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  <xsd:element id="bkh_LesseeSupplementalWeightedAverageScheduleRelatedtoLeasesTableTextBlock" name="LesseeSupplementalWeightedAverageScheduleRelatedtoLeasesTableTextBlock" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_LongTermDebtBeforeTheDeductionOfDeferredFinancingCosts" name="LongTermDebtBeforeTheDeductionOfDeferredFinancingCosts" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
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  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_MarketOffSystemSalesMember" name="MarketOffSystemSalesMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
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  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_NebraskaPublicServiceCommissionNPSCMember" name="NebraskaPublicServiceCommissionNPSCMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
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  <xsd:element id="bkh_NonCashRevisionToCapitalizedAssetRetirementCosts" name="NonCashRevisionToCapitalizedAssetRetirementCosts" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
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  <xsd:element id="bkh_NumberofDaystheCompanyhastoPayDistributionsofNetIncomeAttributabletoNoncontrollingInterests" name="NumberofDaystheCompanyhastoPayDistributionsofNetIncomeAttributabletoNoncontrollingInterests" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:durationItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
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  <xsd:element id="bkh_PendingFERCApprovalNumberofMegawattsCapacitytobePurchasedandDeliveredThroughIntercompanyAgreement" name="PendingFERCApprovalNumberofMegawattsCapacitytobePurchasedandDeliveredThroughIntercompanyAgreement" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:powerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
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  <xsd:element id="bkh_PropertyPlantEquipmentExcludingConstructionInProgress" name="PropertyPlantEquipmentExcludingConstructionInProgress" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_PublicUtilitiesAggregateAmountofCustomerCreditsThroughThePowerCostAdjustmentMechanism" name="PublicUtilitiesAggregateAmountofCustomerCreditsThroughThePowerCostAdjustmentMechanism" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_PublicUtilitiesAllowanceForFundsUsedDuringConstructionBorrowedInterestCostsCapitalized" name="PublicUtilitiesAllowanceForFundsUsedDuringConstructionBorrowedInterestCostsCapitalized" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_PublicUtilitiesAmountOfExistingRevenueCollectedThroughRiderMechanismsIncludedInNewBaseRates" name="PublicUtilitiesAmountOfExistingRevenueCollectedThroughRiderMechanismsIncludedInNewBaseRates" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
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  <xsd:element id="bkh_PublicUtilitiesIncreaseDecreaseinUtilityPlantMegawattCapacity" name="PublicUtilitiesIncreaseDecreaseinUtilityPlantMegawattCapacity" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:powerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_PublicUtilitiesIncreaseinMoratoriumPeriod" name="PublicUtilitiesIncreaseinMoratoriumPeriod" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="us-types:durationStringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
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  <xsd:element id="bkh_PublicUtilitiesNumberofElectricUtilitiesJointlyOwningWindProject" name="PublicUtilitiesNumberofElectricUtilitiesJointlyOwningWindProject" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_PublicUtilitiesNumberofGasDistributionTerritoriesConsolidating" name="PublicUtilitiesNumberofGasDistributionTerritoriesConsolidating" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_PublicUtilitiesPowerPurchaseAgreementAnnualCostEscalationPercentageThrough2022" name="PublicUtilitiesPowerPurchaseAgreementAnnualCostEscalationPercentageThrough2022" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_PublicUtilitiesPreviousApprovedMoratoriumPeriod" name="PublicUtilitiesPreviousApprovedMoratoriumPeriod" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:durationItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantandEquipmentCostOfPlantInvestment" name="PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantandEquipmentCostOfPlantInvestment" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
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  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_RateReviewFiledwiththeRegulatoryAgencyMember" name="RateReviewFiledwiththeRegulatoryAgencyMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_ReceivedApprovaltoMergeMember" name="ReceivedApprovaltoMergeMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_ReclassificationfromLegalEntityRestructuring" name="ReclassificationfromLegalEntityRestructuring" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_RemarketableJuniorSubordinatedNotesDue2028Member" name="RemarketableJuniorSubordinatedNotesDue2028Member" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_RestrictedCashFairValueDisclosure" name="RestrictedCashFairValueDisclosure" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_RetailElectricNaturalGasandCoalMember" name="RetailElectricNaturalGasandCoalMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_ReturnSeekingAssetsMember" name="ReturnSeekingAssetsMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_RevenueRefundedToCustomersAsAResultOfTheTCJATaxBenefits" name="RevenueRefundedToCustomersAsAResultOfTheTCJATaxBenefits" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_RevenuesMember" name="RevenuesMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_ScheduleOfEmployerContributionToEmployeeBenefitPlansTableTextBlock" name="ScheduleOfEmployerContributionToEmployeeBenefitPlansTableTextBlock" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_ScheduleOfJointlyOwnedFacilitiesTableTextBlock" name="ScheduleOfJointlyOwnedFacilitiesTableTextBlock" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_ScheduleOfMaturitiesofOperatingAndFinanceLeaseReceivableTableTextBlock" name="ScheduleOfMaturitiesofOperatingAndFinanceLeaseReceivableTableTextBlock" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
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  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_SeniorUnsecuredNotesDue2049Member" name="SeniorUnsecuredNotesDue2049Member" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
