MDU Resources Announces Five-Year Capital Investment Plan

Rhea-AI Summary

MDU Resources Group (NYSE: MDU) has announced a capital investment plan of $3.0 billion for 2022-2026. This initiative aims to foster organic growth through infrastructure improvements and enhance grid reliability. Key projects include the construction of the Heskett Station Unit IV and various pipeline expansions to boost capacity. The company anticipates a 5% annual growth in its utility rate base. MDU also aims to capitalize on public infrastructure spending through construction materials and services, supported by recent federal funding initiatives.

Positive

• Capital investment plan of $3.0 billion for 2022-2026.
• Focus on infrastructure development enhancing grid reliability.
• Expected 5% annual growth in utility rate base.
• Strategic projects like Heskett Station Unit IV.

Negative

• None.

BISMARCK, N.D., Nov. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE: MDU) today announced that it plans to make capital investments totaling $3.0 billion for the five-year period from 2022-26.

"Our capital investment plan supports the significant opportunities we see for organic growth at all our businesses, particularly a focus on infrastructure development and grid reliability and resiliency," said David L. Goodin, president and CEO of MDU Resources.

Acquisitions would be incremental to the company's 2022-26 outlined capital investment plan. The company will provide updates as it identifies opportunities outside the plan.

Capital Expenditures
	Forecast												Actual  + 2021 Forecast			Forecast
	2021			2022			2023			2024			2017-2021			2022-2026
	(in millions)
Regulated energy delivery
Electric	$	93		$	165		$	116		$	85		$	603		$	551
Natural gas distribution	179			248			232			207			931			1,033
Pipeline	246			72			159			106			481			413
	518			485			507			398			2,015			1,997
Construction materials and services
Construction materials and contracting	428			189			166			172			1,134			807
Construction services	46			47			42			43			234			221
	474			236			208			215			1,368			1,028
Total*	$	992		$	721		$	715		$	613		$	3,383		$	3,025
* Excludes "Other" category, as well as assumed net proceeds from the sale or disposition of property.

MDU Resources continues to make substantial investments in its utility operations. The outlined capital investment plan includes meeting service needs related to customer growth as well as replacing, expanding and modernizing infrastructure within the electric and natural gas distribution systems. These infrastructure investments will ensure the reliability and safety of the company's systems and support continued customer growth and subsequent demand increases. The plan includes construction of the previously announced Heskett Station Unit IV, an 88-megawatt simple-cycle, natural gas-fired combustion turbine near Mandan, North Dakota, to replace the company's Heskett Station Units I and II, which are coal fired electric generation facilities being retired in early 2022. Utility operations cross eight states where customer growth is expected to continue at a rate of 1-2% annually. The company anticipates its electric and natural gas utilities will grow rate base by approximately 5% annually over the next five years on a compound basis.

Capital investments at the pipeline business reflect organic growth projects and include the previously announced North Bakken Expansion project, which will be placed in service in early 2022, and the Wahpeton Expansion project planned for 2024. These projects, as designed, will bring pipeline system capacity to over 2.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day and will help reduce natural gas flaring in the Bakken while allowing producers to move more gas to market. This business is focused on growth through additional system expansions and potential industrial-related projects.

At the company's construction materials and services businesses, capital expenditures will be focused primarily on organic expansion opportunities and normal equipment and plant replacements and upgrades. Included in the forecast is the construction of a prestress concrete plant in Spokane, Washington, continued development of the company's Honey Creek Quarry in Texas and completion of the company's training facility in Oregon. The company expects public sector workload growth from infrastructure spending initiatives. The American Rescue Plan Act, approved in early 2021, provides $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 relief funding for states and local governments, with investments to include transportation enhancements, technology-based facility buildout and telecommunications infrastructure. Additionally, the company expects the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide significant opportunities for both construction materials and services companies through much-needed investment in America's infrastructure. The construction businesses also are focused on growth through mergers and acquisitions, with any future acquisitions being incremental to the outlined capital forecast.

The capital program is subject to continued review and modification by the company. Actual expenditures may vary from the estimates due to changes in load growth and regulatory decisions, future acquisitions, and other factors.

Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements contained in this release, including capital expenditure forecasts, underlying expectations, and statements by the president and CEO of MDU Resources, are expressed in good faith and are believed by the company to have a reasonable basis. Nonetheless, actual results may differ materially from the projected results expressed in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, refer to Item 1A-Risk Factors in MDU Resources' most recent Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC.

About MDU Resources
MDU Resources Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P MidCap 400 and the S&P High-Yield Dividend Aristocrats indices, is Building a Strong America® by providing essential products and services through its regulated energy delivery and construction materials and services businesses. For more information about MDU Resources, visit www.mdu.com or contact the Investor Relations Department at investor@mduresources.com.

Financial Contact: Jason Vollmer, vice president and chief financial officer, 701-530-1755
Media Contact: Laura Lueder, manager of communications and public relations, 701-530-1095

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SOURCE MDU Resources Group, Inc.

FAQ

What is MDU's capital investment plan for 2022-2026?

MDU Resources plans a capital investment of $3.0 billion for 2022-2026.

How much is MDU expecting its utility rate base to grow annually?

MDU anticipates a 5% annual growth in its utility rate base over the next five years.

What major projects are included in MDU's investment plan?

Key projects include the construction of Heskett Station Unit IV and various pipeline expansions.

How is MDU planning to leverage federal funding?

MDU aims to benefit from public sector workload growth due to infrastructure spending initiatives.