(Des Moines)– A state regulatory agency has launched an investigation into a regional utility provider and its compliance with state and federal pipeline safety regulations.
The Iowa Utilities Commission, or IUC, is conducting a review of Black Hills Energy following a 2025 inspection of the company’s Spencer Unit, which includes natural gas pipelines in 18 communities in northwest Iowa. IUC inspectors found more than 100 safety issues spanning 16 violation categories.
The agency says there were no immediate threats to the public, but because of the high volume of problems found, the IUC initially opened the investigation in September of last year to address the findings and determine whether civil penalties were warranted. The IUC says that as they reviewed the data and looked at the company’s other operations, the agency became “increasingly concerned about potentially broader, company-wide safety issues that are not isolated to the Spencer unit”.
The IUC is deferring the final decision on civil penalties until the full evaluation of the company’s safety and management practices throughout the rest of Iowa is completed.
KUOO news reached out to the Black Hills Energy’s public relations office which issued this email response to the IUC’s report. It states “We are aware of the IUC’s order issued today regarding Black Hills Energy and a compliance inquiry regarding pipeline safety. We will thoroughly review the commission’s order and respond appropriately. Our top priority and responsibility at Black Hills Energy continues to be the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas service our customers depend on. This requires compliance with state and federal pipeline safety standards and regulations, and our ongoing work to maintain, upgrade and replace critical natural gas infrastructure to achieve the highest degree of safety and reliability.“