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  <xsd:element id="bkh_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPayoutSharesPercentage" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPayoutSharesPercentage" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbyShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceGoalPercentileofPeerGroupPerformance" name="SharebasedCompensationArrangementbyShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceGoalPercentileofPeerGroupPerformance" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardOtherThanOptionsWeightedAveragePriceRollForward" name="SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardOtherThanOptionsWeightedAveragePriceRollForward" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardPayoutPercentageofTarget" name="SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardPayoutPercentageofTarget" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_SharingArrangementwiththeCityofGilletteWyomingMember" name="SharingArrangementwiththeCityofGilletteWyomingMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_SilverSageWindPowerPurchaseAgreementMember" name="SilverSageWindPowerPurchaseAgreementMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_SouthDakotaElectricMember" name="SouthDakotaElectricMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_SouthDakotaElectricandWyomingElectricMember" name="SouthDakotaElectricandWyomingElectricMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_SouthDakotaPublicUtilitiesCommissionSDPUCMember" name="SouthDakotaPublicUtilitiesCommissionSDPUCMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_TaxCutsandJobsActof2017ChangeinTaxRateRegulatoryLiability" name="TaxCutsandJobsActof2017ChangeinTaxRateRegulatoryLiability" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_TaxCutsandJobsActof2017ReclassificationfromAOCItoRetainedEarnings" name="TaxCutsandJobsActof2017ReclassificationfromAOCItoRetainedEarnings" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_Thepercentagepaidincashfortheaccruedequityportionoftheperformanceshareplanuponchangeincontrol" name="Thepercentagepaidincashfortheaccruedequityportionoftheperformanceshareplanuponchangeincontrol" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_TotalContractCapacityInMeqawattsDueinYearOneofContract" name="TotalContractCapacityInMeqawattsDueinYearOneofContract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:powerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_TotalContractCapacityinMegawattsDuePerYearinYearsFiveThroughNineoftheContract" name="TotalContractCapacityinMegawattsDuePerYearinYearsFiveThroughNineoftheContract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:powerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_TotalContractCapacityinMegawattsDuePerYearinYearsTwoandThreeoftheContract" name="TotalContractCapacityinMegawattsDuePerYearinYearsTwoandThreeoftheContract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:powerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_TotalContractCapacityinMegawattsDueinYearThreeoftheContract" name="TotalContractCapacityinMegawattsDueinYearThreeoftheContract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:powerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_TotalOtherIncomeExpense" name="TotalOtherIncomeExpense" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_TransmissionOtherMember" name="TransmissionOtherMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_TransmissionTieMember" name="TransmissionTieMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_TransportationMember" name="TransportationMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_TransportationStorageGatheringAndCoalAgreementsMember" name="TransportationStorageGatheringAndCoalAgreementsMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinFiveYears" name="UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinFiveYears" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:energyItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinFourYears" name="UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinFourYears" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:energyItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinThreeYears" name="UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinThreeYears" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:energyItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinTwoYears" name="UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinTwoYears" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:energyItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueafterFiveYearsa" name="UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueafterFiveYearsa" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:energyItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueintheNextTwelveMonths" name="UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueintheNextTwelveMonths" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:energyItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_UtilitiesGroupMember" name="UtilitiesGroupMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_UtilityPlantMegawattCapacity" name="UtilityPlantMegawattCapacity" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:powerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_WeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueOfPerformanceAbstract" name="WeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueOfPerformanceAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="bkh_WeightedAverageGrantDateofFairValueShareBasedCompensationArrangement" name="WeightedAverageGrantDateofFairValueShareBasedCompensationArrangement" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:perShareItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasicAndDilutedAbstract" name="WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasicAndDilutedAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_WesttoEastTransmissionTieMember" name="WesttoEastTransmissionTieMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_WholesaleMember" name="WholesaleMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_WygenIGeneratingFacilityMember" name="WygenIGeneratingFacilityMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_WygenIIIGeneratingFacilityMember" name="WygenIIIGeneratingFacilityMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_WyodakPlantMember" name="WyodakPlantMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_WyomingElectricMember" name="WyomingElectricMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_WyomingPublicServiceCommissionWPSCMember" name="WyomingPublicServiceCommissionWPSCMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="bkh_WyomingPublicServiceCommissionWPSCandSouthDakotaPublicUtilitiesCommissionSDPUCMember" name="WyomingPublicServiceCommissionWPSCandSouthDakotaPublicUtilitiesCommissionSDPUCMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
</xsd:schema>
