Can households afford energy in South Dakota?
20th of 51. All South Dakota households: 2.8% ($2,371 of $84,623). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 20.7% on $8,326. Renters 2.9%, owners 2.8%.
South Dakota burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in South Dakota: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 24% of homes (84,253 of 351,182).
South Dakota burden, % of income
- 20.7Under 30%
- 7.330% to 60%
- 5.060% to 80%
- 4.080% to 100%
- 2.1Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in South Dakota down to 6% takes $1,220 off its $1,720 energy cost, or $20,341 more income.
South Dakota income, cost and burden
| Bracket | South Dakota homes | Share | South Dakota income | Electric | All energy | South Dakota burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 32,750 | 9% | $8,326 | $1,127 | $1,720 | 20.7% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 51,503 | 15% | $25,613 | $1,215 | $1,878 | 7.3% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 40,137 | 11% | $41,786 | $1,353 | $2,067 | 5.0% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 38,925 | 11% | $58,585 | $1,503 | $2,316 | 4.0% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 187,867 | 53% | $128,648 | $1,737 | $2,696 | 2.1% | 1.6% |
| All | 351,182 | 100% | $84,623 | $1,534 | $2,371 | 2.8% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in South Dakota
Renters pay $1,218 on $41,827 (2.9%); owners $2,903 on $104,363 (2.8%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: utility gas, 47% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 7.3%.
| South Dakota heating fuel | Homes | Share | South Dakota income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 113,908 | 32.4% | $75,070 | $1,909 | 2.5% |
| Utility gas | 165,388 | 47.1% | $93,202 | $2,232 | 2.4% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 55,268 | 15.7% | $85,995 | $3,556 | 4.1% |
| Fuel oil | 4,996 | 1.4% | $62,837 | $4,572 | 7.3% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 11,622 | 3.3% | $59,010 | $2,285 | 3.9% |
Your burden against South Dakota
Help and shutoff rules in South Dakota
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 24,510 homes, 29 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $21,279,081, $253 per such home.
Eligibility listed: Heating and Crisis: 200% Federal Poverty Guideline for households with 1-3 members, 60% State Median Income for househol.
Benefits listed: Heating: $668 minimum, $3,437 maximum Crisis: $2,400 maximum.
- South Dakota LIHEAP office, phone 605-773-3165
- Clearinghouse snapshot, South Dakota
- South Dakota help with your bill
Cold-weather clause: Nov 1 to Mar 31: utility may not disconnect residential service without adding 30 extra days to the normal payment/notice periods, and must notify customer of the additional 30 days (20:10:20:10). Delay, not a ban; no temperature trigger found.
Read: ARSD 20:10:20:03, 20:10:20:05, 20:10:20:06, 20:10:20:10, 20:10:20:11, checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your South Dakota utility.
Highest-burden South Dakota counties
51 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Todd County at 6.7%, lowest of the 51: Lincoln County at 2.1%.
| South Dakota county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd County | 2,407 | $40,857 | $2,743 | 6.7% | 16.9% |
| Oglala Lakota County | 2,684 | $44,070 | $2,853 | 6.5% | 16.7% |
| Marshall County | 1,669 | $93,116 | $5,405 | 5.8% | 20.6% |
| Corson County | 1,071 | $57,896 | $3,100 | 5.3% | 15.9% |
| Day County | 2,348 | $74,149 | $3,934 | 5.3% | 15.8% |
| Edmunds County | 1,542 | $93,904 | $4,891 | 5.2% | 22.8% |
| Roberts County | 3,659 | $73,576 | $3,651 | 5.0% | 15.5% |
| Bennett County | 1,014 | $59,352 | $2,910 | 4.9% | 14.6% |
Next to South Dakota in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do South Dakota households spend on energy?
2.8% for all households ($2,371 of $84,623) and 9.6% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in South Dakota?
Households under 30% of median income: 20.7%, 32,750 homes spending $1,720 on $8,326.
How many South Dakota homes get LIHEAP heating help?
24,510 in FY2024, 29 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole South Dakota energy burden?
No: electricity is 1.8% of 2.8%; gas and other fuel are the rest.