Agency overview | |
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Formed | 1885 |
Jurisdiction | South Dakota |
Headquarters | Pierre, South Dakota |
Annual budget | $5,046,947 (FY 2025) [1] |
Agency executives |
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Parent agency | State 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]
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]
Commissioner | Party | Assumed office | Next election |
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Gary W. Hanson | Republican | 2003 | 2026 [2] |
Chris Nelson | Republican | 2011 | 2028 [3] |
Kristie Fiegen | Republican | 2011 | 2030 [9] |