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MDU RESOURCES GROUP INC (MDU) Business

Verbatim Item 1 Business section from MDU RESOURCES GROUP INC's latest 10-K. Filing date: 2026-02-20. Accession: 0000067716-26-000014.

This page reproduces the company's own Item 1 Business text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.

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Extracted from Item 1 Business to the first Item 1A/1B/1C/2 boundary after HTML sanitization. Confidence: high. Source form: 10-K. Character span: 77155-124861.

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Item 1. Business

General

The Company is a pure-play regulated energy delivery business. Its principal executive offices are located at 1200 West Century Avenue, P.O. Box 5650, Bismarck, North Dakota 58506-5650, telephone (701) 530-1000.

Montana-Dakota was incorporated under the state laws of Delaware in 1924. The Company was incorporated under the state laws of Delaware in 2018. Upon the completion of the Holding Company Reorganization, Montana-Dakota became a subsidiary of the Company. The Company adopted a new mission statement in early 2025, "With integrity, deliver value as a leading energy provider and employer of choice."

Through a strategy focusing on its "CORE," the Company strives to deliver superior value and achieve industry-leading performance as a pure-play regulated energy delivery company, while pursuing organic growth opportunities. The Company's "CORE" strategy prioritizes customers and communities, operational excellence, returns focused initiatives and an employee driven culture. The Company generates, transmits and distributes electricity and provides natural gas distribution, transportation and storage services. These businesses are regulated by state public service commissions and/or the FERC.

As part of the Company's continual review of its business, the Company announced strategic initiatives to enhance stockholder value. On May 31, 2023, the Company executed the separation of Knife River, the construction materials and contracting business, from the Company, resulting in Knife River becoming an independent, publicly-traded company. On October 31, 2024, the Company completed the separation of Everus, the construction services business, from the Company, resulting in Everus becoming an independent, publicly-traded company.

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As of December 31, 2025, the Company was organized into three reportable business segments. These business segments include: electric, natural gas distribution and pipeline. The Company's business segments are determined based on the Company's method of internal reporting, which generally segregates the business activities by differences in products and services. The internal reporting of these segments is defined based on the reporting and review process used by the Company's chief executive officer.

The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, MDU Energy Capital, owns Montana-Dakota, Cascade and Intermountain. The electric segment is comprised of Montana-Dakota while the natural gas distribution segment is comprised of Montana-Dakota, Cascade and Intermountain.

The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Centennial, owns WBI Energy and Centennial Capital. WBI Energy is the pipeline segment and Centennial Capital is reflected in the Other category.

The financial results and data applicable to each of the Company's business segments, as well as their financing requirements, are set forth in Item 7 - MD&A and Item 8 - Note 14.

The Company's material properties, which are of varying ages and are of different construction types, are generally in good condition, are well maintained and are generally suitable and adequate for the purposes for which they are used.

Human Capital Management An employee driven culture is part of the Company's "CORE" strategy, which means striving to be an employer of choice. It begins with employee feedback on continuous improvement and fosters an inclusive and respectful culture. It also includes driving employee safety through proactive safety management systems. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had 2,096 employees.

Many of the Company's employees are represented by collective-bargaining agreements and the Company is committed to establishing constructive dialogue with this representation and bargaining in good faith. The majority of the collective-bargaining agreements contain provisions that prohibit work stoppages or strikes and provide dispute resolution through binding arbitration in the event of an extended disagreement.

The following information about the Company's collective-bargaining agreements is as of December 31, 2025.

CompanyCollective-bargaining agreementNumber of employees representedAgreement status
Montana-DakotaIBEW323Effective through April 30, 2026
IntermountainUA167Three agreements effective through October 31, 2026, January 31, 2027, and January 31, 2027.
CascadeICWU179Effective through March 31, 2028
WBI Energy TransmissionIBEW76Effective through April 30, 2027
Total745

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Respectful Workplace The Company is committed to an environment that respects the differences and embraces the strengths of its employees. Essential to the Company's success is its ability to attract, retain and engage the best people from a broad range of backgrounds and build an inclusive culture where all employees feel valued and contribute their best. The Company requires employees to participate in its Leading with Integrity Policy which provides training on the Company's code of conduct.

The Company's goals related to a respectful workplace include:

•Enhance collaboration efforts through cooperation and sharing of best practices to create new ways of meeting employee, customer and stockholder needs.

•Increase productivity and profitability through the creation of a work environment which values all perspectives and methods of accomplishing work.

