Nov. 12, 2025:
The Pierre City Commission has approved ordinances to increase the city’s residential and commercial electric, wastewater and water rates and usage fees by 5%.
Utilities Director Brad Palmer averaged one year’s worth of utility bills for each of the commissioners, the mayor, the city administrator and himself to give an example of the type of increase residential customers could see on their monthly bills.
Palmer says one factor in the increase for water ties back to building the water treatment plant.
He says the other factor in raising the water rates and usage fees is the newly installed water meters.
Palmer says the companies that supply Pierre with electric power are the main factors in determining electric prices.
Palmer says the wastewater increases are related to infrastructure improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.
While the Euclid Avenue-Highways 14/83 reconstruction project in Pierre is a South Dakota Department of Transportation project, Palmer says the City knew they’d have to replace some utilities.
The Pierre utility rate and usage fee increases take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Nov. 5, 2025:
The Pierre City Commission has given first reading to ordinances that would increase the city’s electric, wastewater and water usage fees and utility rates.
Brad Palmer is the Pierre Utilities Director.
When determining how much to increase any city utility rate or fee, Palmer says they consider a number of different factors.
The City of Pierre’s entire 2026 budget is about $12 million more than the current year’s budget. The approximately $73 million total includes large utility projects such as:
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the Euclid Avenue water line,
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the wastewater final clarifier and
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an electrical improvement project.
The usage fee increases take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
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