 wells capable of producing oil.

During 2003, 57.89 billion cubic feet of natural gas was produced and 58.48 billion cubic feet of natural gas was processed in North Dakota.  Nearly 85,000 barrels of oil per day were produced in 2004, totaling nearly 31 million barrels for the year.

Electric Costs

According to the Energy Information Administration, the average retail price of electricity to industrial users in North Dakota was 4.42 cents per kilowatt hour as compared to 5.57 for the U.S. year to date through December of 2005.

Natural Gas Costs

According to to the Energy Information Administration, the price for industrial natural gas was $5.70/thousand cubic feet in 2004.