SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KSNW) -- Black Hills Energy has announced its merger with another Great Plains utility company in response to what it says is a growing energy demand in the region.

Black Hills Corp, based in Rapid City, South Dakota, has over 1 million natural gas and electric customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. It will be merging with Montana-based NorthWestern Energy, which serves around 842,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska, as well as Yellowstone National Park.

The two will merge stocks into a new company, valued at $15.4 billion. The merger is driven in large part by the growing demand for energy after a relatively flat period in prior years.

“We are moving into a faster growth time,” says

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