The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission voted to approve with conditions a siting permit for the Dakota Access Pipeline project. PUC Chairman Chris Nelson and Acting Commissioner Rich Sattgast voted in favor, with Commissioner Gary Hanson dissenting, at an ad hoc commission meeting in Pierre on Nov. 30..… (read more)

South Dakota is moving toward greater development of its renewable energy resources with the approval of the construction of Willow Creek Wind Energy Facility in Butte County. The PUC accepted a settlement stipulation for the construction of the facility offered by PUC staff and Wind Quarry LLC, the wind farm developer, at its regular meeting in Pierre on Nov. 12, 2015.… (read more)

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission today voted to allow NorthWestern Energy to raise its electric rates by 15.5 percent, the first such increase since 1981. A typical residential customer using an average of 750 kilowatt-hours of energy each month will see an average monthly increase of about $16.41. … (read more)

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission will hold a public input session on Monday, July 6, 2015, to hear comments about the construction permit certification for the South Dakota portion of the Keystone XL Pipeline proposed by TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, LP. The session begins at 5:30 p.m. CDT in Room 414 of the State Capitol in Pierre and will adjourn no later than 8:30 p.m. … (read more)

MidAmerican Energy Co. received the OK today from the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission to implement rate increases for natural gas and electric customers. The company’s last electric rate increase request was approved in 1995; the most recent natural gas hike occurred in 2004. … (read more)

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission today voted to allow Xcel Energy to raise its electric rates at a rate of less than half of what the company had requested. The average customer in Xcel's South Dakota territory is expected to experience a 4 percent increase in electric rates beginning July 1, 2015. Xcel’s original request asked for an increase of 8 percent. … (read more)

South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen has been diagnosed with curable breast cancer. … (read more)

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing in Yankton, S.D., on Thursday, May 14, 2015, to hear comments and questions about the electric rate increase proposed by NorthWestern Energy. The public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. CDT in Meeting Room C-D at the Best Western Kelly Inn, 1607 E. Highway 50 and adjourn at the conclusion of comments and questions from all persons who have arrived before 8 p.m. … (read more)

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission announces that the public input session scheduled for May 4, 2015, in Pierre, to hear comments about the construction permit certification for the South Dakota portion of the Keystone XL Pipeline proposed by TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, LP, has been postponed. A rescheduled date will be announced by the commission later. … (read more)

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission will hold a public input session on Monday, May 4, 2015, to hear comments about the construction permit certification for the South Dakota portion of the Keystone XL Pipeline proposed by TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, LP. The session begins at 5:30 p.m. CDT in Room 413 of the State Capitol in Pierre and will adjourn no later than 8:30 p.m. ...(read more)

Springtime in South Dakota means an increase in construction activity, outdoor home projects and a heightened awareness to call 811 before any digging project, according to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission and the South Dakota One Call Board. For these reasons and more, Governor Dennis Daugaard is proclaiming April as Safe Digging Month in South Dakota. ...(read more)

This week, the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission reduced by more than half the electric rate increase sought by Black Hills Power. The commission voted on March 2 to accept a settlement agreement negotiated by the PUC staff and Black Hills Power that allows the company to increase rates by 4.35 percent. The company had requested an increase of 9.27 percent. ...(read more)

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission this week elected Commissioner Chris Nelson as its new chairman and Commissioner Kristie Fiegen as vice chairman. The three-member panel, which also includes Commissioner Gary Hanson, conducted the votes at a meeting in Pierre on Jan. 20....(read more)