Black Hills Power Wants Rate Increase for Storm Costs

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Black Hills Power wants its customers to help pay costs the company spent to restore and maintain electrical service during an October blizzard.

The Rapid City Journal reports that the state's Public Utilities Commission agreed last week to hear the utility's request to have its ratepayers cover the more than $5 million cost.

Black Hills Power crews worked for days to restore power to as many 28,000 customers after the October blizzard.

The Rapid City-based company also wants to raise its rates to cover the costs of closing a coal-fired power plant in South Dakota and two in Wyoming. The company says it has decided to close the plants than comply with more stringent federal regulations.

Estimated expenses for decommissioning the three plants total nearly $11 million.

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