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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission

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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission
Agency overview
Formed1885
JurisdictionSouth Dakota
Headquarters
Annual budget$5,046,947 (FY 2025)[1]
Agency executives
Parent agency
State of South Dakota
Websitehttp://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]

Commissioners

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Name Party Start Next Election
Gary W. Hanson Republican January 7, 2003 2026 (retiring)[2]
Chris Nelson Republican January 8, 2011 (appointed) 2028[3]
Kristie Fiegen Republican August 9, 2011 (appointed) 2030[9]

External sources

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References

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  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.
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