The Company also promotes recognition of employees through the following awards:

Building People Being employee driven begins with employee recruitment. The Company hires employees that have the skills, abilities and motivation to achieve the results needed for their jobs. Each job is important and part of a coordinated team effort to accomplish the organization's objectives. The Company uses a variety of means to recruit new employees for open positions including posting on the Company's website. Other sources for employee recruitment include employee referrals, union workforce, direct recruitment, advertising, social media, career fairs, partnerships with colleges and technical schools, job service organizations and associations connected with a variety of professions. The Company also uses internship programs to introduce individuals to the Company's business operations and provide a possible source of future employees.

Being employee driven also requires developing employees in their current positions and for future advancement. The Company provides opportunities for advancement through job mobility, succession planning and promotions both within and between business segments. The Company requires employees included in the succession planning process to participate in and further develop their skills for potential advancement in the future. Succession planning is performed across the organization for all levels of leadership. The Company provides employees the opportunity to further develop and grow through various forms of training, mentorship programs and internship programs, among other things.

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To attract and retain employees, the Company offers:

The chief executive officer engages in employee tours at Company locations and the Company conducts employee surveys to hear and gauge employee opinions on issues such as integrity, safety, respect, excellence and stewardship. Survey responses are compiled and evaluated at various levels throughout the Company to develop action plans to address areas of concern raised by employees.

Safety Safety is one of the Company's corporate values. The Company is committed to safety and health in the workplace. To ensure safe work environments, the Company provides training, resources and appropriate follow-up on any unsafe conditions or actions. To facilitate a strong safety culture, the Company established its Safety Leadership Council. In addition to the Safety Leadership Council, the Company has policies and training that support safety in the workplace including training on safety matters through classroom and toolbox meetings on job sites. The Company utilizes safety compliance in the evaluation of employees, which includes management, and recognizes employee safety through safety award programs. Accident and safety statistical information is regularly reported to management and the Board.

Environmental Matters The Company believes it has a responsibility to use natural resources efficiently and attempt to minimize the environmental impact of its activities. The Company produces GHG emissions primarily from its fossil fuel electric-generating facilities, as well as from natural gas pipeline and storage systems, and operations of equipment and fleet vehicles. The Company has developed renewable generation with lower or no GHG emissions. Governmental legislation and regulatory initiatives regarding environmental and energy policy are continuously evolving and could negatively impact the Company's operations and financial results. The Company will continue to monitor legislative and regulatory activity related to environmental and energy policy initiatives and take all appropriate action to comply. In addition, for a discussion of the Company's risks related to environmental laws and regulations, see Item 1A - Risk Factors.

For more information on the Company's environmental, social and governance initiatives and goals, practices and progress, see the Company's Impact Report on its website, which is not incorporated by reference herein.

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Column 1Column 2
Governmental Matters The Company's operations and certain of its subsidiaries are subject to laws and regulations relating to air, water and solid waste pollution control; federal and state facility-siting regulations; zoning and planning regulations of certain state and local authorities; federal and state health and safety regulations; and state hazard communication standards.The Company strives to be in compliance with applicable regulations. For more information, see Environmental matters in Item 8 - Note 17. There are no pending CERCLA actions for any of the Company's material properties. However, the Company is involved in certain claims relating to the Bremerton Gasworks Superfund Site. For more information on the Company's environmental matters, see Item 8 - Note 17 and Item 7 - MD&A - Business Section Financial and Operating Data.

Technology The Company uses technology in substantially all aspects of its business operations and requires uninterrupted operation of information technology systems and network infrastructure. For a discussion of the Company's risks related to cybersecurity, see Item 1A - Risk Factors. For more information on the Company's approach to cybersecurity, see Item 1C - Cybersecurity.

Available Information The Company maintains a corporate website at www.mdu.com. The Company's filings with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 10-K, it's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports are available free of charge through this website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC. The Governance section of the website contains the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, committee charters, and the Leading with Integrity Policy for directors, officers, and employees, and is incorporated herein by reference. Copies of these documents may also be obtained free of charge upon written request to the Company's corporate secretary at MDU Resources Group, Inc., P.O. Box 5650, Bismarck, North Dakota 58506. The information available on, or accessible through, the Company's website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Electric

General The Company's electric segment is operated through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Montana-Dakota. Montana-Dakota provides electric service at retail, serving residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers in 185 communities and adjacent rural areas.

