UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

____________

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 23, 2007

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BLACK HILLS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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South Dakota

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

001-31303

 

46-0458824

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

625 Ninth Street, PO Box 1400

Rapid City, South Dakota

(Address of principal executive offices)

57709-1400

(Zip Code)

605.721.1700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

___________

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

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Item 8.01  

Other Events

 

On April 23, 2007, the Registrant issued a press release announcing that one of its non-regulated wholesale power generation subsidiaries has entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement to provide electric power to Public Service Company of New Mexico (“PNM”), a regulated electric and natural gas subsidiary of PNM Resources. The Registrants subsidiary will provide the capacity and energy of a 149 megawatt, simple-cycle gas turbine generation facility, called the Valencia Power Plant, to be located near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The project is expected to cost approximately $101 million, and has a commercial operation in-service date of June 1, 2008. The agreement is a customary tolling arrangement, where the Registrant’s subsidiary will receive variable and fixed fees for the plant’s availability and operation, and PNM will be responsible for the fuel component of operation. The agreement also allows PNM the option to acquire an equity interest of up to 50 percent in the project.

 

The press release is attached as Exhibit 99 to this Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01  

Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)

Exhibits

 

99

Press release dated April 23, 2007.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

BLACK HILLS CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By: /s/ Mark T. Thies

 

Mark T. Thies

 

Executive Vice President

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Date:  April 23, 2007

 

 

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit #

99

Press release dated April 23, 2007.

 

 

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