Utilities listed
21
South Dakota, 2025
Homes counted
446 thousand
Residential customers
Average price
13.32 cents
Per kWh, South Dakota
Average bill
$131.10
Per month
Utilities serving South Dakota homes
| Utility | Type | Homes in SD | Cents per kWh | Monthly bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Minnesota | Investor-owned | 94,137 | 16.50 | $104.68 |
| Black Hills Power | Investor-owned | 67,608 | 15.07 | $105.86 |
| NorthWestern Energy South Dakota | Investor-owned | 51,787 | 13.35 | $125.34 |
| Sioux Valley Southwestern Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 22,989 | 13.87 | $190.03 |
| Southeastern Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 20,959 | 12.98 | $151.37 |
| West River Electric Association | Cooperative | 18,975 | 15.16 | $135.78 |
| Watertown Municipal Utilities | Municipal | 11,775 | 9.29 | $82.26 |
| City of Brookings | Municipal | 10,769 | 10.69 | $94.09 |
| Black Hills Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 9,415 | 14.79 | $165.83 |
| Otter Tail Power | Investor-owned | 9,094 | 11.19 | $111.63 |
| Central Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 6,515 | 14.67 | $225.50 |
| Montana-Dakota Utilities | Investor-owned | 6,348 | 11.47 | $94.38 |
| City of Pierre | Municipal | 6,183 | 10.94 | $98.71 |
| Northern Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 5,823 | 11.43 | $239.29 |
| Rosebud Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 4,911 | 11.88 | $137.05 |
| MidAmerican Energy | Investor-owned | 4,236 | 11.08 | $90.99 |
| Dakota Energy Cooperative | Cooperative | 3,231 | 16.28 | $275.69 |
| City of Madison | Municipal | 2,818 | 12.41 | $131.21 |
| Oahe Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 2,335 | 10.54 | $169.88 |
| City of Volga | Municipal | 1,094 | 12.79 | $118.87 |
| Nebraska Public Power District | Public power district | 1,047 | 10.93 | $104.76 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data). Homes in SD counts only the customers in this state. Price and bill cover the utility's whole territory and bundled customers only. Delivery only means the utility carries power but does not sell it.
Who owns South Dakota's electric companies
| Type | Utilities | Homes in SD | Share of homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor-owned utility | 6 | 233,210 | 64.4% |
| Municipal utility | 5 | 32,639 | 9.0% |
| Electric cooperative | 9 | 95,153 | 26.3% |
| Public power district | 1 | 1,047 | 0.3% |
Each type is run differently. An investor-owned company answers to shareholders and a state commission. A municipal utility answers to a city. A cooperative answers to its members. That is why the same state can have very different prices and service from one address to the next.
What South Dakota utilities charge, by type
| Type | Utilities with a price | Average cents per kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Investor-owned utility | 6 | 14.01 |
| Municipal utility | 5 | 10.49 |
| Electric cooperative | 9 | 13.69 |
| Public power district | 1 | 10.93 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data). Customer-weighted average of the prices utilities report for bundled residential service. It leaves out delivery-only customers and retail providers.
Outside the investor-owned companies, the largest municipal utility is Watertown Municipal Utilities (11,775 homes), and the largest electric cooperative is Sioux Valley Southwestern Electric Cooperative (22,989 homes), and the largest public power district is Nebraska Public Power District (1,047 homes).
Price differences between types come from costs, customer density and the way each type is financed, so a lower average does not decide which is better for your home.
Utilities with full profiles
These South Dakota utilities are among the 600 largest in the country, and each has a profile with its service area, reliability and rate options.
- ProfileXcel Energy Minnesota1.42 million homes. Investor-owned.Open
- ProfileBlack Hills Power70 thousand homes. Investor-owned.Open
- ProfileNorthWestern Energy South Dakota52 thousand homes. Investor-owned.Open
- ProfileSioux Valley Southwestern Electric Cooperative26 thousand homes. Cooperative.Open
- ProfileSoutheastern Electric Cooperative21 thousand homes. Cooperative.Open
- ProfileWest River Electric Association19 thousand homes. Cooperative.Open
- ProfileOtter Tail Power105 thousand homes. Investor-owned.Open
- ProfileMontana-Dakota Utilities121 thousand homes. Investor-owned.Open
- ProfileMidAmerican Energy717 thousand homes. Investor-owned.Open
How South Dakota compares
The statewide average residential price is 13.32 cents per kWh and the average bill is $131.10 a month. See the full breakdown, rankings and neighbors on the South Dakota electricity rates page. Among utilities with at least 10,000 bundled residential customers, average prices ran from 9.29 cents at Watertown Municipal Utilities to 16.50 cents at Xcel Energy Minnesota.
Can you switch electric companies in South Dakota?
Most households cannot choose. The company that serves your address is set by where you live. Regulation and complaints go through the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.
Find yours
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South Dakota electric company questions
Who is the largest electric company in South Dakota?
Xcel Energy Minnesota serves the most residential customers in South Dakota, about 94 thousand homes in 2025 (EIA Form EIA-861).
How many electric utilities are there in South Dakota?
EIA lists 21 electric utilities with residential customers in South Dakota for 2025. Most households are served by a handful of the largest ones.
Which South Dakota utility has the lowest average price?
Among South Dakota utilities with at least 10,000 bundled residential customers, Watertown Municipal Utilities had the lowest average residential price in 2025 at 9.29 cents per kWh and Xcel Energy Minnesota had the highest at 16.50 cents. Prices reflect the utility's costs and customer mix, so a lower price does not mean better service.
Can I choose my electric company in South Dakota?
Usually not. Households in South Dakota buy electricity from the utility, municipal system or cooperative that serves their address.