The material properties owned by Montana-Dakota for use in its electric operations include interests in 15 electric generating units at 12 facilities and two small portable diesel generators, as further described under System Supply, System Demand and Competition, approximately 3,400 and 4,900 miles of transmission and distribution lines, respectively, and 86 transmission and 299 distribution substations. Montana-Dakota has obtained and holds, or is in the process of renewing, valid and existing franchises authorizing it to conduct its electric operations in all of the municipalities it serves where such franchises are required. Montana-Dakota intends to protect its service area and seek renewal of all expiring franchises. At December 31, 2025, Montana-Dakota's net electric plant investment was $2.1 billion and its rate base was $1.8 billion.

Retail electric rates, service, accounting and certain securities issuances are subject to regulation by the MTPSC, NDPSC, SDPUC and WYPSC. The interstate transmission and wholesale electric power operations of Montana-Dakota are also subject to regulation by the FERC under provisions of the Federal Power Act, as are interconnections with other utilities and power generators, the issuance of certain securities, accounting, cybersecurity and other matters.

Through MISO, Montana-Dakota has access to wholesale energy, ancillary services and capacity markets for its interconnected system. MISO is a regional transmission organization responsible for operational control of the transmission systems of its members. MISO provides security center operations, tariff administration and operates day-ahead and real-time energy markets, ancillary services and capacity markets. As a member of MISO, Montana-Dakota's generation is sold into the MISO energy market and its energy needs are purchased from that market.

The retail customers served and respective revenues by class for the electric business were as follows:

202520242023
Customers ServedRevenuesCustomers ServedRevenuesCustomers ServedRevenues
(Dollars in thousands)
Residential120,678$136,676120,043$139,862119,700$134,054
Commercial23,997178,99123,762165,77823,573164,142
Industrial21437,76221942,32022842,340
Other1,6617,4241,6627,7731,6077,075
146,550$360,853145,686$355,733145,108$347,611

Other electric revenues, which are largely transmission-related revenues, for Montana-Dakota were $77.4 million, $58.7 million and $53.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

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The percentage of electric retail revenues by jurisdiction was as follows:

202520242023
North Dakota67%65%66%
Montana20%21%20%
Wyoming9%9%9%
South Dakota4%5%5%

System Supply, System Demand and Competition Through an interconnected electric system, Montana-Dakota serves markets in portions of North Dakota, Montana and South Dakota. These markets are highly seasonal and sales volumes depend largely on the weather. Additionally, the average customer consumption has tended to decline due to increases in energy efficient lighting and appliances being installed. In mid-2023 a data center began operating in the Company's service territory which led to an increase in retail sales revenue and volumes. The Company currently serves this data center with an approach that requires minimal new capital investment, which not only benefits the Company's earnings and rate of return, but also provides cost savings to the Company's other retail customers. As of December 31, 2025, the interconnected system consisted of 14 electric generating units at 11 facilities and two small portable diesel generators. Additional details are included in the table that follows. For 2025, Montana-Dakota's total ZRCs, including its firm purchase power contracts, were 558.6. Montana-Dakota's planning reserve margin requirement within MISO was 529.2 ZRCs for 2025. The maximum electric peak demand experienced to date attributable to Montana-Dakota's sales to retail customers on the interconnected system was 764,823 kW in January 2024. Montana-Dakota's latest forecast for its interconnected system indicates that its annual peak will occur during the summer. Additional energy is purchased as needed, or in lieu of generation if more economical, from the MISO market. In 2025, Montana-Dakota purchased approximately 60 percent of its net kWh needs for its interconnected system through the MISO market.

Through the Sheridan System, Montana-Dakota serves Sheridan, Wyoming, and neighboring communities. The maximum peak demand experienced to date attributable to Montana-Dakota sales to retail customers on that system was approximately 69,991 kW in July 2024. Montana-Dakota has a power supply contract with Black Hills Power, Inc. to purchase up to 49,000 kW of capacity annually through December 31, 2028. Wygen III also serves a portion of the needs of Montana-Dakota's Sheridan-area customers.

Approximately 40 percent of the electricity delivered to customers from Montana-Dakota's owned generation in 2025 was from renewable resources. Although Montana-Dakota's generation resource capacity has increased to serve the needs of its customers, the carbon dioxide emission intensity of its electric generation resource fleet has been reduced by approximately 44 percent since 2005 through the addition of renewable generation and with the retirement of aging coal-fired electric generating units, as further discussed below.

