Black Hills Power wants to raise its rates by 26.6 percent.  One local school says the hike would add tens of thousands of dollars to its yearly costs, forcing them to cut programs for students.

To keep students engaged and in a healthy learning environment, their school must be warm and well-lit.

"Have to heat the buildings, keep the lights on, make things work, right. We have no choice but to keep doing what we're doing," Spearfish Superintendent Dave Peters said.

But Peters says if a proposed utility rate increase goes into effect, some things will have to change to keep the grounds up and running.

Last year, the district paid more than $202,000 to Black Hills Power, meaning the proposed increase would tack on an extra $54,000 next year. School officials say that's the equivalent of one and a half teaching positions.

"If we stay with the same program, nobody gets any raises, we're going to be ok. If we think we need to cut programs or reduce things, we can reduce to allow some raises or program increases, that's going to mean people losing work," Peters said.

That prompted Peters to send a letter to the Public Utilities Commission. It's one of more than sixty received by the PUC protesting the proposed rate increase.

"Obviously, it's got people concerned, and it should. The economy is tough, times are not good right now for anybody, and the timing on this is especially difficult," Peters said.

Tuesday night's meeting of the Public Utilities Commission to take public input on the proposed hike begins at 7 p.m. at the Journey Museum in Rapid City. It won't end until everyone who gets there prior to 9 p.m. is heard.