Black Hills Corporation Announces 36th Consecutive Annual
Dividend
Increase and Year-End 2005 Earnings Conference Call
For Information Contact:
Mark T. Thies, Executive
Vice President; Dale
T. Jahr, Director, Investor Relations
RAPID CITY, SD—February 2, 2006—At
a meeting held today, the Board of Directors of Black Hills
Corporation (NYSE: BKH) declared quarterly dividends on
the common stock, resulting in the 36th consecutive annual
common dividend increase.
Common shareholders will receive 33 cents
per share, equivalent to an annual dividend rate of $1.32,
an increase of 3.1 percent from the $1.28 paid in 2005.
Dividends will be payable March 1, 2006, to all shareholders
of record at the close of business on February 15, 2006.
The Company will issue a news release for
fourth quarter and full-year 2005 earnings on Tuesday, February
7, 2006. In conjunction with this release, the Company will
hold a conference call on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 beginning
at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss financial
and operating performance. The conference call will be open
to the public. The call can be accessed by dialing, toll-free,
(800) 762-4758. When prompted, indicate that you wish to
participate in the “Black Hills Quarterly Earnings
Conference Call.” A replay of the conference call will
be available through February 15, 2005 by dialing (800)
475-6701 (USA) or (320) 365-3844 (international). The access
code is 817157.
Black Hills Corporation is a diversified energy
company. Black Hills Energy, our wholesale energy business
unit, generates electricity, produces natural gas, oil and
coal, and markets energy. Our retail businesses are Black
Hills Power, an electric utility serving western South Dakota,
northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana; and Cheyenne
Light, Fuel & Power, an electric and gas distribution
utility serving the Cheyenne, Wyoming vicinity. More information
is available at our Internet web site: www.blackhillscorp.com.