In February 2022, the Company ceased operations of Units 1 and 2 at Heskett Station near Mandan, North Dakota, and decommissioning was completed in December 2023. In May 2022 Montana-Dakota began construction of Heskett Unit 4, an 88-MW simple-cycle natural gas-fired combustion turbine peaking unit at the existing Heskett Station near Mandan, North Dakota. Heskett Unit 4 was in service and fully operational in July 2024. In December 2025, the Company acquired and placed in service a 49 percent ownership interest in Badger Wind Farm.

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The following table sets forth details applicable to the Company's electric generating stations:

Generating StationTypeFuelNameplate Rating (kW) at December 31, 20252025 ZRCs(a)2025 Net Generation (kWh in thousands)
Interconnected System:
North Dakota:
Coyote (b)SteamCoal103,64796.4540,307
HeskettCombustion turbineNatural gas176,632158.858,942
Glen UllinRenewableHeat recovery7,5002.932,374
Cedar HillsRenewableWind19,50047,730
Thunder SpiritRenewableWind155,50033.4568,822
Badger Wind Farm (b)RenewableWind127,100937
South Dakota:
Big Stone (b)SteamCoal94,111102.7470,417
Montana:
Lewis & ClarkReciprocating internal combustion engineNatural gas18,70016.611,789
GlendiveCombustion turbineNatural gas / diesel75,52255.617,506
Miles CityCombustion turbineNatural gas / diesel23,15016.92,527
Diamond WillowRenewableWind30,0005.588,265
Portable Units (2)Reciprocating internal combustion engineDiesel3,6503.518
835,012492.31,839,634
Sheridan System:
Wyoming:
Wygen III (b)SteamCoal28,000N/A
863,012492.31,839,634

(a)Interconnected system only. MISO requires generators to obtain their seasonal capability through the GVTC. The GVTC is then converted to ZRCs by applying each generator's forced outage factor against its GVTC. Wind generator's ZRCs are calculated based on a wind capacity study performed annually by MISO. ZRCs are used to meet supply obligations within MISO.

(b)Reflects Montana-Dakota's ownership interest.

The owners of Coyote Station, including Montana-Dakota, have a contract with Coyote Creek for coal supply to the Coyote Station that expires December 2040. Montana-Dakota estimates the Coyote Station coal supply agreement to be approximately 1.5 million tons per contract year. For more information, see Item 8 - Note 17.

The owners of Big Stone Station, including Montana-Dakota, have a coal supply agreement with Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC to meet all of the Big Stone Station's fuel requirements through 2026. Montana-Dakota estimates the Big Stone Station coal supply agreement to be approximately 1.5 million tons per contract year.

Montana-Dakota has a coal supply agreement with Wyodak Resources Development Corp., to supply the coal requirements of Wygen III at contracted pricing through June 1, 2060. Montana-Dakota estimates the maximum annual coal consumption of the facility to be approximately 585,000 tons.

Montana-Dakota has power purchase agreements that run through 2045.

Montana-Dakota expects that it has secured adequate capacity available through existing baseload generating stations, renewable generation, turbine peaking stations, demand reduction programs and firm contracts to meet the peak customer demand requirements of its customers. Based upon current MISO resource adequacy rules, Montana-Dakota expects that it has secured adequate capacity available through existing baseload generation, peaking stations, demand reduction programs and firm contracts to meet the peak customer demand. MISO's recently approved direct loss of load accreditation is showing the need of additional generating units by May of 2028. Future capacity needs are expected to be met by constructing new generation resources or acquiring additional capacity through power purchase contracts or the MISO capacity auction.

Montana-Dakota has major interconnections with its neighboring utilities and considers these interconnections adequate for coordinated planning, emergency assistance, exchange of capacity and energy and power supply reliability.

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Montana-Dakota is subject to competition resulting from customer demands, technological advances and other factors in certain areas, from rural electric cooperatives, on-site generators, co-generators and municipally owned systems. In addition, competition in varying degrees exists between electricity and alternative forms of energy such as natural gas.

Montana-Dakota is not dependent on any single customer or group of customers for sales of its services, where the loss of which would have a material adverse effect on its business.

