Home › Utilities › South Dakota
South DakotaSouth Dakota interconnection applications
72 electric utilities serve South Dakota (EIA-861, 2025): 6 investor-owned utilitys, 30 electric cooperatives, 34 municipal utilitys, 1 public power district, 1 federal power agency. Together they serve 362,049 residential customers; 570 residential customers were on net metering at year-end 2025.
Largest utilities in South Dakota
Investor-owned utility · 1,420,807 residential customers · South Dakota
Applications: Own online portal – Xcel Energy Minnesota DER Interconnection Portal
Interconnection process and documents →Investor-owned utility · 69,800 residential customers · South Dakota
Interconnection process and documents →Investor-owned utility · 51,787 residential customers · South Dakota
Applications: PowerClerk – NorthWestern Energy PowerClerk – Level 1 Small Generator Interconnection Request
Interconnection process and documents →Electric cooperative · 26,360 residential customers · South Dakota
Interconnection process and documents →Electric cooperative · 20,959 residential customers · South Dakota
Interconnection process and documents →Electric cooperative · 18,975 residential customers · South Dakota
Interconnection process and documents →Municipal utility · 11,775 residential customers · South Dakota
Interconnection process and documents →Municipal utility · 10,769 residential customers · South Dakota
Interconnection process and documents →Electric cooperative · 9,415 residential customers · South Dakota
Interconnection process and documents →Investor-owned utility · 104,750 residential customers · South Dakota
Applications: Own online portal – Otter Tail Simplified Application (Smartsheet form)
Interconnection process and documents →Electric cooperative · 6,515 residential customers · South Dakota
Interconnection process and documents →Investor-owned utility · 120,678 residential customers · South Dakota
Interconnection process and documents →Export compensation among the researched South Dakota utilities: NEM, Net billing. Rules differ by utility – see each utility page.
South Dakota interconnection rule
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission
Interconnection ruleARSD 20:10:36 (Small Generator Interconnection) – Small Generator Facility Interconnection · source
Applies toPublic utilities (PUC rate-regulated IOUs: Xcel/NSP, Black Hills, NorthWestern, MDU, Otter Tail) for facilities <=10 MW not under FERC/RTO jurisdiction
Application formCommission tier application forms (application forms available from the commission, 20:10:36:33); certificate of completion; interconnection agreement
TimelinesTier 1: acknowledgment within 3 business days, completeness within 10 BD, applicant 20 BD to cure, review within 15 BD after complete (20:10:36:33). Completion requires passed screens, code inspector approval, witness test if done, certificate of completion, executed agreement (20:10:36:34).
FeesTier 1 $50; Tier 2 $50 + $1/kW up to $500; Tier 3 and 4 $100 + $2/kW up to $1,000 (20:10:36:06).
InsuranceTier 1: proof of adequate homeowners/general/commercial liability; Tier 2 up to $500,000; Tiers 3-4 up to $1,000,000 at utility request (20:10:36:26). Endorsements (utility additional insured etc.) not required for residential <=10 kW (20:10:36:27).
External disconnectOnly if required by the utility: primary-line lockable visible-break device; secondary-line lockable device with clearly indicated status; lockbox alternative (20:10:36:15).
Export compensationNone statewide
No statewide net metering rule; compensation per utility tariff (e.g. avoided-cost/PURPA).
Electric cooperatives and municipal utilities are not rate-regulated by the PUC and set their own interconnection and buyback policies.
