Grimes, Iowa — Black Hills Energy is seeking an increase in natural gas rates. If approved by the Iowa Utilities Board, the average residential customer would see an increase of $7.56 per month based on an average monthly use of 63 therms. Company officials say the increase for customers would vary, depending upon rate class, load factors and total usage.
Under Iowa law Black Hills Energy can implement a temporary increase that will remain in effect until the IUB completes its review of the proposal. As a result, company officials say they’ll implement a temporary increase of about $2.94 per month for the average residential customer beginning May 11th.
In a press release, Black Hills Energy says the last rate review was done in 2021, and that since then, about $100 million in improvements have been made to modernize their infrastructure and for safety improvements.
Black Hills serves approximately 160,000 customers in Iowa, including gas customers in Paullina and Primghar in our area, as well as in several nearby communities in Dickinson, Clay, and Cherokee counties.
(Courtesy fellow Community First Broadcasting station KUOO in Spirit Lake)
