South Dakota PUC approves merger of two investor-owned utility companies

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioners approved the merger of NorthWestern Energy and Black Hills Energy at their ad hoc meeting in Pierre yesterday, June 24. The panel heard from company representatives, PUC staff, and intervenors regarding two settlements resolving all issues, offered by the parties, and voted to grant approval of the merger.

“There are two key points I want the public to understand. First, going forward, the PUC will continue to regulate NorthWestern and Black Hills Energy individually—nothing about that responsibility changes. Second, it is important to understand what South Dakota law says about the PUC’s role in this type of proceeding. The statute directs that the commission shall approve mergers of this kind unless there is a likelihood of significant adverse impact to customers in this state. It doesn’t say we may or if we want to; it says we shall, and that distinction matters. Based on that language and the record before us, I believe approval of this merger is appropriate,” stated PUC Chairman Chris Nelson.

The commission received a joint application requesting approval of the merger on Oct. 27, 2025. Since that time, parties have engaged in extensive discovery and completed a thorough analysis. Through settlement discussions, settling parties agreed to a comprehensive set of commitments that address all concerns identified by PUC staff and provide meaningful protections for South Dakota customers. The settlement does not modify the rates, terms, or conditions under which NorthWestern or Black Hills Energy currently provide service.

“I am so grateful to PUC staff for really digging into this docket. When I first read the statute outlining our role, it appeared to set a fairly low bar. I’m thankful that our staff worked diligently to secure so many added benefits for South Dakota customers throughout this process,” said PUC Vice Chairperson Kristie Fiegen. “The extension of rate moratoriums, the assurance that shareholders—not customers—will cover merger‑related costs, and the confirmation that the companies will maintain a local presence and continue to operate and file for rates separately are meaningful additions that will benefit customers,” she added.

Under the terms of a merger agreement signed in August 2025, NorthWestern Group will become a direct subsidiary of Black Hills Corporation, which will be renamed Bright Horizon Energy Corporation upon closing. NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation will remain a direct subsidiary of NorthWestern Group and an indirect subsidiary of parent company Bright Horizon Energy Corporation. When the merger is finalized, the combined company will have an enterprise value of $15.4 billion and serve approximately 2.1 million customers across eight states.

“I am very pleased with this agreement and deeply appreciate the extensive work that all parties invested to reach this point. It is clear that it required significant collaboration and negotiation, and I commend you for crafting a historic agreement and a comprehensive package that truly benefits South Dakota,” remarked Commissioner Gary Hanson.

Laborers International Union of North America, Great Plains Laborer’s District Council, and South Dakota Laborers Local 620 were granted intervention in this proceeding and began actively participating in the docket in December 2025.

The full docket can be viewed on the PUC website at puc.sd.gov, Commission Actions, Gas & Electric Dockets, 2025 Gas & Electric dockets, GE25-001 – In the Matter of the Joint Application of NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation, Black Hills Corporation and NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., for Approval of Merger.

-30-

Rounds to Attend Independence Day Fireworks at Mount Rushmore with President Trump

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he will be attending the Independence Day fireworks display at Mount Rushmore alongside President Trump on July 3.

“I’m looking forward to attending the fireworks show at Mount Rushmore on July 3 with President Trump,” said Rounds. “In South Dakota, we don’t just climb mountains – we carve them. Thanks to President Trump and his team, fireworks will once again be displayed over Mount Rushmore for the first time since 2020, just in time for the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. There’s no better place to celebrate than at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. Thank you to everyone who has been working hard to put on a great event.”

###

Gov. Rhoden Welcomes President Trump to Rushmore Fireworks!

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his attendance at the America 250 Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration. Governor Larry Rhoden welcomed him to America’s iconic monument of freedom.

“It is my honor to welcome President Trump to the great state of South Dakota – the freest state in a nation founded on the principles of freedom,” wrote Governor Larry Rhoden. “Together, we will throw the biggest birthday party ever for our nation and celebrate America’s legacy of freedom, liberty, and justice for all!”

The historic fireworks celebration will be held on July 3, 2026, in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and the National Park Service. Governor Rhoden and DOI Secretary Doug Burgum previously signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to move forward with planning for the fireworks celebration.

Tickets are required for attendance at the event, and they were distributed through a public lottery, which ended on April 12th. More information about the event, including FAQs, can be found on the National Park Service website.

