RAPID CITY, S.D. ( South Dakota News Watch ) - By the end of 2026, South Dakota residents from the far corners of the Black Hills to the southeastern tip of the state could be sharing an energy provider. Black Hills Corp. and NorthWestern Energy announced Aug. 19 that the two companies would be pursuing a merger, consolidating two of the largest public-utility providers in South Dakota.

Where do the companies operate now?

Both companies provide energy resources to South Dakota and several other states:

NorthWestern serves 787,000 customers in South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana and in Yellowstone National Park.

Black Hills Corp., which operates under the name Black Hills Energy for its distribution services, has a customer base of 1.35 million in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, K

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