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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
April 7, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota

NOTE:  Docket participants who wish to join this meeting by conference call should contact the Commission at 605-773-3201 by 10:00 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, to reserve a phone line. Lines are limited and assigned on a first come, first served basis, subject to possible reassignment to accommodate persons who must appear in a proceeding. Ultimately, if you wish to participate in docket discussion at the Commission Meeting and a line is not available, you may have to appear in person. 

NOTE:  To listen to the Commission Meeting live please go to the PUC’s website puc.sd.gov and click on the LIVE link on the home page. The Commission requests persons who will only be listening to proceedings and not actively appearing in a case listen via the webcast to free phone lines for those who must appear.  The Commission meetings are archived on the PUC’s website under the Commission Actions tab. Click on “Commission Meeting Archives,” to access the recordings.

NOTE: Notice is further given to persons with disabilities that this Commission meeting is being held in a physically accessible place. If you have special needs, please notify the Commission and we will make all necessary arrangements.

AGENDA OF COMMISSION MEETING

Administration

1.       Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on March 26, 2026 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)

Consumer Reports

1.       Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)

Electric

1.        EL26-003       In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy for Authority to Increase Rates For its Utility Service in South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

            On February 19, 2026, the Commission received an application by Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (BHP) for approval to increase rates for electric service to customers in its South Dakota service territory by approximately $50.6 million annually or approximately 25.1% based on BHP’s test year ending September 30, 2025. The Company states a typical residential electric customer using 650 kWh per month would see an increase of $25.13 per month. The proposed changes may potentially affect approximately 75,000 customers in BHP’s South Dakota service territory. On March 20, 2026, Mr. John D. McKee Sr. filed a Petition to Intervene.

         TODAY, shall the Commission grant intervention to John D. McKee Sr.?

Public Comment

Individuals who wish to make public comments to the Commission may do so during this time. All who offer public comments are requested to sign in at the Commission meeting or let the Commission know of their wish to speak when they call in to reserve a phone line. Time limits for comments may be determined at the discretion of the Commission.

Announcements

1.   The PUC office will be closed April 3 and 6, 2026, in observance of the Easter holiday.

2.   An evidentiary hearing for docket EL25-032 - In the Matter of the Petition of Sweetman Const. Co. dba Knife River, to have Xcel Energy Assigned as its Electric Provider in the Service Area of Sioux Valley Electric will be held Monday, April 13 through Wednesday, April 15, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. CDT in Room 414 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.

3.   Commissioners will attend the Center for Public Utilities’ Current Issues conference, April 19-22, 2026, at the Eldorado Hotel, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

4.   The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, April 23, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota

5.   Commission meetings are scheduled for May 8 and 19, 2026.

  /s/ Travis Heasley
Travis Heasley
Operations Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
March 31, 2026