South Dakota Public Utilities Commission

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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission
Agency overview
Formed1885
Jurisdiction South Dakota
Headquarters Pierre, South Dakota
Annual budget$5,046,947 (FY 2025) [1]
Agency executives
Parent agencyState of South Dakota
Website http://puc.sd.gov/

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is an elected, three-member entity that is responsible for regulating public utilities within the state, including electric, natural gas, telephone utilities, and grain storage warehouses. [4] It was first formed in 1885 as the Dakota Territory Board of Railroad Commissioners. Upon South Dakota's admission to the Union as a state in 1889, the state legislature continued the Board as the Railroad Commission, [5] and converted it to an elected office in 1893, with the first elections taking place in 1894. The legislature changed the name to the Public Utilities Commission in 1940. [6] Since the Commission was established as an elected entity, Commissioners have been elected to staggered, six-year terms. In the event of a vacancy, the Governor makes an appointment to serve until a special election. [5]

Contents

Republicans have held a majority on the Commission since 2003, following the defeat of Democratic Commissioner Pam Nelson in 2002. [7] The last Democrat to be elected to the Commission was Steve Kolbeck, who was elected in 2006 and resigned in 2011. [8]

Commissioners

CommissionerPartyAssumed officeNext election
Gary W. Hanson Republican20032026 [2]
Chris Nelson Republican20112028 [3]
Kristie Fiegen Republican20112030 [9]

External sources

References

  1. Terwilliger, Jim; South Dakota Department of Executive Management, Bureau of Finance and Management (2024). "State of South Dakota Budget in Brief Fiscal Year 2025: Our 135th Year of a Balanced Budget" (PDF). Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Commissioner Hanson". South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Commissioner Nelson". South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  4. "About the PUC". South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Healy, Leni (2001). Board of Railroad Commissioners and the Public Utilities Commission (PDF). South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. p. 7. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  6. Clem, Alan L. (1969). South Dakota Political Almanac (PDF) (2nd ed.). Vermillion, South Dakota: The Dakota Press. p. 17. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  7. Kranz, David (January 30, 2003). "Environment top priority, ex-mayor says". Argus-Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. p. 1A. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  8. Mercer, Bob (August 10, 2011). "Fiegen takes oath for PUC job". Mitchell Daily Republic . Mitchell, South Dakota. p. 3. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  9. "Commissioner Fiegen". South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. Retrieved June 16, 2025.