The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has approved a proposal from Mid American Energy to take over service to about two hundred farm tap customers in the state.
Those farms got natural gas service in exchange for allowing Northern Natural Gas to build a major pipeline across their land in the 1950s. Northwestern Energy had been the retail supplier, but wants to exit that service.
Brian Ribarik, an attorney for Mid American, told the commission they are taking steps to contact all the current farm tap users…..

Ribarik says they are working with Northwestern in moving the farm tap users…..

PUC Chair Kristie Fiegen says it appears to be a good compromise…

Public meetings on the plan will be held this week in Watertown, Beresford and Madison.
Mid American says the farm taps will be inspected, and customers would have to pay for any repairs that may be needed. They expect to take over the service on January first.