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Public Utilities Commission
Capitol Building, 1st floor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501-5070
Phone: (605) 773-3201

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South Dakota PUC News

2026

Feb. 13, 2026 - South Dakota PUC gives go ahead to Philip Wind Project

March 5, 2026 - South Dakota PUC reminds consumers to protect their money and information from scammers

March 11, 2026 - PUC reduces Otter Tail Power Co.'s rate increase request in settlement acceptance

April 2, 2026 - South Dakota PUC reminds South Dakotans to Call Before You Dig

May 8, 2026 - PUC approves settlement to increase Xcel Energy electric rates below request

June 25, 2026 - South Dakota PUC approves merger of two investor-owned utility companies

2025

Jan. 14, 2025 - Hanson elected chairman of South Dakota Public Utilities Commission; Fiegen takes oath for new term

Feb. 28, 2025 - PUC approves construction permit with conditions for South Deuel Wind Project

Nov. 7, 2025 - South Dakota PUC elects new leadership

2024

Jan. 8, 2024 - South Dakota PUC reduces NorthWestern Energy electric rate increase request

Aug. 13, 2024 - PUC reduces requested increases in electric and natural gas rates for MDU

Dec. 17, 2024 - PUC reduces NorthWestern Energy natural gas rate increase request

2023

Jan. 6, 2023 - South Dakota PUC approves permit to construct North Bend Wind Project

Jan. 7, 2023 - Nelson takes oath of office to begin third term as South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner

Jan. 9, 2023 - Fiegen elected to lead South Dakota Public Utilities Commission

March 29, 2023 - PUC settles MidAmerican Energy Co.'s request to increase natural gas rates for South Dakota customers

June 6, 2023 - PUC settles Xcel Energy's case for electric rate increase, allowing significantly less than requested

2022

April 13, 2022 - PUC resolves Avon's Farmers Cooperative Elevator receivership with no losses to producers

Nov. 7, 2022 - SDPUC determines no jurisdiction for proposed Gregory County Pumped Storage Project

2021

Jan. 4, 2021 - Nelson elected to lead South Dakota Public Utilities Commission

Jan. 21, 2021 - Hanson begins fourth term on South Dakota Public Utilities Commission with oath of office

March 8, 2021 - PUC resolves Kingsburg Grain & Feed docket with no losses to producers

2020

Feb. 4, 2020 - South Dakota PUC issues first permit for construction of a large-scale solar facility

March 18, 2020 - South Dakota PUC approves construction permit for Crowned Ridge Wind II

Nov. 24, 2020 - PUC approves construction permit for Wild Springs Solar Project

2019

Jan. 7, 2019 - Fiegen begins new term on South Dakota Public Utilities Commission with oath of office

Jan. 10, 2019 - Hanson elected to lead PUC

Feb. 15, 2019 - South Dakota PUC approves construction permit for Dakota Range III wind energy project

May 14, 2019 - PUC gives nod to Otter Tail Power Co. to increase rates

May 15, 2019 - South Dakota PUC grants construction permit with conditions for Deuel Harvest North Wind Farm

May 15, 2019 - South Dakota PUC votes to approve refunds for MidAmerican Energy Co. customers

July 9, 2019 - PUC gives Crowned Ridge Wind Farm permit to construct

July 10, 2019 - South Dakota PUC approves construction permit for Triple H Wind project

July 26, 2019 - PUC approves construction permit for Sweetland Wind Farm

Nov. 26, 2019 - PUC gives Tatanka Ridge Wind Project permit to construct

2018

June 8, 2018 - South Dakota PUC grants construction permit for Crocker Wind Farm

June 27, 2018 - South Dakota PUC approves rate reduction for South Dakota Intrastate Pipeline

July 11, 2018 - Construction permit for Dakota Range Wind Project approved by PUC

July 27, 2018 - PUC gives Otter Tail Power Co. OK to build natural gas peaking plant

Sept. 4, 2018 - Black Hills Energy customers to receive refund and lowering of rates following PUC action

Sept. 18, 2018 - PUC votes for NorthWestern Energy customers to receive refund

Oct.16, 2018 - PUC approves refund and lower rate for Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. customers

Nov. 21, 2018 - South Dakota PUC approves Prevailing Wind Park construction permit

2017

Jan. 3, 2017 - Nelson sworn in to second term as South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner

Jan. 6, 2017 - Kristie Fiegen elected new South Dakota PUC chairperson

Aug. 15, 2017 - PUC accepts MidAmerican Energy proposal to offer service to farm tap customers

