Black Hills Corp. (BKH) will raise its quarterly dividend by six percent to $0.445 per share in the first quarter of 2017.

Common shareholders of record at the close of business on Feb. 15, 2017, will receive $0.445 per share, payable on March 1, 2017.

"We are proud to continue one of the longest records of dividend increases in the utility sector with 47 years of consecutive increases," said David R. Emery, chairman and CEO of Black Hills Corp. "A higher dividend growth rate in 2017 demonstrates confidence in our ability to grow future earnings and also affirms our commitment of sharing earnings growth with shareholders while maintaining the capital to continue building long-term value."

Black Hills Corp. is a utility company serving natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. The company also generates wholesale electricity and produces natural gas, oil and coal.