New law limiting utilities’ liability approved as wildfires break out in Black Hills

By: Joshua Haiar

Outlets: South Dakota Searchlight

Published: March 12, 2026

Words: 569

Last Updated: 1 week, 1 day ago

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As wind-driven wildfires flared up Thursday in the Black Hills and an electrical provider proactively shut off power to some customers, South Dakota’s governor signed a bill into law that will give utilities greater protection from wildfire lawsuits in exchange for filing wildfire mitigation plans.

Under the terms of the new law, private utilities may submit mitigation plans to the state Public Utilities Commission, while electric cooperatives and municipal utilities can submit plans to …

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