Revenue decreased 1 percent in 1997 due to a decrease in the price charged to the utility's operations. Wyodak Resources had record coal production of 3,251,000 tons in 1997.

Revenue increased 4.8 percent in 1996 and 4.5 percent in 1995, due to a 10.5 percent and a 5.0 percent increase in tons of coal sold in 1996 and 1995, respectively.

Operating expenses decreased 1 percent in 1997 due to lower revenue based taxes other than income taxes and increased 8.1 percent in 1996 and 5.7 percent in 1995 reflecting the increase in tons of coal sold.

Non-operating income was $1,066,000 in 1997 compared to $2,725,000 in 1996 and $2,279,000 in 1995. Non-operating income includes gains or losses on sale or disposal of property and equipment and interest income from investments. Non-operating income increased in 1996 due to a $700,000 gain realized on the disposal of equipment and an increase in cash available for investment. Non-operating income increased in 1995 due to a $700,000 gain realized on the disposal of equipment offset by a decrease in interest rates.

Wyodak Resources expects relatively stable sales in 1998 absent unplanned outages at the Wyodak Plant or Black Hills Power's plants.

Black Hills Corporation's SEC filings, including 8-Ks, 10-Qs and 10-Ks, can be reviewed via the SEC EDGAR Database.

© 1996 Black Hills Corporation

This page last modified 04/28/98