PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- Xcel Energy has filed a rate increase application with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. The power company is asking for a seventeen-point nine percent hike that they say would raise the average customers monthly bill by about twenty bucks.

Commission Chairman Chris Nelson says they may see more of these rate requests.

Nelson says they have been able to reduce many of the rate increase requests.

Nelson says it will take some time for the rate change to work its way through the process.

The rate hike requested by Xcel would impact about ninety-seven thousand customers.