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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Ad Hoc Meeting
Tuesday, October 27, 1998; 1:30 P.M.
State Capitol Building, Cactus Conference Room
Pierre, South Dakota

MINUTES OF THE AD HOC MEETING

Chairman Burg called the meeting to order. Present were Commissioner Pam Nelson, Commissioner Laska Schoenfelder, Executive Director Bill Bullard, Deputy Director Sue Cichos, General Counsel Rolayne Ailts Wiest, Staff Attorneys Karen Cremer and Camron Hoseck, Commission Advisor, Greg Rislov, Utility Analysts Harlan Best, Bob Knadle, Dave Jacobson, and Kylie Tracy, Consumer Representative Leni Healy and Administrative Secretary Shirleen Fugitt.

Joining the meeting by phone were Colleen Sevold, U S WEST; Jennifer Erschen, Telecommunications Reports; Susan Stewart and Marv Sorenson, MidAmerican Energy; Donna Bult, Advanced Communications; Bill Braun, Sterling International; and Bill Haas, McLeod USA.

Telecommunications

1. TC97-160 IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF STERLING INTERNATIONAL FUNDING, INC. D/B/A RECONEX FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE LOCAL EXCHANGE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA. (Staff Analyst: Kylie Tracy. Staff Attorney: Karen Cremer.)

Bill Braun representing Sterling International Funding, explained the application. Ms. Tracy recommended approval.

Commissioner Nelson moved to grant a Certificate of Authority. Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred. Motion passed 3-0.

2. TC98-140 IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC., FOR APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT FOR SERVICE RESALE BETWEEN KNIGHT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (Staff Attorney: Karen Cremer.)

Ms. Cremer explained the filing and recommended rejection of the agreement.

Commissioner Nelson moved to reject the agreement. Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred. Motion passed 3-0.

3. TC98-157 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY KAREN M. ERICKSON, ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA, AGAINST MCLEOD USA TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC. REGARDING UNACCEPTABLE SERVICES. (Staff Attorney: Karen Cremer. Consumer Representative: Leni Healy.)

Ms. Cremer reported that the complainant wishes to withdraw the complaint. Ms. Cremer recommended finding no probable cause and closing the docket.

Chairman Burg moved to find no probable cause and to close the docket. Commissioner Nelson seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred. Motion passed 3-0.

Natural Gas

1. NG98-009 IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF TARIFF EXTENSION FOR RECOVERY OF IGSPP PROGRAM. (Staff Analyst: Dave Jacobson. Staff Attorney: Karen Cremer.)

Marv Sorenson, MidAmerican Energy, explained that the filing was made in order to allow the tariff adjustment related to its Incentive Gas Supply Procurement Program (IGSPP) to continue until October 31, 1999, in order to reflect in rates the final two six month periods of data collection ending October 31, 1998. Dave Jacobson of Commission Staff commented that the order approving the IGSPP stated that it was to run for three years commencing November 1, 1995, and requested that the Commission clarify the order to determine if the plan and the associated adjustment would end October 31, 1998, or in the alternative, if the tracking of the plan would end October 31, 1998, and the adjustment to rates would be allowed to continue until October 31, 1999. Mr. Jacobson stated that he perceived the intent of the Commission in approving the plan, would allow the adjustment to continue until October 31, 1999.

Commissioner Burg moved to clarify that the adjustments resulting from data collected in the year ending October 31, 1998, be allowed to be implemented during the year ending October 31, 1999. Commissioner Nelson seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred. Motion passed 3-0.

The meeting was adjourned.

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Shirleen Fugitt
Administrative Secretary