SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
May 24, 2002
(Date of earliest event reported)
BLACK HILLS CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
South Dakota 001-31303 46-0458824
(State of Incorporation) (Commission File No.) (IRS Employer
Identification Number)
625 Ninth Street
P. O. Box 1400
Rapid City, South Dakota 57709
(Address of principal executive offices)
(605) 721-1700
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address if changed since last report)
Item 4. Change in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.
On May 24, 2002, upon its review of the recommendation of the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, the Board of
Directors of Black Hills Corporation (the "Company") approved
the dismissal of Arthur Andersen LLP ("Arthur Andersen") as
the Company's independent auditors effective May 24, 2002.
In connection with the audits for the Company's two most
recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2001, and in the
subsequent interim period through May 24, 2002, there have
been no disagreements with Arthur Andersen on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which
disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Arthur
Andersen, would have caused Arthur Andersen to make reference
thereto in its report on the financial statements of the
Company for such time periods. Also, during those time
periods, there have been no "reportable events," as such term
is used in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
Arthur Andersen's reports on the financial statements of the
Company for the last two fiscal years neither contained an
adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they
qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or
accounting principles.
The Company has provided Arthur Andersen a copy of this Form
8-K prior to its filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). Arthur Andersen has provided us
with a letter, addressed to the Commission, which is filed as
Exhibit 16 hereto.
At the same meeting, upon its review of the recommendation of
the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, the Board of
Directors of the Company approved the engagement of Deloitte &
Touche LLP ("Deloitte & Touche") as the Company's independent
auditors for its 2002 fiscal year, subject to completion of
their normal client acceptance procedures.
During the Company's two most recent fiscal years ended
December 31, 2001, and the subsequent interim period, the
Company did not consult with Deloitte & Touche with respect to
the application of accounting principles to a specified
transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of
audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's
consolidated financial statements, or any other matters or
reportable events listed in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of
Regulation S-K.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits:
16 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities
and Exchange Commission, dated May 31, 2002.
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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
Sr. Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
Date: May 31, 2002
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Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number Description
16 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and Exchange
Commission, dated May 31, 2002.
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