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PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, March 4, 1997; 10:00 A.M.
Foss Building, Floyd Matthew Training Room
Pierre, South Dakota
NOTE: If you wish to join this meeting by conference call, please contact the Commission at 605- 773-3201 by 5:00 p.m., Monday, March 3, 1997.
NOTE: Notice is further given to persons with disabilities that this Commission meeting is being held in a physically accessible place. If you have special needs, please notify the Commission and we will make all necessary arrangements.
AGENDA OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Administration
1. Approval Of The Minutes Of The Commission Meeting of February 11, 1997, And The Ad Hoc Commission Meeting Of February 21, 1997. (Staff: Shirleen Fugitt.)
Consumer Affairs1. Status Report On Consumer Utility Inquiries And Complaints Recently Received By The Commission. (Consumer Representative: Leni Hook.)
The Commission received 252 consumer contacts during 1997. 112 contacts have been received since the February 11, 1997, Commission meeting.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: 89 contacts involved telecommunication issues. The unauthorized switching of long distance service was the main issue which involved 29 contacts; 19 billing issues were handled; there were 15 "other" contacts; 9 disconnection contacts were handled; ; 6 contacts involved service issues; 4 contacts involved sex line or psychic calls; 3 contacts concerned telemarketers; 2 Internet issues were reported; 1 contact involved a deposit; and 1 held order was reported.
ELECTRICITY: 10 complaints involving electricity were reported. 7 disconnection issues were handled; 1 contact involved a deposit; 1 contact concerned a high bill; and 1 contact dealt with a meter test.
GAS: 13 complaints involving natural gas were reported. 5 billing issues were reported; 4 were "other" issues; 1 disconnection issue was reported; 1 meter issue was raised; 1 rude employee issue was reported; and 1 payment cycle issue was raised.
A total of 153 complaints have been resolved informally during 1997.
ElectricityOn February 11, 1997, the Commission received a joint filing by e Electric Cooperative, Inc. ( e Electric) and Black Hills Power and Light Company (BHP&L) for approval of two territory trades. The first trade involves property already the subject of Docket No. EL96-021 and is, therefore, not included in this docket. The second trade represents a new filing made pursuant to a request from Norris Rovere, the affected landowner. Both utilities and Norris Rovere have agreed to the trade as has a second affected landowner, Steve Baker.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the territory trade between e Electric and BHP&L?
TelecommunicationsOn September 30, 1996, the Public Utilities Commission (Commission) received a Complaint from Cathy Feickert, Aberdeen, SD (Complainant) against U S WEST Communications, Inc. (U S WEST) alleging delays in installation of phone service and excessive construction costs. On November 1, 1996, a duly noticed meeting, the Commission reviewed the complaint and unanimously voted to find probable cause. A hearing was held in this matter on February 18, 1997. The issue at the hearing was whether U S WEST committed an unlawful or unreasonable act, rate, practice or omission.
TODAY, how shall the Commission rule?
2. TC96-187 IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF TELSAVE CORPORATION D/B/A INDEPENDENT NETWORK SERVICES FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA. (Staff Analyst: Dave Jacobson. Staff Attorney: Camron Hoseck.)
On November 21, 1997, the Commission received an application by TelSave Corporation d/b/a Independent Network Services for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company within the state of South Dakota. According to the application, "Independent Network Services offers inbound and outbound telecommunications services to residential and business customers, utilizing switched and dedicated access. Switched access service is available on a presubscription basis from equal access originating end offices. Independent Network Services will also offer travel cards, operator assisted calling, and debit card services." No interventions have been filed.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate of Authority to Independent Network Services?
3. TC96-198 IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF NEBCOM, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA. (Staff Analyst: Harlan Best. Staff Attorney: Camron Hoseck.)
On December 12, 1997, the Commission received an application by NebCom, Inc. for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company and provide local exchange service within the state of South Dakota. NebCom has purchased 12 exchanges in Nebraska from U S WEST Communications. The exchange of Spencer-Bristow extends into South Dakota providing local exchange service to 12 customers. Nebraska Commission approval was received on May 21, 1996, and the Federal Communications Commission issued its order for approval on November 15, 1996. No interventions have been filed.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate of Authority to NebCom, Inc. so that it may provide local exchange service in South Dakota?
On December 12, 1996, the Commission received an application by U S West Interprise America, Inc. (Applicant) for a Certificate of Authority to provide local exchange and interexchange telecommunications services within the state of South Dakota. Applicant proposes to offer high speed data communications services such as Private Line Data and fast packet services for the purpose of Network Integration for Local and Wide Area Networks (LANs/WANs). An intervention deadline of December 27, 1996, was established and Dakota Cooperative Telecommunications, Inc. (DCT), AT&T Communications of the Midwest, Inc. (AT&T), and the South Dakota Independent Telephone Coalition, Inc. (SDITC) timely filed for intervention. The Applicant filed a response to each of the above-mentioned petitions to intervene on January 6, 1997. A regularly scheduled meeting of January 14, 1997, the Commission granted intervention to DCT, AT&T and SDITC. On February 4, 1997, the Commission received a late filed petition to intervene from MCI Telecommunications Corporation (MCI). The Commission approved this late filed intervention a February 11, 1997, meeting. On February 26, 1997, the Commission received a late filed petition to intervene from Sprint Communications Company L.P. (Sprint).
TODAY, shall the Commission grant Sprint's late filed petition to intervene?
On January 15, 1997, the Commission received an application by U S WEST Communications to introduce Smart Public Access Line (Smart PAL) on a flat and message rated monthly recurring and non-recurring basis to its Exchange and Network Services Tariff. According to the application, the "introduction of Smart PAL is intended to meet the requirements in the FCC Order 96-388 (Paragraphs 146 and 147) as modified in FCC Order 96-439 (Paragraph 163) to provision a coin line for use by all Payphone Service Providers who wish to place a "dumb" payphone set on the line. The coin line has traditionally been used only by U S WEST Public Services. In addition, this filing proposes withdrawing language in the tariff which regulates the operational characteristics of Payphone Service Provider pay telephones. The effective date requested for this filing is April 15, 1997." No interventions have been filed.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve U S WEST's proposed tariff revisions?
On January 16, 1997, the Commission received an application by Heartland Telecommunications Company of Iowa (Heartland) for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company and provide local exchange service within the state of South Dakota. Heartland has purchased two exchanges, the Hawarden exchange and the Akron exchange, from U S WEST Communications, Inc. that extend into South Dakota. No interventions have been filed.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate of Authority to Heartland so that it may provide local exchange service in South Dakota?
On January 21, 1997, the Commission received a complaint by Robert E. McGinnis (Complainant) against U S WEST Communications, Inc. (Respondent). The complaint involved international call blocking, reconnection fees, allegations of unreasonable U S WEST employees, and ongoing communications issues. A resolution has been reached between the parties.
TODAY, shall the Commission dismiss this complaint and close this docket based on the resolution reached between the parties?
Announcements1. The next Commission meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., March 18, 1997, in Room 412 of the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
______________________________
William Bullard, Jr.
Executive Director
Wednesday, February 26, 1997
Please see addendum to this agenda.