Regulatory Matters and Revenues Subject to Refund In North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming, there are various recurring regulatory mechanisms with annual true-ups that can impact Montana-Dakota's results of operations, which also reflect monthly increases or decreases in electric fuel and purchased power costs (including demand charges). Montana-Dakota is deferring those electric fuel and purchased power costs that are greater or less than amounts presently being recovered through its existing rate schedules. Examples of these recurring mechanisms include: monthly Fuel and Purchased Power Tracking Adjustments, a fuel adjustment clause, and an annual Electric Power Supply Cost Adjustment. Such mechanisms generally provide that these deferred fuel and purchased power costs are recoverable or refundable through rate adjustments which are filed annually. Montana-Dakota's results of operations reflect 95 percent of the increases or decreases from the base purchased power costs and also reflect 85 percent of the increases or decreases from the base coal price, which is also recovered through the Electric Power Supply Cost Adjustment in Wyoming. For more information on regulatory assets and liabilities, see Item 8 - Note 6.

All of Montana-Dakota's wind resources pertaining to electric operations in North Dakota are included in a renewable resource cost adjustment rider. Montana-Dakota also has a transmission tracker in North Dakota to recover transmission costs associated with MISO and SPP, along with certain transmission investments not recovered through retail rates. The tracking mechanism has an annual true-up.

In South Dakota, Montana-Dakota recovers the South Dakota decommissioning regulatory asset, and has proposed to recover other certain infrastructure investments including Badger Wind Farm, through an Infrastructure Rider tracking mechanism that is subject to an annual true-up. Montana-Dakota also has in place in South Dakota a transmission tracker to recover transmission costs associated with MISO and SPP, that allows transmission investments not recovered through retail rates. This tracking mechanism also has an annual true-up.

In Montana, Montana-Dakota recovers in rates, through a tracking mechanism, its allocated share of Montana property-related taxes assessed to electric operations on an after-tax basis.

For more information on regulatory matters, see Item 8 - Note 6.

Environmental Matters Montana-Dakota's electric operations are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations providing for air, water and solid waste pollution control; state facility-siting regulations; zoning and planning regulations of certain state, tribal and local authorities; federal and state health and safety regulations; and state hazard communication standards. Montana-Dakota is required to acquire and comply with a wide variety of environmental licenses, registrations, permits, approvals and/or agreements which may involve activities related to construction permitting, air quality and emissions, water quality, wastewater and stormwater discharges, wildlife, endangered species, avian interactions, waste handling, natural resources protection, historic and cultural resource protection, and other similar activities. The electric operations strive to be in compliance with these regulations.

Montana-Dakota's thermal electric generating facilities have Title V Operating Permits, under the federal Clean Air Act issued by the states in which they operate. Each of these permits has a five-year life. Other facilities or operations may require minor source air permits or other registrations. Near the expiration of these permits, renewal applications are submitted. Permits continue in force beyond the expiration date, provided the application for renewal is submitted by the required date, usually six months prior to expiration.

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State water discharge permits issued under the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act are maintained for thermal electric generating facilities. These permits also have five-year lives. Montana-Dakota renews these permits as necessary prior to expiration. Other permits held by the Company's facilities may include an initial siting permit, which is typically a one-time, preconstruction permit issued by the state; state permits to dispose of combustion by-products; state authorizations to withdraw water for operations; and Army Corps permits to construct water intake structures. Army Corps permits grant one-time permission to construct and do not require renewal. Extensions to one time permits are obtained as needed. Other permit terms vary and permits are renewed as necessary.

Montana-Dakota's electric operations are very small-quantity generators of hazardous waste and subject only to minimum regulation under the RCRA and when required notifies federal and state agencies of episodic generation events. Montana-Dakota routinely handles PCBs from its electric operations in accordance with federal requirements. PCB storage areas are registered with the EPA as required.

Montana-Dakota incurred approximately $1.2 million of capital expenditures in 2025 related to maintaining compliance with air emissions and coal ash management regulations, primarily at the Company's co-owned coal-fired electric generation facilities. Environmental related capital expenditures are estimated to be $1.5 million, $1.8 million and $1.0 million in 2026, 2027 and 2028, respectively, for air emissions and coal ash management compliance at its co-owned coal-fired generation facilities. Montana-Dakota does not expect to incur any material capital expenditures in 2026, 2027 and 2028 for compliance with current environmental laws and regulations. Montana-Dakota's capital and operational expenditures could also be affected by future environmental requirements, such as existing and proposed emissions reduction plans from the EPA. For more information, see Item 1A - Risk Factors and Item 7 - MD&A - Business Section Financial and Operating Data.

