Kansas Corporation Commission to hold a public hearing on Black Hills Energy rate increase request

TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) will hold a public hearing next week to give Black Hills gas customers an opportunity to learn more about the company’s rate increase request, ask questions and make comments before the Commission.

Black Hills is requesting to increase rates by $17.2 million to recover costs already incurred by the company to support safe and reliable delivery of natural gas to customers. If approved, the average residential bill would increase by 17.6%. For a customer with average usage, that equates to an increase of approximately $11 per month to take effect in the second half of 2025. Black Hills provides natural gas service to approximately 120,000 Kansas customers.

The public hearing will be held in Wichita on Tuesday, April 29 at Lowe Auditorium at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th St. North, beginning at 6 p.m.

To make the hearing accessible for Black Hills customers unable to attend in person, a virtual option through Zoom is available, giving remote participants a chance to comment and ask questions. Zoom participants must register in advance on the KCC’s website  by noon on April 28. The hearings will also be broadcast live on the KCC’s YouTube channel for viewing only with no registration required.

The Commission is also accepting written comments through 5 p.m., June 20, 2025. Comments may be submitted on the KCC’s website, by mail to the Commission’s Office at 1500 SW Arrowhead Rd, Topeka, KS 66604-4027 or by calling the KCC’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 785-271-3140 or 800-662-0027.

 The Commission will issue an order on the application on or before August 29, 2025.