South Dakota Regulators Approve Black Hills Energy Rate Increase for Residential Customers
South Dakota regulators have approved a monthly rate increase of approximately $16 for typical Black Hills Energy residential customers in western South Dakota. The hike, intended to cover infrastructure improvements and rising costs, will take effect in December. A separate…
Sioux Falls, SD, November 5, 2026 — South Dakota regulators have authorized a monthly rate increase for residential customers of Black Hills Energy in the western part of the state. The Public Utilities Commission approved a hike of approximately $16 for typical residential accounts.
This rate adjustment is slated to take effect in December. The utility company’s request for the increase cited the need to cover costs associated with infrastructure improvements and other rising operational expenses. While the $16 monthly increase for most residential customers has been approved, a separate request from Black Hills Energy is still under review.
The pending request seeks an additional $20 surcharge per customer, intended to fund a new power plant. The outcome of this separate surcharge request has not yet been determined by the regulatory body.
The Public Utilities Commission’s decision follows a period of review and consideration of Black Hills Energy’s proposal. The approved rate increase aims to support necessary upgrades to the energy infrastructure and address the evolving cost landscape for utility services in the region.
Details regarding the specific infrastructure projects that the $16 monthly increase will fund were not elaborated upon in the regulatory approval summary. The company’s ongoing request for the additional $20 surcharge remains a point of consideration for the commission.
Story summarized from the original created by Joshua Haiar on southdakotasearchlight.com, see more information here.
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