###

Weekly Round[s] Up: June 15-22

Another week in DC means another edition of the Weekly Round[s] Up! This past week, my schedule was packed with meetings with people from all over South Dakota. I enjoyed visiting with many middle school and high school students this past week who were on school trips to see our nation’s capital. We also took procedural votes to pass the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. This bicameral, bipartisan housing reform bill includes four of my provisions to modernize rural housing programs and cut red tape.

As usual, I was back in South Dakota over the weekend where I attended a couple of events in Deadwood and Aberdeen. I had a great time visiting with members from the Livestock Marketing Association in Deadwood and veterans at the South Dakota American Legion’s 107th Annual State Convention held in Aberdeen. On Sunday, I spent time with my family celebrating Father’s Day. Being a dad is the single greatest job in the world, and I am blessed to be a dad of 4 and grandfather of 11. More on this past week in the Weekly Round[s] Up:

South Dakota groups I visited with: South Dakotans with the American Academy of Family Physicians; Liz Olive, CEO of Vista Care South Dakota; 40 students on the South Dakota Rural Electric Association Youth Tour; South Dakota REALTORS; and President Barry Dunn of South Dakota State University (go Jacks!).

I was also able to visit with a bunch of South Dakota students who were in DC for a school trip, including: Deuel Middle School, Webster High School and students from all across the state here for National History Day.

In addition, on Friday, I attended the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) Annual Convention in Deadwood. This was a great opportunity to speak with LMA leaders from across the state and country. On Saturday, I traveled to Aberdeen to attend the South Dakota American Legion 107th Annual State Convention. It was good to visit and thank our veterans for their service and incredible sacrifice for our country.

Met with South Dakotans from: Aberdeen, Brookings, Clear Lake, Deadwood, Hot Springs, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Spearfish, Vermillion, Watertown, Webster and Wentworth.

Other Meetings: Jay Clayton, Nominee for Director of National Intelligence; Lt. Gen. Douglas Scheiss, Nominee to be Chief of Space Operations for U.S. Space Force; John Doyle, CEO of Marsh; Erich Hernandez-Baquero, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Space Acquisition and Investment) nominee; Dr. Pradeep Khosla and Dr. Alexander Khalessi; Mark Cruz, Nominee for Director of Indian Health Service; Charlie Scharf, CEO of Wells Fargo; Ken Gleuck, Oracle’s EVP of Global Government Affairs; Jay Hurst, Nominee to be Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller); Shane Smith, CEO of Smithfield Foods; Jeff Ledbetter, Nominee for Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development; Sarah Heck, Head of Policy for Anthropic; and Jack Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ.

On Tuesday, I attended our weekly Senate Bible study, this time hosted by Senator Daines from Montana. And on Wednesday, I spoke at the USA Artificial Intelligence Summit.

Briefings: I received one Senate Select Committee on Intelligence briefing and another classified briefing as part of my work on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Votes taken: I took 10 votes this past week, including: Justin D. Smith, of Missouri, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit; Michelle Steel, of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Korea; and George Holding, of North Carolina, to be United States Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

As mentioned above, I voted in favor of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. I also voted Nay on a resolution to remove US Armed Forces from Iran, a resolution requesting information on Honduras’s human rights practices, and I voted against a resolution preserving Biden-Harris Immigration Court Backlogs CRA. Click here to read in more detail about these votes.

Steps taken: 61,241 steps or 28.68 miles.

My Staff in South Dakota Visited: Aberdeen, Corsica, Deadwood, Mitchell, Mobridge, Newell and Rapid City.

Video of the week: On Wednesday, I joined Blake Troli from KOTA to discuss the US-Iran peace deal and the National Defense Authorization Act. Click hereto watch the full interview.

Attorney General Jackley Announces Two Men Indicted On Sexual Assault Charges in Hamlin County

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces two men have been arrested in two separate sexual assault investigations involving minors in Hamlin County.

Those arrested were:

*** Christopher Verhoek, 34, Bruce, S.D., on two felony counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in the state penitentiary, a $4,000 fine or both for each count; two misdemeanor counts of Attempted Hiring for Sexual Activity, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail, a maximum fine of $2,000, or both for each count; and five misdemeanor counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail, a maximum fine of $2,000, or both for each count. The crimes occurred between 2024 and 2026. Verhoek was released on a $2,500 bond.