| Level | Up to | Criteria / review / fee |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 10 kW | Inverter-based, lab-tested equipment, <=10 kW, not on transmission line · Acknowledge 3 BD; completeness 10 BD; review 15 BD after complete · $50 |
| Tier 2 | 2000 kW | <=2 MW, radial or single-premise spot network, lab- or field-tested equipment · $50 + $1/kW (max $500) |
| Tier 3 | 2000 kW | <=2 MW non-exporting (reverse/low forward power protection) · $100 + $2/kW (max $1,000) |
| Tier 4 | 10000 kW | All other <=10 MW (studies) · $100 + $2/kW (max $1,000) + study deposit |
- ARSD 20:10:36 chapter index: https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Rules/20:10:36.html (retrieved 2026-11-13)
- ARSD 20:10:36:06 Application fees: https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Rules/20:10:36:06.html (retrieved 2026-11-13)
- ARSD 20:10:36:26 Insurance amounts: https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Rules/20:10:36:26.html (retrieved 2026-11-13)
- ARSD 20:10:36:33 Tier 1 review procedures: https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Rules/20:10:36:33.html (retrieved 2026-11-13)
All 72 utilities in South Dakota
- Xcel Energy (Minnesota)94,137
- Black Hills Energy (Black Hills Power)67,608
- NorthWestern Energy (South Dakota)51,787
- Sioux Valley SW Electric Cooperative22,989
- Southeastern Electric Cooperative Inc.20,959
- West River Electric Association Inc.18,975
- Watertown Municipal Utilities11,775
- City of Brookings10,769
- Black Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc.9,415
- Otter Tail Power9,094
- Central Electric Cooperative, Inc.6,515
- Montana-Dakota Utilities6,348
- City of Pierre6,183
- Northern Electric Cooperative, Inc.5,823
- Rosebud Electric Cooperative Inc.4,911
- MidAmerican Energy4,236
- Dakota Energy Cooperative Inc.3,231
- City of Madison2,818
- Oahe Electric Cooperative Inc.2,335
- City of Volga1,094
- Nebraska Public Power District1,047
- Butte Electric Cooperative, Inc.0
- Moreau-Grand Electric Cooperative Inc.0
- LaCreek Electric Association, Inc.0
- West Central Electric Cooperative Inc.0
- Cherry-Todd Electric Cooperative, Inc.0
- Grand Electric Cooperative, Inc.0
- City of Vermillion0
- Bon Homme Yankton El Association, Inc.0
- Clay-Union Electric Corporation0
- H-D Electric Cooperative Inc.0
- Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative Inc.0
- Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, Inc.0
- Lake Region Electric Association, Inc.0
- Traverse Electric Cooperative, Inc.0
- Niobrara Electric Association, Inc.0
- City of Sioux Falls0
- Charles Mix Electric Association, Inc.0
- Cam Wal Electric Cooperative, Inc.0
- Southeast Electric Cooperative, Inc.0
- FEM Electric Association, Inc.0
- Winner Municipal Utility0
- Union County Electric Cooperative Inc.0
- City of Fort Pierre0
- City of Flandreau0
- City of Beresford0
- City of Elk Point0
- City of Miller0
- Kingsbury Electric Cooperative, Inc.0
- Douglas Electric Cooperative, Inc.0
- City of Groton0
- City of Parker0
- City of Tyndall0
- City of Arlington0
- City of Howard0
- City of Wessington Springs0
- City of Aurora0
- City of Onida0
- City of Plankinton0
- City of Burke0
- City of Estelline0
- City of Colman0
- City of Big Stone City0
- City of McLaughlin0
- City of White0
- City of Bryant0
- City of Hecla0
- City of Faith0
- WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration0
- Town of Langford0
- Town of Pickstown0
- City of Badger0
Residential customers in South Dakota per EIA-861 (2025). Customer counts = bundled + delivery-only service (EIA-861 Part A + Part D). Service territory is reported by county; a county can be served by several utilities.
$500 / month
Unlimited interconnection applications. 12-month agreement, signed online. The agreement starts the day you sign; first invoice right away, then monthly.
- Unlimited interconnection applications
- Single-line diagram and site plan for every application
- Pre-submission check against the utility’s requirements
- Homeowner e-signature link for the authorization
- Filing in your utility portal accounts or by the utility’s method
- Utility questions, corrections and resubmissions
- Follow-up through approval, inspection and PTO
- Customer list, exports, API and webhooks
Applications are typically submitted within 2 business days after complete documents. Utility review times are set by each utility.