Electricity Prices
South Dakota offers some of the lowest electricity prices in the nation, averaging 11.4 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2024.
Electricity price per kWh (Midwest region)
1979–2024BLS Average Price Data, annual average (APU020072610).
Natural gas price for power plants
1998–2025U.S. EIA Natural Gas Annual, price delivered to electric power consumers (N3045SD3).
| Indicator | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity Price (¢/kWh) | 11.4 | 16.5 |
- •Low-cost wind and hydropower help keep South Dakota's electricity prices among the lowest in the country.
Energy Production
South Dakota generates the vast majority of its electricity from renewable sources, with wind and hydropower dominating the state's power mix in 2024.
Natural gas marketed production
1979–2024U.S. EIA Natural Gas Annual, marketed production (N9050SD2).
| Indicator | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon-Free Generation (%) | 82 | 41 |
- •The Oahe, Big Bend, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point dams on the Missouri River supply about 27% of South Dakota's electricity.
Renewable Energy
Renewables, primarily wind and hydropower, supply the large majority of South Dakota's electricity, far outpacing the national renewable share in 2024.
Renewables share of total energy consumption
1960–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, renewable energy (RETCB) ÷ total energy consumption (TETCB).
Renewable energy consumption
1960–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, all renewable sources (RETCB), consumption in billion Btu.
Hydroelectric power
1960–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, hydroelectric power (HYTCB), consumption in billion Btu.
| Indicator | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Renewable Share (%) | 82 | 23 |
- •South Dakota briefly generated more than 80% of its in-state electricity from wind and hydro combined in recent years.
Solar Energy
Solar remains a small but growing part of South Dakota's energy mix as of 2024, with wind and hydro continuing to dominate generation.
Solar energy consumption
2002–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, solar, all uses (SOTCB), consumption in billion Btu.
| Indicator | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Share (%) | 0.5 | 5.6 |
- •South Dakota has significant untapped solar potential on the plains but has prioritized wind development to date.
Wind Energy
Wind is South Dakota's single largest source of electricity, supplying about 55% of in-state generation in 2024.
Wind energy consumption
2001–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, wind (WYTCB), consumption in billion Btu.
| Indicator | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Wind Share (%) | 55 | 10.2 |
- •South Dakota ranks among the top states nationally for the share of electricity generated from wind turbines.
Natural Gas
Natural gas plays a supporting role in South Dakota's power supply, providing about 10% of generation in 2024 alongside dominant wind and hydro.
Residential natural gas price
1967–2025U.S. EIA Natural Gas Annual, price delivered to residential consumers (N3010SD3).
Natural gas consumption
1997–2024U.S. EIA Natural Gas Annual, total consumption (NA1490_SSD_2).
| Indicator | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Gas Share (%) | 10 | 43 |
- •South Dakota's reliance on natural gas for power is much lower than most states because of its abundant wind and hydro resources.
Energy Consumption
South Dakota's residential electricity prices remain below the national average, helped by abundant wind and hydroelectric supply in 2024.
Total energy consumption
1960–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, all sources (TETCB), consumption in billion Btu.
Transportation sector energy consumption
1960–2024U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, transportation sector (TEACB), consumption in billion Btu.
Natural gas consumption
1997–2024U.S. EIA Natural Gas Annual, total consumption.
| Indicator | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity Price (¢/kWh) | 11.4 | 16.5 |
- •South Dakota's utility cost index of 97 is close to the national baseline of 100, despite cold winters driving heating demand.