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Natural Gas Distribution

General The Company's natural gas distribution segment is operated through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, consisting of operations from Montana-Dakota, Cascade and Intermountain. These companies sell natural gas at retail, serving residential, commercial and industrial customers in 343 communities and adjacent rural areas across eight states. They also provide natural gas transportation services to certain customers on the Company's systems.

These services are provided through distribution and transmission systems aggregating approximately 22,000 miles and 540 miles, respectively. The natural gas distribution operations have obtained and hold, or are in the process of renewing, valid and existing franchises authorizing them to conduct their natural gas operations in all of the municipalities they serve where such franchises are required. These operations intend to seek renewal of all expiring franchises. At December 31, 2025, the natural gas distribution operations' net natural gas distribution plant investment was $2.8 billion and its rate base was $2.2 billion.

The natural gas distribution operations are subject to regulation by the IPUC, MNPUC, MTPSC, NDPSC, OPUC, SDPUC, WUTC and WYPSC regarding retail rates, service, accounting and certain securities issuances.

The retail customers served and respective revenues by class for the natural gas distribution operations were as follows:

202520242023
Customers ServedRevenuesCustomers ServedRevenuesCustomers ServedRevenues
(Dollars in thousands)
Residential965,378$680,035950,094$651,810935,235$726,064
Commercial115,898423,872114,436400,821112,966441,199
Industrial1,05345,2291,06342,6871,07445,009
1,082,329$1,149,1361,065,593$1,095,3181,049,275$1,212,272

Transportation and other revenues for the natural gas distribution operations were $134.4 million, $105.8 million and $75.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In 2025 and 2024, other revenue includes revenues from the sale of allocated emissions allowances.

The percentage of the natural gas distribution operations' retail sales revenues by jurisdiction was as follows:

202520242023
Washington35%34%28%
Idaho24%29%33%
North Dakota14%12%12%
Oregon8%10%9%
Montana8%7%8%
South Dakota6%5%5%
Minnesota3%2%3%
Wyoming2%1%2%

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System Supply, System Demand and Competition The natural gas distribution operations serve retail natural gas markets, consisting principally of residential and commercial space and water heating users, in portions of Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming. These markets are highly seasonal and sales volumes depend largely on the weather, the effects of which are mitigated in certain jurisdictions by weather normalization mechanisms discussed later in Regulatory Matters. Additionally, the average customer consumption has tended to decline as more efficient appliances and furnaces are installed and as the Company has implemented conservation programs. In addition to the residential and commercial sales, the utilities transport natural gas for larger commercial and industrial customers who purchase their own supply of natural gas.

Competition resulting from customer demands, technological advances and other factors exists between natural gas and other fuels and forms of energy. The natural gas distribution operations have established various natural gas transportation service rates for their distribution businesses to retain interruptible commercial and industrial loads. These rates have enhanced the natural gas distribution operations' competitive posture with alternative fuels, although certain customers have bypassed the distribution systems by directly accessing transmission pipelines within close proximity. These bypasses do not have a material effect on results of operations.

The natural gas distribution operations and various distribution transportation customers obtain natural gas for their system requirements directly from producers, processors and marketers. The Company's purchased natural gas is supplied by a portfolio of contracts specifying market-based pricing and is transported under transportation agreements with various pipelines, including WBI Energy Transmission. The natural gas distribution operations have contracts for storage services to provide gas supply during the winter heating season and to meet peak day demand with various storage providers, including WBI Energy Transmission and other third party providers. In addition, certain of the operations have entered into natural gas supply management agreements with various parties. Demand for natural gas, which is a widely traded commodity, has historically been sensitive to seasonal heating and industrial load requirements, as well as changes in market price. The Company believes supplies are adequate for the natural gas distribution operations to meet its system natural gas requirements for the next decade. This belief is based on current and projected domestic and regional supplies of natural gas and the pipeline transmission network currently available through its suppliers and pipeline service providers.

Regulatory Matters The natural gas distribution operations' retail natural gas rate schedules contain clauses permitting adjustments in rates based upon changes in natural gas commodity, transportation, storage and environmental compliance costs. Current tariffs allow for recovery or refunds of under- or over-recovered costs through rate adjustments which are filed annually.

In North Dakota and South Dakota, Montana-Dakota's natural gas tariffs contain weather normalization mechanisms applicable to certain firm customers that adjust the distribution delivery charges to reflect weather fluctuations during the November 1 through May 1 billing periods.

In Montana, Montana-Dakota recovers in rates, through a tracking mechanism, its allocated share of Montana property-related taxes assessed to natural gas operations on an after-tax basis.

