Black Hills Exploration & Production, Inc

Black Hills Electric Cooperative has been a part of South Dakota history for more than 60 years. It is headquartered in Custer, South Dakota. BHEC is a rural electric cooperative serving more than 6,800 members in six counties across 5,000 square-miles of southwestern South Dakota and the Black Hills. It all began in 1940 when a rancher named Fred Root requested electrical service from the investor-owned power company in the area. Discouraged by the prohibitive cost of transformers and other charges required to provide electricity, Root and his neighbors organized BHEC at Hill City.

Powder River Energy Corporation serves over 25,000 meters in a 16,200-square-mile area of northeastern Wyoming and southern Montana. The cooperative's headquarters office is in Sundance, Wyo. It has been providing electricity service to the area since the Rural Electrification Administration was established in 1935. Powder River Energy Corporation s main purpose is providing power, but also has programs designed to educate and inform. The cooperative awards scholarships for college students and employee training. It also sponsors an energy camp, designed for kids to raise awareness for energy conservation.

Founded in 1939, West River Electric Association is one of the largest electric cooperatives in South Dakota. As a member-owned corporation, the agency serves more than 14,000 members. It employs several workers, consultants, and technical and administrative staff. West River Electric Association s physical plant consists of over 2,500 miles of line within Pennington, Meade, Haakon, Ziebach, Jackson and Shannon counties in the region. The agency has partnerships with various industry, state and local associations. It offer a variety of electric powered products, such as grills, water heaters, cove heat systems, thermostats and heat meters. West River Electric Association maintains a location in Wall, S.D.