EXHIBIT 99


              MDU RESOURCES ACQUIRES COLORADO GENERATING FACILITIES

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA - NOVEMBER 4, 2002 - MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU)
announced the acquisition of 213-megawatts of electric generating facilities
from an affiliate of El Paso Corporation (NYSE:EP) for cash. Brush Power, LLC, a
subsidiary of Centennial Power, Inc., the independent power production unit of
MDU Resources, will own the facilities. The deal meets the stated economic and
financial objectives of MDU Resources for growth via acquisitions.

The generating facilities are located within the city limits of Brush, Colorado.
The combined cycle facilities include three separate units, the first of which
commenced commercial operations in October 1990. All units are natural gas
fired. Ninety-five percent of the electricity produced at the facilities is sold
under capacity payment contracts to Public Service Company of Colorado. Colorado
Energy Management has served as the sole operator for all the facilities and
will continue to operate the facilities under an operating agreement with Brush
Power.

"This project supplies power to the Denver metropolitan area, one of the more
rapidly growing markets in the United States, and holds long-term potential for
our company and its stockholders," said Paul Gatzemeier, Centennial Power's vice
president and general manager. "In addition, this plant is located in the Rocky
Mountain Power Area and is part of the western power market, an area in which
MDU Resources companies currently own no electric generation. This acquisition
will help diversify the company's generation assets."

The information in this release includes certain forward-looking statements,
including statements by the vice president and general manager of Centennial
Power, Inc. and a statement that the acquisition meets the stated economic and
financial objectives of MDU Resources for growth via acquisitions, within the
meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although the
company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions,
actual results may differ materially. Important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements
include operation of plant facilities, present or prospective generation and
availability of economic supplies of natural gas, market demand for energy from
plants or facilities and the ability to effectively integrate acquired
operations. For further discussion, refer to MDU Resources' most recent Form
10-Q at Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis - Safe Harbor for
Forward-looking Statements.

     MDU Resources Group, Inc. provides energy, value-added natural resource
products and related services that are essential to our country's energy,
transportation and communication infrastructure. MDU Resources includes electric
and natural gas utilities, a natural gas pipeline, utility services, natural gas
and oil production, construction materials and mining, and energy services. For
more information about MDU Resources, see the company's Web site at www.mdu.com
or contact the investor relations department at investor@mduresources.com.





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Contacts:
Warren L. Robinson - Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial
  Officer
(701) 222-7991 or
Cathi Christopherson - Vice President, Corporate Communications
(701) 222-7959