Black Hills Corp. Requests Rate Review and Rider Renewal in Nebraska

Core Viewpoint - Black Hills Corp. has filed a rate review application with the Nebraska Public Service Commission, seeking an increase of $34.9 million in annual revenue to cover capital infrastructure and operational costs for its natural gas utility serving over 304,000 customers in Nebraska [1][3]. Financial Summary - The company has invested over $453 million since its last general rate filing in 2020 to enhance safety, reliability, and system integrity of its natural gas pipeline infrastructure [2]. - The total annual base rate revenue increase requested is $53.4 million, which includes the $34.9 million in new revenue and an additional $18.5 million of rider revenue [3]. - The capital structure proposed in the application consists of 50.52% equity and 49.48% debt, with a targeted return on equity of 10.50% [3]. Operational Insights - The application includes a request to renew the System Safety and Integrity Rider (SSIR) to facilitate accelerated, safety-focused pipeline replacement across Nebraska [4]. - The company emphasizes its commitment to providing safe and reliable natural gas service while managing costs in an inflationary environment [3]. Company Overview - Black Hills Corp. is a growth-oriented utility company based in Rapid City, South Dakota, serving 1.35 million natural gas and electric utility customers across eight states [5].