Black Hills Energy Generates $1.65 Billion Economic Impact to Communities
KEARNEY, Nebraska — July 13, 2026 — Black Hills Energy has released its annual Community Impact Report, detailing a year in which the regulated electric and natural gas provider generated $1.65 billion in direct economic impact across the eight states it serves including Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
The report underscores the company's mission of "Improving Life with Energy," translating that commitment into measurable support for the 1.37 million customers and 850+ communities Black Hills Energy serves.
Key community investments and outcomes detailed in the report include:
-$4 million in charitable giving
-22,000+ employee volunteer hours
-2,000 families supported through Black Hills Cares energy assistance program
"Being a good neighbor means showing up in the communities where our employees live and work — not just delivering safe, reliable energy, but investing in the people and organizations that make these places thrive," said Andy Storf, general manager of Nebraska operations at Black Hills Energy. "The numbers in this report reflect thousands of individual acts: a line worker coaching little league, a crew donating a Saturday to a community event, a neighbor helping another neighbor find ways to lower their energy bill."
The commitment to the communities Black Hills Energy serves is most visible at the local level.
2025 highlights for Nebraska include:
-$107.1 million total direct economic impact, including charitable giving, employee compensation and taxes
-$669,000 in charitable giving to nonprofits, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, scholarships and community investments
-$175,000 raised for Black Hills Cares, the company's energy assistance program, helping 569 families in need pay their energy bills
-5,500+ volunteer hours contributed by employees to local organizations
-$158,000 invested in economic development efforts to strengthen local business communities
-$44,000 in United Way pledges across the state’s footprint, including over $35,500 in employee pledges plus a 25% match from the Black Hills Corp. Foundation
-1,600+ first responders and excavators trained on emergency response and safe digging practices tied to 811 "Call Before You Dig" awareness
-$30,500 in grants given to 20 fire departments through Funds for Firefighters grant program
"Improving Life with Energy isn't a slogan — it's a budget line, a volunteer schedule and a promise we make to every community we serve," Storf added.
Black Hills Energy employs nearly 2,800 community members dedicated to delivering safe, reliable energy through nearly 60,000 miles of pipelines and powerlines. Excluding dollars generously matched by customers through Black Hills Cares, the community impact dollars are from company profits reinvested into the community.