Commission Minutes | previous page
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
October 28, 2020, at 9:30 A.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Commissioner Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Present were Commissioner: Gary Hanson; Commission Attorney: Karen Cremer; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; and Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Commissioner: Kristie Fiegen; Commission Attorney: Adam de Hueck; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss and Kristen Edwards; Staff Analysts: Patrick Steffensen, Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber and Eric Paulson; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Nancy Pangeman and Jason Topp, CenturyLink QC; Brian Riniker, self; David Gil, Crowned Ridge Wind II, LLC; Ryan Long and Steve Kolbeck, Xcel Energy; Miles Schumacher, Lynn, Jackson, Shultz and Lebrun, PC, representing Crowned Ridge Wind II, LLC; Amber Christenson, self; and Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy.
Administration
1. Approval of Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on October 13, 2020 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting held on October 13, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 86 contacts since the last report was prepared for the October 13, 2020, Commission meeting.
Ten contacts were related to telecommunications services, 34 contacts were related to electric services, nine contacts were related to natural gas services, seven contacts were related to wireless services, nine contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, 16 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC and one contact were referred to One Call.
1,020 of the 1,044 contacts received in 2020 have been resolved.
Telecommunications
1. TC20-047 In the Matter of CenturyLink QC's Petition for Elimination of the Qwest Performance Assurance Plan and Performance Indicator Definitions (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Mr. Jason Topp, CenturyLink QC, asked that the Commission approve CenturyLink’s request to eliminate the Qwest Performance Assurance Plan and Performance Indicator Definitions and deem all existing interconnection agreements that currently contain the Performance Assurance Plan and Performance Indicator Definitions be modified to incorporate these revisions, effective December 1, 2020, without further filings and approvals. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve CenturyLink’s request.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve CenturyLink’s request to eliminate the Qwest Performance Assurance Plan and Performance Indicator Definitions and deem all existing interconnection agreements that currently contain the Performance Assurance Plan and Performance Indicator Definitions be modified to incorporate these revisions, effective December 1, 2020, without further filings and approvals. Motion carried 3-0.
Electric
1. EL18-019 In the Matter of the Application of Crowned Ridge Wind II, LLC for a Facility Permit to Construct a 230-kV Transmission Line and Associated Facilities in Codington County (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Amanda Reiss, Staff Attorney, recommended that the Commission approve the transfer of the permit. Mr. Steve Kolbeck, Xcel Energy, and Mr. Miles Schumacher, Lynn, Jackson, Shultz and Lebrun, PC, representing Crowned Ridge Wind II, LLC, supported Staff’s recommendation.
Commissioner Hanson moved to grant Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Motion for Approval of Transfer of Permit. Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL19-027 In the Matter of the Application by Crowned Ridge Wind II, LLC for a Permit of a Wind Energy Facility in Deuel, Grant and Codington Counties (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards, Amanda Reiss)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL19-027. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2020, October 28, 2020, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2020/puc10282020.mp3.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to grant the Northern State Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Motion for Approval of Transfer of Permit. Motion carried 3-0.
Natural Gas
1. NG20-008 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Refund Plan regarding Northern Natural Gas Interim Rate Refund (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Mr. Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern), asked that the Commission approve the proposed refund effective November 2, 2020 on less than 30 days’ notice. Mr. Eric Paulson, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve NorthWestern’s request.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the proposed refund effective November 2, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 10:10 a.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Macy Jo Murren_______
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
October 28, 2020
