Incumbent raises more than opponents in PUC race, and has support from industry groups • South Dakota Searchlight

The Republican incumbent running for reelection to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has raised and spent more than her Libertarian and Democratic challengers combined, and is the only candidate in the race to receive money from political action committees whose donors could have business before the commission.

According to campaign finance reports filed this week, Kristie Fiegen had about $41,000 on hand in May and has raised nearly $19,000 since then while spending about $29,000, leaving her with about $30,000. Libertarian candidate Gideon Oakes started from zero and reported raising about $2,500 and spending it all, while Democratic candidate Forrest Wilson also started from zero, received about $5,500 in contributions, and spent $5,200.

Contributions to Fiegen, who has served on the commission since 2011, included money from three political action committees: $1,500 from COTEL, which is the political action committee for members of the South Dakota Telecommunications Association; $1,000 from SD Action Committee for Rural Electrification; and $1,000 from Midcontinent Communications South Dakota Political Action Committee. 

Fiegen is the only one of the three elected commissioners up for election this year. They oversee the regulation of private utility companies, which provide essential services including telecommunications, electricity and natural gas. The commission exercises a more limited regulatory role with telecommunications companies and cooperative and municipal utilities. 

Commissioners also consider permits for major projects, such as new power plants, transmission lines and wind and solar farms.