Black Hills Energy Rates to Increase 22%

Black Hills Energy customers in the Big Horn Basin are facing up to a 22 percent increase in their rates, despite efforts from local leaders to limit the impact on residents.
The natural gas company announced earlier this year that it was seeking a 33 percent rate hike for Cody and Park County. Mayor Matt Hall attended the Public Service Commission meeting on Tuesday in Cheyenne on behalf of the citizens of Cody to speak against the increase, which seeks to offset a $1.4 million dollar deficit due to investments made to improve infrastructure locally.
According to City Administrator Barry Cook, Hall asked instead for a tiered increase, so the impact to citizens would be mitigated.

Cook says that Hall and the Advocacy Group were successful in at least reducing the total amount that Black Hills Energy could collect, down to $968,000 from the initial $1.4 million dollars requested. Cook added that commercial customers will see a 15 percent increase.