Gillette, WY. – April 10, 2020 – Black Hills Energy’s number one priority is the continued safety of its customers and employees. To ensure the ability to provide safe, reliable electric and natural gas services, Black Hills Energy has adjusted its response to focus on immediate community needs and has measures in place to ensure it continues to serve its customers in a way that is safe for everyone.

“Black Hills Energy is committed to doing its part to slow the spread of COVID-19 while proving an essential service that keeps us all warm and protected,” said Marc Ostrem, Vice President of Mines and Power Delivery. “To ensure everyone’s wellbeing, we’ve activated an essential response plan aimed to do both.”

To date, Black Hills Energy has not experienced any significant impacts on the delivery of energy to its nearly 1.3 million customers across its eight state footprint. The plan is designed to maintain critical electric and natural gas services for all customers. Under these new guidelines, multiple services will continue including responding to emergency calls, mandated construction work, maintaining a safe system and starting service for a customer.

To safely perform these critical needs, Black Hills Energy is taking extra steps to protect its customers and its employees, including:

• Crews will continue to respond to all emergency calls and will be wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and following health practices as recommended by the CDC and other health organizations.
• Paid leave will be provided for employees who tests positive or are put under quarantine.
• Certain employees may enter into sequestration based on several criteria that may vary by location, for example, government shelter in place orders, percentage of the local population that has tested positive for COVID-19, or a reduction of the available workforce. Employee groups across Black Hills Energy who provide critical functions needed to operate a very complex electrical system and provide essential gas service are those that may be called to action.

To support our customers who may be impacted by the nation’s response to COVID-19, Black Hills Energy is temporarily suspending nonpayment disconnections for our customers. We realize that due to possible extended periods of isolation, customers may face financial hardships effecting their ability to timely pay their energy bills. We offer various assistance options to our customers such as, payment arrangements, budget billing and medical extensions. Visit www.blackhillsenergy.com for more information about these programs.