In Minnesota, Great Plains recovers qualifying capital investments related to the safety and integrity of the pipeline systems through a cost recovery tracking mechanism.

In Oregon, Cascade has a decoupling mechanism in place approved by the OPUC until January 1, 2030, with a review which is to be completed by September 30, 2029. Cascade also has an earnings sharing mechanism with respect to its Oregon jurisdictional operations as required by the OPUC.

In Washington, Cascade has a full decoupling mechanism where Cascade is allowed recovery of an average revenue per customer regardless of actual consumption. The mechanism also includes an earnings sharing component if Cascade earns in excess of its authorized return.

In Idaho, Intermountain has the authority to facilitate access for RNG producers to the Company's distribution system for the purpose of moving RNG to the producer's end-use customers.

For more information on regulatory matters, see Item 8 - Note 6.

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Environmental Matters The natural gas distribution operations are subject to federal, state, tribal and local environmental, facility-siting, zoning and planning laws and regulations. The natural gas distribution operations strive to be in compliance with these regulations. The Company is required to acquire and comply with a wide variety of environmental licenses, registrations, permits, approvals and/or agreements which may involve activities related to construction permitting, air quality and emissions, water quality, wastewater and stormwater discharges, waste handling, natural resource protection, historic and cultural resource protection, and other similar activities.

The Company's natural gas distribution operations are very small-quantity generators of hazardous waste, and subject only to minimum regulation under the RCRA. A Washington state rule defines Cascade as a small-quantity generator, but regulation under the rule is similar to RCRA. Certain locations of the natural gas distribution operations routinely handle PCBs from their natural gas operations in accordance with federal requirements. PCB storage areas are registered with the EPA as required. Capital and operational expenditures for natural gas distribution operations could be affected in a variety of ways by new GHG legislation or regulation. In particular, such legislation or regulation would likely increase capital expenditures for energy efficiency and conservation programs and operational and gas supply costs associated with GHG emissions compliance. Natural gas distribution operations expect to recover the operational and capital expenditures for GHG regulatory compliance in rates consistent with the recovery of other reasonable costs of complying with environmental laws and regulations. For more information, see Item 7 - MD&A - Business Section Financial and Operating Data.

The natural gas distribution operations incurred $8.3 million of capital expenditures in 2025 to construct infrastructure supporting multiple RNG facilities, including the development and construction of a RNG facility at the Deschutes County Landfill near Bend, Oregon, and other GHG reduction projects. Cascade and Montana-Dakota expect to incur environmental related capital expenditures of $15.9 million, $10.6 million and $7.7 million, in 2026, 2027 and 2028, respectively. The capital expenditures are to continue construction of infrastructure supporting multiple RNG production facilities, implement a thermal energy network pilot project, other GHG reduction projects, and investigate a historic manufactured gas plant site. Except as to what may be ultimately determined with regard to the issues described in the following paragraph and the items noted, the natural gas distribution operations do not expect to incur any material capital expenditures related to compliance with current environmental laws and regulations through 2028.

Montana-Dakota has ties to six historic manufactured gas plants as a successor corporation or through direct ownership of the plant. Montana-Dakota is investigating possible soil and groundwater impacts due to the operation of two of these former manufactured gas plant sites. To the extent not covered by insurance, Montana-Dakota may seek recovery in its natural gas rates charged to customers for certain investigation and remediation costs incurred for these sites. Cascade has ties to eight historic manufactured gas plants as a successor corporation or through direct ownership of the plant. Cascade is involved in the investigation and remediation of one of these manufactured gas plants in Washington. To the extent not covered by insurance, Cascade will seek recovery of investigation and remediation costs through its natural gas rates charged to customers.

See Item 8 - Note 17 for further discussion of certain manufactured gas plant sites.

MDU Resources Group, Inc. Form 10-K 19

Index

Part I

Pipeline

General WBI Energy owns and operates WBI Energy Transmission, a FERC regulated pipeline, which consists of over 3,800 miles of natural gas transmission and storage lines and comprised approximately 94 percent of the segment's revenue in 2025. WBI Energy also owns and operates a non-regulated energy-related service business, specializing in cathodic protection, which comprised the additional 6 percent of the segment's revenue.

