PUC approves Northwestern Energy's 2025 report and 2026 economic development plan after removing chamber dues

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission on June 18 approved Northwestern Energy Public Service Corporation's 2025 economic development report and its 2026 economic development plan (dockets EL26-009 and NG26-003) after the company removed proposed 2026 membership dues that commissioners had said might fund political advocacy.

Rick Edwards, Director of Community Connections at Northwestern Energy, told the commission the company had removed membership dues for the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Professionals Association of South Dakota from the proposed 2026 budget at the commission's request. "We've confirmed that that was not the case, but we do respectfully agree that, that makes sense to remove those," Edwards said, describing letters the company requested from those organizations to confirm funds would not be used for political advocacy.

Edwards also said Northwestern kept the 2025 actual dues expenses in the 2025 budget attachment because they had been approved previously and that the company adjusted the 2025 Chamber dues entry to reflect a 17% decrease in the resubmitted documents. Staff reviewer Pat Steffensen recommended the commission approve the 2025 report and the 2026 plan after the supplemental materials.

A commissioner thanked Northwestern for responding to the commission's concern and for clarifying that customers would not be charged for lobbying or political activity; the commissioner added the change preserves the company's ability to exercise First Amendment rights and shareholders' ability to contribute separately.

The motions to approve both dockets passed unanimously on voice vote. The commission's action resolves the PUC's procedural concerns about the proposed budget language and leaves the revised plan and report on the record for future oversight.