FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 14, 2024                
MEDIA CONTACT: Leah Mohr, South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, (605) 773-3201 or (605) 280-4327

PUC to host large electric load education session

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission will host a large electric load education session beginning at 9 a.m. CST on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Room 414 of the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. The agenda will include discussion of large electric load requests and planning from representatives of investor-owned utilities, generation and transmission cooperatives, municipal utilities, regional transmission organizations and data centers.

Space at the event is limited, but the session will be audio livestreamed through the PUC website. Recordings will also be made available following the meeting. No information shared during this conference will be considered part of the evidentiary record for any pending PUC proceeding and participants have been asked to refrain from any discussion specific to any open docket before the PUC.

“This educational session will give commissioners the opportunity to learn about inquiries our South Dakota utilities are receiving regarding data centers, crypto mining facilities, and other potential large load entities and discuss the challenges that possible large load requests present,” commented PUC Chairperson Kristie Fiegen.

“One of the most important goals for the PUC and our staff is to protect South Dakota citizens. Educational opportunities like this to share information are an essential portion of fulfilling that goal,” said PUC Vice Chair Gary Hanson.

“During the event, commissioners will moderate the discussion and have the opportunity to ask questions of invited presenters, gaining insight into how future large load demands will be managed and may impact the grid and South Dakota consumers,” explained PUC Commissioner Chris Nelson.

The commission expects representatives from investor-owned utilities Black Hills Energy, Montana-Dakota Utilities, MidAmerican Energy, NorthWestern Energy, Otter Tail Power Co., Xcel Energy; electric cooperatives Basin Electric Power Cooperative, East River Electric Power Cooperative, Rushmore Electric Power Cooperative; energy services providers Heartland Energy and Missouri River Energy Services; regional transmission organizations Midcontinent Independent System Operator and Southwest Power Pool; data centers Allied Digital and Big Watt Digital; and SDN Communications.

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