WBI Energy Transmission's underground storage fields provide natural gas storage services to local distribution companies, industrial customers, natural gas marketers and others, and serve to enhance system reliability. Its system is strategically located near four natural gas producing basins, making natural gas supplies available to its transportation and storage customers. The system has 14 interconnecting points with other pipeline facilities allowing for the receipt and/or delivery of natural gas to and from other regions of the country and from Canada. Under the Natural Gas Act, as amended, WBI Energy Transmission is subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC regarding certificate, rate, service and accounting matters, and at December 31, 2025, its net plant investment was $1.0 billion.

A majority of the pipeline business is transacted in the Rocky Mountain and northern Great Plains regions of the United States.

System Supply, System Demand and Competition Natural gas supplies emanate from traditional and nontraditional production activities in the region from both on-system and off-system supply sources. Incremental supply from nontraditional sources, such as the Bakken area in Montana and North Dakota, have helped offset declines in traditional regional supply sources and supports WBI Energy Transmission's transportation and storage services. In addition, off-system supply sources are available through the Company's interconnections with other pipeline systems. WBI Energy Transmission continues to look for opportunities, such as the identified growth projects discussed in Item 7 - MD&A - Pipeline Outlook, to increase transportation and storage services through system expansion and/or other pipeline interconnections or enhancements that could provide future benefits.

WBI Energy Transmission's underground natural gas storage facilities have a certificated storage capacity of approximately 350 Bcf, including 193 Bcf of working gas capacity, 83 Bcf of cushion gas and 74 Bcf of native gas. These storage facilities enable customers to purchase natural gas throughout the year and meet winter peak requirements.

WBI Energy Transmission competes with several pipelines for its customers' transportation business and at times may discount rates in an effort to retain market share; however, the strategic location of its system near four natural gas producing basins and the availability of underground storage services, along with interconnections with other pipelines, enhances its competitive position.

Although certain of WBI Energy Transmission's firm customers, including its largest firm customer Montana-Dakota, serve relatively secure residential, commercial and industrial end-users, they generally all have some price-sensitive end-users that could switch to alternate fuels.

WBI Energy Transmission transports substantially all of Montana-Dakota's natural gas, primarily utilizing firm transportation agreements, which for 2025 represented 19 percent of WBI Energy Transmission's subscribed firm transportation contract demand. The majority of the firm transportation agreements with Montana-Dakota expire in June 2027. In addition, Montana-Dakota has a contract, expiring in July 2035, with WBI Energy Transmission to provide firm storage services to facilitate meeting Montana-Dakota's winter peak requirements.

The non-regulated business of this segment competes for existing customers in the areas in which it operates. Its focus on customer service and the variety of services it offers serve to enhance its competitive position.

20 MDU Resources Group, Inc. Form 10-K

Index

Part I

WBI Energy is not dependent on any single customer or group of customers for sales of its services, where the loss of which would have a material adverse effect on its business. WBI Energy had one third-party customer that accounted for approximately 17 percent of its 2025 revenue.

Environmental Matters The pipeline operations are subject to federal, state and local environmental, facility-siting, zoning and planning laws and regulations.

Administration of certain provisions of federal environmental laws is delegated to the states where WBI Energy and its subsidiaries operate. Administering agencies may issue permits with varying terms and operational compliance conditions. Permits are renewed and modified, as necessary, based on defined permit expiration dates, operational demand, facility upgrades or modifications, and/or regulatory changes. The pipeline operations strive to be in compliance with these regulations.

Detailed environmental assessments and/or environmental impact statements as required by the National Environmental Policy Act are included in the FERC's environmental review process for both the construction and abandonment of WBI Energy Transmission's natural gas transmission pipelines, compressor stations and storage facilities.

The pipeline operations did not incur any material capital expenditures related to compliance with current environmental laws and regulations in 2025 and have no planned capital expenditures to meet compliance requirements of environmental laws and regulations in 2026. Capital expenditures to meet requirements of the EPA rules, as previously discussed, are included in the capital expenditures for 2028 and estimated at $4.0 million. For more information on the capital expenditures for this segment, see Item 7 - MD&A - Capital Expenditures.

Discontinued Operations

General Discontinued operations includes the historical operations of Knife River and Everus, as well as associated strategic initiative costs and interest on certain third party debt facilities repaid in connection with the Knife River and Everus separations. The Company completed the separations of Knife River and Everus on May 31, 2023 and October 31, 2024, respectively. Discontinued operations also includes the supporting activities of Fidelity other than certain general and administrative costs and interest expense. For more information on discontinued operations, see Item 8 - Note 3.