WATERTOWN, S.D.(KXLG)- Codington County Commissioners gathered for their weekly meeting to discuss a franchise contract from the HD Electric Cooperative.

Craig Evenson, the project attorney for HD Electric Cooperative, introduced himself and the project engineer, Roger Cutshaw. They had come to seek approval for a franchise agreement that would ensure continued electric service to the residents of Codington County, especially during outages…

HD Electric Cooperative, Inc., founded in 1940 and headquartered in Clear Lake, South Dakota, has a long history of providing electric energy for lighting, heating, and power. The cooperative operates in multiple counties across South Dakota and Minnesota, all under the supervision of the United States Rural Utilities Service.

Evenson and Cutshaw detailed the existing infrastructure and the plans for new facilities. The cooperative has electrical lines in several townships, including Kranzburg North, Pelican, and Kampeska. They plan to add new lines in Sheridan Township during the 2025 construction season, primarily using public right-of-ways to minimize disruption. Installing these lines would resemble tile plowing, ensuring minimal surface disturbance.

The cooperative’s current franchise agreement with Codington County, established in 2011, still has about nine years remaining. However, HD Electric is seeking to consolidate and extend this agreement to a new 20-year term beginning January 1, 2024. This renewal is crucial for facilitating improvements to the infrastructure and securing additional funds from the Rural Utilities Service if needed.

Throughout the hearing, exhibits and maps were presented to illustrate the locations of existing and proposed lines. The maps clearly understood how the infrastructure would be laid out, ensuring that no new infrastructure would cross private property without appropriate easements. The cooperative emphasized its intent to coordinate closely with other public utilities operating in the county, as required by state law.

As the public hearing was opened for comments, and with no objections, the commissioners approved Resolution 2024-41, granting the franchise application. The motion passed unanimously, securing the cooperative’s ability to provide electric service to Codington County.