YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- The heat wave is putting pressure on electric companies and consumers as air conditioning units spin up from Canada to Texas.

Bob Rowe, President and C.E.O. of Northwestern Energy says they were able to hold electric rates stable for quite a while.

Rowe says impacts on their customers are the primary focus.

Rowe says they are getting hit with rising costs too.

While investor-owned energy companies can’t raise rates without approval of the PUC, they can pass on their increased costs of fuel.