BLACK HILLS ENERGY SAFETY ADVISORY

Customers advised to ask Black Hills Energy utility employees for company
identification before allowing access to a home or business

Media Contacts:
Bob McKeon 402-943-9143
Janaan Harp 402-680-8928
Black Hills Media Line 866-243-9002

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, April 3, 2009 – Public safety is a top priority for Black Hills Energy. That’s why the company is advising its customers to always verify the identity of anyone who says they’re with the “gas company” and who is trying to gain entry into their house or business. If in doubt, prior to letting a person who claims to be representing the gas company or Black Hills Energy into your home or business, call Black Hills Energy at 888-890-5554 to confirm that the company has dispatched an employee or contractor to your home or business to do work.

A Council Bluffs resident this week reported that someone tried to gain entry to her home claiming they were a “gas man” and needed to work on the natural gas meter. Black Hills Energy, Council Bluffs’ natural gas provider, did not have any work scheduled at the house where the incident took place nor had an employee or contractor been dispatched, which the customer verified later with the company. She also notified police.

“The safety of our customers is important to us,” said Nick Gardner, operations supervisor for Black Hills Energy in Council Bluffs. “While normally we call first to schedule work, there are occasions where due to a significant project we may need to access a number of individual houses and businesses without an appointment. In those cases, even though our Black Hills Energy employees will be uniformed and drive clearly marked vehicles, customers should also ask to see the person’s company identification and if in doubt, call our toll-free number to verify that the work is needed. Black Hills Energy customer service associates are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Black Hills Energy serves 149,500 natural gas customers in 130 Iowa communities. Black Hills Energy is part of Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) — a diversified energy company with a tradition of exemplary service and a vision to be the energy partner of choice — based in Rapid City, S.D. The company has other main offices in Golden, Colo., and Omaha, Neb. Black Hills Corp.’s regulated utilities serve 759,000 electric and natural gas utility customers in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. The company’s non-regulated businesses generate wholesale electricity, produce natural gas, oil and coal, and market energy. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com.

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