State average · reviewed October 14, 2026
Why are South Dakota electric bills so high?
In July 2026 the average residential price in South Dakota was 15.37¢ per kWh, compared with 14.52¢ in July 2025 (+5.8%). The 2025 average monthly bill was $131.10 for 984 kWh. A single household can sit far from those averages because of usage, a rider, or a different utility.
EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A · Reviewed October 14, 2026
EIA-861 2025 average bill · Reviewed October 14, 2026
- July 2026
- 15.37¢
- +5.8% vs July 2025
- 2025 average bill
- $131.10
- 984 kWh a month
- 2025 average price
- 13.32¢
- 446,014 residential customers
Full service and delivery
Among distribution utilities in this extract, delivery-only residential customers were 0.0% of bundled plus delivery customers. A high share means many households buy energy from someone else. A low share means most reported customers are still full service. This is not a legal map of retail choice. Needs verification for a specific address.
Calculated from EIA-861 2025 residential customer counts · Reviewed October 14, 2026
Utilities
| Utility | Customers | Average shown | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Minnesota | 1,420,807 | Full service | 16.50¢ |
| MidAmerican Energy | 717,275 | Full service | 11.08¢ |
| Montana-Dakota Utilities | 120,678 | Full service | 11.47¢ |
| Otter Tail Power | 104,750 | Full service | 11.19¢ |
| Nebraska Public Power District | 75,267 | Full service | 10.93¢ |
| Black Hills Power | 69,800 | Full service | 15.07¢ |
| NorthWestern Energy | 51,787 | Full service | 13.35¢ |
| Sioux Valley SW Elec Coop | 26,360 | Full service | 13.87¢ |
| Southeastern Electric Coop | 20,959 | Full service | 12.98¢ |
| West River Electric Assn | 18,975 | Full service | 15.16¢ |
| Watertown Municipal Utilities | 11,775 | Full service | 9.29¢ |
| City of Brookings | 10,769 | Full service | 10.69¢ |
| Black Hills Electric Coop | 9,415 | Full service | 14.79¢ |
| Central Electric Coop | 6,515 | Full service | 14.67¢ |
| City of Pierre | 6,183 | Full service | 10.94¢ |
| Northern Electric Coop | 5,823 | Full service | 11.43¢ |
| Rosebud Electric Coop | 4,911 | Full service | 11.88¢ |
| Dakota Energy Coop | 3,231 | Full service | 16.28¢ |
| City of Madison | 2,818 | Full service | 12.41¢ |
| Oahe Electric Coop | 2,335 | Full service | 10.54¢ |
| City of Volga | 1,094 | Full service | 12.79¢ |
No residential customers in the 2025 extract
These 51 EIA respondents touch South Dakota and reported no residential sales in the files used here. Their profiles stay online so an old link does not 404, and they are left out of the sitemap so they are not indexed as thin pages.
- Bon Homme Yankton El Assn, Inc · Cooperative
- Butte Electric Coop, Inc · Cooperative
- Cam Wal Electric Coop, Inc · Cooperative
- Charles Mix Electric Assn, Inc · Cooperative
- Cherry-Todd Electric Coop, Inc · Cooperative
- City of Arlington - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Aurora - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Badger - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Beresford · Municipal
- City of Big Stone City - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Bryant - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Burke - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Colman - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Elk Point · Municipal
- City of Estelline - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Faith - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Flandreau · Municipal
- City of Fort Pierre - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Groton - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Hecla · Municipal
- City of Howard - (SD) · Municipal
- City of McLaughlin - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Miller - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Onida - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Parker - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Plankinton - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Sioux Falls - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Tyndall - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Vermillion - (SD) · Municipal
- City of Wessington Springs · Municipal
- City of White - (SD) · Municipal
- Clay-Union Electric Corp · Cooperative
- Codington-Clark Elec Coop, Inc · Cooperative
- Douglas Electric Coop, Inc · Cooperative
- FEM Electric Assn, Inc · Cooperative
- Grand Electric Coop, Inc · Cooperative
- H-D Electric Coop Inc · Cooperative
- Kingsbury Electric Coop, Inc · Cooperative
- LaCreek Electric Assn, Inc · Cooperative
- Lake Region Electric Assn, Inc - (SD) · Cooperative
- Moreau-Grand Electric Coop Inc · Cooperative
- Niobrara Electric Assn, Inc · Cooperative
- Southeast Electric Coop, Inc · Cooperative
- Town of Langford- (SD) · Municipal
- Town of Pickstown - (SD) · Municipal
- Traverse Electric Coop, Inc · Cooperative
- Union County Electric Coop Inc · Cooperative
- WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration · Federal
- West Central Electric Coop Inc - (SD) · Cooperative
- Whetstone Valley Elec Coop Inc · Cooperative
- Winner Municipal Utility · Municipal
A bill at the July 2026 state average
| Monthly use | At 15.37¢/kWh |
|---|---|
| 500 kWh | $76.85 |
| 750 kWh | $115.28 |
| 1,000 kWh | $153.70 |
| 1,500 kWh | $230.55 |
| 2,000 kWh | $307.40 |
This uses the statewide average, not your utility's tariff. Fixed charges make low-use bills diverge. Needs verification against the bill.
Regulator and assistance
Investor-owned base rates are usually set in a public docket. Municipal and cooperative rates may be set by a city or a co-op board instead. Which body sets this utility's rates needs verification.
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission
LIHEAP contacts for South Dakota are on the federal list. A utility's own discount needs verification.
Questions
Why are South Dakota electric bills so high?
In July 2026 the average residential price in South Dakota was 15.37¢ per kWh, compared with 14.52¢ in July 2025 (+5.8%). The 2025 average monthly bill was $131.10 for 984 kWh. A single household can sit far from those averages because of usage, a rider, or a different utility.
Who regulates electric rates in South Dakota?
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission publishes orders and pending dockets. Investor-owned base rates are usually set in a public docket. Municipal and cooperative rates may be set by a city or a co-op board instead. Which body sets this utility's rates needs verification.
What help is available in South Dakota?
LIHEAP is the federal bill-assistance program. State contacts are listed by HHS. Utility discounts need verification.