Public Utilities Commissioner announces reelection for statewide office

Kristie Fiegen kicks off campaign in hometown

PARKER—South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen wants a third term in the office.

The Republican and former state lawmaker announced her candidacy for reelection during a campaign event Wednesday night at the Turner County Fair.

“South Dakotans want a PUC commissioner who is fair and honest,” Fiegen said while making her announcement. “As your PUC commissioner, I will keep utility companies accountable to the people and advocate for reliable service at fair rates.”

Fiegen, 60, has served on the Public Utilities Commission — a three-member elected board with oversight over public utilities, grain warehouses and grain buyers — since 2012 and right now serves as PUC chairwoman.

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Since joining the commission, Fiegen says she’s acted as a consumer advocate for South Dakota utility consumers and keeping rates reasonable while providing reliable service.

And that’s more important than ever with an evolving energy policy landscape, she said.

“Keeping the lights on is essential to our state as President Biden’s radical anti-fossil fuel energy policy is causing the lights to go out,” Fiegen said. “We must have ‘all above energy’ to ensure reliability of our electricity.”

In touting her track record, Fiegen also points to a desire she shares with fellow Public Utilities Commissioners Chris Nelson and Gary Hanson to expand broadband, cell phone coverage and electric transmission infrastructure in the state.

Fiegen will seek the South Dakota GOP nomination for the at-large PUC seat at the State Republican Party Convention in June 2024. That would earn her a place on the general election ballot the following November.

The Democratic Party has yet to field a candidate to challenge the Republican in next year’s race, though state party chair Jennifer Slaight-Hansen told The Dakota Scout that despite turmoil within the party, South Dakota Democrats are determined to find a formidable opponent to challenge whoever GOP delegates nominate.

“Dems are currently in conversation with multiple individuals regarding the PUC race,” she said. “The issues surrounding the proposed CO2 pipeline have brought to light just how important this seemingly trivial position really is, and we don’t intend to let it go uncontested.”

Fiegen and other commissioners in September will decide the fate of an application from the carbon sequestration company Navigator CO2 for a proposed carbon pipeline set to run through portions of eastern South Dakota. Permitting hearings for Summit Carbon Solutions, another company planning a pipeline through the state, are also slated for next month, though Fiegen will not participate in those proceedings due to that project’s potential impact on land owned by her family.

Fiegen and her husband Tim, have two adult sons.