*** Kevin Benthin, 63, Estelline, S.D., on two felony counts of Sexual Contact with a Child Under the Age of Sixteen, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in the state penitentiary, a $30,000 fine or both for each count. He has also been charged with one misdemeanor count of Sexual Contact Without Consent of a Child 15 Years of Age or Older. That charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail, a maximum fine of $2,000, or both. The crimes occurred in 2021, 2022 and 2026. Benthin is being held in the Codington County Detention Center in Watertown on a $5,000 cash bond.

The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) investigated the cases. The Hamlin County State’s Attorney’s Office will prosecute.

Both men were arrested on Wednesday. They are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.

-30-

The word this AM is that a few delegates have had Spencer Gosch reach out to them trying to get them to switch their vote in the AG race to Jon Hansen, who has not officially entered the contest.  I’m hearing it’s being worded as “if he were to get in…. would you consider…”

The whole concept of Hansen running to be South Dakota’s Chief Law Enforcement officer at this extremely late date is quixotic, especially given his record on law enforcement.  As the Doeden camp noted during the Gubernatorial election, Hansen’s record on crime ain’t so great.

The same anti-death penalty Jon Hansen who voted against the prison has people fishing around about him entering the AG Race? The same Jon Hansen who has less prosecutorial experience than ousted Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg did wants to be the chief law enforcement officer for the state?  I’d leave it to his colleagues to judge, but I don’t thing I’ve ever heard his legal acumen lauded either.

Why would we make this guy the state’s lawyer and top cop?  Hard pass.

We have three well-qualified candidates running right now. They deserve the opportunity to make their case to the convention.

Because yesterday was not nutty enough with Senator Tom Pischke facing felony election fraud charges, the Sioux Falls City Election said “hold my beer!” as the results whipsawed back and forth until only two votes separate front runner Christine Erickson and South Dakota Democrat Jamie Smith.

And from what I read, there are some provisional ballots (5?) yet to be counted.

Wednesday is going to prove nerve rattling to the candidates until those results are in. Then the recount will start.

In other Sioux Falls election news, Sara Pankonin emerged victorious over Michael Crane in Ward 2 City Council race, Zach DeBoer fell to Zak Okuwe who out-worked and out-polled him in Ward 5.

And in the at-large contest, James Oppenheimer dropped a bomb on Vince Danh, blowing him out on a 51-33% basis.

Keep reading, as I’ll have more notes on the Erickson/Smith contest as we hear more about those provisional ballots.

From a press release: 

Senator Tom Pischke Steps Back from Party Obligations Amid Pending Charges

Pischke temporarily relinquishes roles as Region 1 Director and Minnehaha County State Committeeman

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Republican Party announces that Senator Tom Pischke has agreed to step back from his party obligations as Region 1 Director and Minnehaha County State Committeeman in light of pending charges brought against him. This step back is effective immediately and will remain in place until the matter has been resolved.

“Because of the charges that have been brought against Senator Pischke, he has agreed to step back from his party obligations as Region 1 Director and Minnehaha County State Committeeman until this matter has been resolved,” said Jim Eschenbaum, Chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party.

###

Pretty sure that the Minnehaha County GOP would be the ones to reinstate him. Or not. Since they’re the ones who selected him and all. But whatever.

From an expanded story on the Dakota Scout, Korry Petterson, the Minnehaha County GOP Chair has harsh words for Senator Tom Pischke if he is in fact determined to be guilty of the fraud against the electorate he is accused of:

Minnehaha County Republican Chairman Korry Petterson said if wrongdoing is proven to have occurred, it should not be tolerated and felony convictions would result in Pischke no longer being allowed to participate in official county party functions.

“I am deeply saddened that something like this has happened. If it turns out to be true, it’s my hope that he’s prosecuted to full extent,” he said. “We can’t have this kind of thing happening in our political system.”

Read the entire story here. 

South Dakota Public Broadcasting has an article on how Tom Pischke’s arrest for felony election fraud has filled the State Republican Party Chairman with disappointment:

“The only way it would be a problem at convention would be if he had been charged and decided he was still gonna go to convention and vote,” Eschenbaum explained. “We would’ve had a tough call to me. But he has voluntarily removed himself from that process, so. I guess it’s not an issue for convention at all.

and..

Eschenbaum said he’s disappointed to hear about the charges.

“Tom has been one of our most conservative voters. Just a stellar conservative vote record.” he said.

Read the entire story here.