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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
May 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.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 3:00 p.m. CDT on Thursday, May 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
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on April 23, 2026 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
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, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac, Patrick Steffensen; 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 April 15, 2026, Dakota Panel, Fischer Furniture, Inc., Forest Products Distributors, Inc., GCC Dacotah, Inc., Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, Inc., Pete Lien & Sons, Inc., the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, and Spearfish Forest Products Inc., collectively referred to as the South Dakota Large Customer Group, filed a Petition to Intervene.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant intervention to Dakota Panel, Fischer Furniture, Inc., Forest Products Distributors, Inc., GCC Dacotah, Inc., Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, Inc., Pete Lien & Sons, Inc., the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, and Spearfish Forest Products Inc., collectively referred to as the South Dakota Large Customer Group?
2. EL26-010 In the Matter of the Joint Request for Approval of an Electric Service Territory Exception Agreement between Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Staff Analyst: Darren Kearney)
On April 14, 2026, Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Southeastern) and Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Central) filed a Joint Request for Approval of an Electric Service Territory Exception Agreement. Southeastern and Central request that the Commission approve an agreement allowing Southeastern to provide three-phase electric service to a commercial business located within Central’s electric service territory at the SE1/4 of the NE/14, North and East of Railroad Right-of-Way, of Section 36, Township 102N, Range 57W, in Hanson County. The location of Southeastern’s existing three-phase facilities results in substantially lower contribution-in-aid-of-construction for the customer.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the Electric Service Territory Exception Agreement between Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Central Electric Cooperative, Inc.?
3. EL25-024 In the Matter of the Application of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Authority to Increase its Electric Rates (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac, Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
On June 30, 2025, the Commission received an application by Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) for authority to increase rates for electric service in South Dakota. With its Application, Xcel requests a net annual incremental increase in revenues of $43.6 million, or approximately 15%. Additionally, the costs of certain projects that are currently recovered through the Infrastructure Rider and the Transmission Cost Recovery Rider will be rolled into base rates, resulting in a gross overall base rate increase of $63.4 million. Xcel states a typical residential electric customer using 756 kWh per month would see an average monthly bill increase of about $20.56 or 18.66%. The proposed changes may affect approximately 107,000 electric customers in South Dakota. Interim rates were effective January 1, 2026, consistent with the moratorium in effect pursuant to the settlement stipulation approved by the Commission in docket EL22-017. On October 1, 2025, staff and Xcel filed a Joint Motion for Approval of Procedural Schedule. On October 9, 2025, Steven Wegman was granted late intervention. On April 24, 2026, Xcel and staff filed a Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation, a Settlement Stipulation, including Xcel’s Interim Refund Plan, and Intervenor Steven Wegman’s Concurrence to the Settlement, and staff filed a Staff Memorandum Supporting Settlement Stipulation. The Settlement proposes final rates be effective July 1, 2026.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant the Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation and approve the rates, tariff sheets, terms and conditions stipulated therein? AND shall the Commission approve Xcel’s Interim Refund Plan? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
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 next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
2. The PUC office will be closed May 25, 2026, in observance of Memorial Day.
3. Commission meetings are scheduled for June 2 and 18, 2026.
/s/ Travis Heasley
Travis Heasley
Operations Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
May 1, 2026