2016

Jan. 5, 2016 - South Dakota PUC certifies Keystone XL Pipeline construction permit

June 7, 2016 - PUC allows Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. natural gas and electric rate increases

2015

Jan. 23, 2015 - South Dakota PUC elects new leaders

March 3, 2015 - PUC accepts settlements agreement; Black Hills Power allowed to increase rates

June 15, 2015 - Xcel Energy rate increase approved by PUC

June 16, 2015 - South Dakota PUC handled two rate increase requests from MidAmerican Energy - Company's first electric rate increase in two decades approved; natural gas rates to rise after 11 years

Oct. 29, 2015 - NorthWestern Energy is granted its first base electric rate increase in South Dakota in three decades.

Nov. 12, 2015 - PUC approves construction permit for Willow Creek Wind Energy Facility

Nov. 30, 2015 - PUC approves permit for Dakota Access Pipeline

2014

Jan. 9, 2014 - PUC commissioners pick Hanson as leader

March 7, 2014 - PUC approves northeastern South Dakota transmission project

Aug. 14, 2014 - Transmission line receives PUC approval

Nov. 7, 2014 - PUC approves transmission line by Black Hills Power

Nov. 26, 2014 - Otter Tail Power Co. responds to environmental regulations; PUC approves associated rate increase

2013

Jan. 8, 2013 - Nelson and Fiegen sworn in as Public Utilities Commissioners

Jan. 16, 2013 - Gary Hanson is new PUC chairman

April 12, 2013 - PUC scales back Xcel Energy rate increase request

Sept. 18, 2013 - South Dakota PUC approves agreements for Black Hills Power rate increase

Nov. 1, 2013 - PUC OKs rate increase for Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.

2012

Jan. 3, 2012 - Chris Nelson elected as new PUC chairman

June 26, 2012 - PUC reduces Xcel Energy rate increase request

2011

Jan. 10, 2011 - Chris Nelson appointed to South Dakota Public Utilities Commission

April 19, 2011 - Public Utilities Commission approves Otter Tail Power Co. rate increase

June 28, 2011 - South Dakota PUC elects new leadership

Aug. 9, 2011 - Kristie Fiegen becomes a South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner

Nov. 22, 2011 - PUC accepts reduced NorthWestern Energy natural gas rate increase

2010

Jan. 5, 2010 - Public Utilities Commission approves Xcel Energy rate increase

Feb. 18, 2010 - PUC approves Keystone XL Pipeline permit with conditions

May 21, 2010 - Permit for power plant in Brookings County approved by PUC

June 15, 2010 - State's second-largest wind farm approved by the PUC

July 7, 2010 - PUC approves reduced Black Hills Power rate increase

Nov. 24, 2010 - Commissioner Steve Kolbeck chosen to lead PUC

2009

March 26, 2009 - PUC approves MidAmerican Energy Company's energy efficiency plan

April 21, 2009 - PUC gives approval to state's largest wind farm

June 24, 2009 - PUC approves Otter Tail rate increase

2008

Jan. 18, 2008 - S.D. Supreme Court upholds PUC's decision on Big Stone II

March 11, 2008 - S.D. PUC approves permit for TransCanada Keystone Pipeline

May 21, 2008 - PUC gives go-ahead to Otter Tail Power Company for energy efficiency plan

Dec. 10, 2008 - Commissioner Dusty Johnson elected to lead PUC

2007

March 1, 2007 - Circuit court upholds PUC decision about Big Stone II

March 20, 2007 - PUC Commissioners levy $150,000 fine against California crammer

Dec. 19, 2007 - Hanson selected as new chair of Public Utilities Commission

Dec. 20, 2007 - Public Utilities Commission approves NorthWestern Energy rate increase

2006

July 14, 2006 - Public Utilities Commission approves Big Stone II permit

Oct. 10, 2006 - Public Utilities Commission reaches settlement in federal approval proceeding with NorthWestern Energy and Babcock & Brown Infrastructure

Nov. 20, 2006 - Johnson elected chair of Public Utilities Commission

Dec. 4, 2006 - Public Utilities Commissioner Kolbeck Sworn In

Dec. 28, 2006 - Public Utilities Commission approves Black Hills Power rate increase

2005

Jan. 4, 2005 - Public Utilities Commissioner Sworn In

Jan. 10, 2005 - Hanson Elected PUC Chairman

June 28, 2005 - PUC announces $3.4 million in MDU refund