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Nebraska regulatory rate review

Providing you with the energy you depend on.

We filed a request with the Nebraska Public Service Commission to recover cost increases and the over $450.7 million investment we’ve made in our natural gas system since our last rate review nearly a decade ago along with planned future investments.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission and its staff will thoroughly review the request, and consider public comments along with testimony from the Nebraska Public Advocate’s office, utility representatives and other interested parties. The statutory deadline for the Nebraska Public Service Commission to issue a decision is 240 days, but the commission could rule before then.

Reliable Service Under One New Rate Structure

On January 26, the Nebraska Public Service Commission approved a rate request that will result in change to rates and create additional opportunities for our customers.  The following information highlights the benefits of the changes.

New Rates and Charges

New rates reflect Black Hills Energy’s investments to safely and reliably serve our 300,000 customers in Nebraska.  These new rates will be reflected on your March bill.

Final rates BH Nebraska gas final
Residential customer charge $15.45 per month
Commercial customer charge $28.43 per month
Large commercial customer charge N/A
Residential distribution charge tier 1 $.50858/Therm
First 20 Therms
Residential distribution charge tier 2 $.15000/Therm
Over 20 Therms
Small commercial distribution charge tier 1 $.50858/Therm
First 40 Therms
Small commercial distrubution charge tier 2 $.1500/Therm
Over 40 Therms
Large commercial distribution charge tier 1 N/A
Large commercial distribution charge tier 2 N/A

Interim Rate Refunds

As permitted under Nebraska law and part of the Nebraska Public Service Commission’s rate review process, customers began to see interim rates applied to their bills effective on September 1, 2020.  

Following the Commission’s final rate approval, customers will receive a refund (with interest) for the difference charged by the Company during the time period between the on September 1, 2020  and the newly approved rates effective on March 1, 2021.  Those refunds are currently estimated to appear on customer bills in either June or July after Commission review and approval of the company’s refund plan.

HEAT Incentives

HEAT incentives will now be available across the state. This incentive gives customers a hand up in terms of heating system installations and upgrades. 

Find out more about the incentive here. 

Learn more
 

Why are you requesting a rate review?

Ongoing investments in our natural gas system, including replacing and upgrading more than 500 miles of transmission and distribution natural gas pipelines are necessary to maintain safe, reliable service for our approximately 300,000 natural gas customers in 319 Nebraska communities.  Filing a rate review request with the Nebraska Public Service Commission is the standard process for a public utility to recover those costs and investments. 

We delayed our original timing in the best interest of our customers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The delay in filing has allowed for the Governor’s relaxed health directives to roll back before seeing any interim rate changes on October bills. 

Click here for more information on how we are assisting customers during the pandemic.

How to read my bill?

You'll begin to see a few changes on your bill. These changes include the total number of days between your last bill and current bill, and also how the charges are split based on the usuage during the first 28 days on the old rate and the 1 day on the new rate. 

Download an example