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PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
Thursday, March 26, 1998; 10:00 A.M.
State Capitol Building, Room 468
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. on Wednesday, March 25, 1998.
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.
Administration
1. Approval Of The Minutes Of The Commission Meeting Held On March 10, 1998. (Staff: Shirleen Fugitt.)
Consumer Affairs1. Status Report On Consumer Utility Inquiries And Complaints Recently Received By The Commission. (Consumer Representative: Leni Healy.)
The Commission has received 414 consumer contacts during 1998. 112 contacts have been received since the March 10, 1998, Commission meeting.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: 103 of the contacts involved telecommunication issues. 49 contacts involved the unauthorized switching of long distance service; 15 contacts involved the unauthorized billing for services; 10 billing issues were reported; 4 contacts involved telemarketers; 3 contacts concerned poor service; 3 contacts did not get service when requested; 3 contacts were assessed the wrong rates; 2 contacts involved number intercept issues; 2 contacts involved collect calls; 2 contacts were classified as "other"; and the remaining contacts involved 900# charges, deposits, disconnection, double billing, rates, lifeline, local slamming, sex line charges, taxes, and toll blocking.
ELECTRICITY: 6 contacts involving electricity were reported. 2 contacts involved disconnections; 2 contacts involved high bills; and the remaining contacts involved poor service and stray voltage.
NATURAL GAS: 3 contacts involving natural gas were reported. 2 disconnections were reported and one request for service was made.
A total of 219 complaints have been resolved informally during 1998.
Electric
On March 19, 1998, the City of Pierre filed a Petition for Declaratory Ruling regarding a transmission line. "The City of Pierre, because of the need for greater reliability has approved a route for a new 115kV transmission line. This line will interconnect Western Area Power Administration's Oahe-Pierre 115kV line with the City's Ash Substation, resulting in a loop system. This system will increase the reliability of the City's power supply by having the ability to "back up" any system outage that may occur." It is the City's assumption, based on the Siting Act, SDCL 49- 41B-2.1, that no siting permit will be required for the construction of the line and therefore, requests that the Commission issue a declaratory ruling upholding its assumption.
TODAY, how shall the Commission proceed?
Natural Gas/ElectricOn February 17, 1998, Northwestern Public Service Company filed revisions to its gas and electric tariffs. NWPS has had purchased gas, fuel, and tax adjustment clauses as part of its tariffs for many years. In this filing, NWPS proposes to combine these into an adjustment clause which aligns NWPS's clause with all of the provisions of SDCL 49-34A-25. In addition, the proposed tariffs will help NWPS to accommodate expected changes within the gas and electric industries related to unbundling of services, and any changes in the tax treatment of utility property or sales transactions.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve NWPS's Tariff changes?
TelecommunicationsOn April 11, 1997, IDT Corporation filed for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company within the state of South Dakota. "Applicant is a switchless reseller which intends to offer 1+ direct dialing, 800 toll free, travel card, and prepaid calling card service through the resale of telephone services provided by facilities-based inter-exchange carriers."
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate Of Authority to IDT Corporation?
On June 13, 1997, Journey Telecom International, Inc. filed for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company within the state of South Dakota. A revised application was received on November 3, 1997. Journey Telecom International, Inc. is seeking to offer inter- exchange services on a non-facilities basis.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate Of Authority to Journey Telecom International, Inc.?
On June 19, 1997, Quintelco, Inc. filed for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company within the state of South Dakota. "Applicant intends to subscribe to and resell all forms of inter-exchange and intra-exchange telecommunications services in the state of South Dakota, including local dial tone services, Message Telephone Service, Wide Area Telephone Service, WATS-like services, foreign exchange service, private lines, tie lines, access service, cellular service, local switched service and other services and facilities of communications common carriers and other entities."
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate Of Authority to Quintelco, Inc.?
On January 21, 1998, Pride America, Inc., filed an application for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company within the state of South Dakota. "Pride America offers inbound and outbound telecommunications services to residential and business customers utilizing switched access. Switched access service is available on a presubscription basis from equal access originating end offices. Pride America also offers travel card and debit card services."
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate of Authority to Pride America, Inc.?
On February 9, 1998, Satellink Paging, LLC, filed an application for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company within the state of South Dakota. "Applicant is a switch-based reseller which intends to offer 1+ direct dialing, 800 toll free, travel card and outbound dialing as an adjunct to its paging and voice mail services through the resale of telephone services provided by facilities-based
inter-exchange carriers."
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate of Authority to Satellink Paging, LLC?
On February 23 1998, CSI Corp filed an application for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company within the state of South Dakota. "Applicant proposes to offer switched and dedicated access "1+" long distance telecommunications services suitable for voice and limited data applications in the state of South Dakota. The applicant does not propose to provide alternative operator services."
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate of Authority to CSI Corp?
On February 25, 1998, U.S. Telco, Inc., filed an application for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company within the state of South Dakota. "Applicant plans to provide on a resale basis, pre-paid monthly recurring, flat-rate local exchange service, including extended area service, toll restriction, call control options, tone dialing, custom calling services, and any other services available on a resale basis from U S WEST, the underlying incumbent local exchange carriers. Applicant will not construct, own or lease any facilities for the provision of its local services. Applicant hereby requests authority to provide inter-exchange telecommunications services throughout the state of South Dakota. Applicant intends to provide local exchange and inter- exchange telecommunications services in those areas currently served by U S WEST and any other relevant incumbent facilities-based LECs."
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate of Authority to U.S. Telco, Inc.?
Announcements- The Commission Consumer Outreach Booth will be at the Black Hills Home Show March 27- 29, 1998, in Rapid City, South Dakota.
- A hearing in Docket NG97-015 (AMPI-Freeman) is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., on March 30, 1998, in the Old County Courthouse in Sioux Falls, SD.
- A public hearing in the Carpenter Complaints/USWC is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., on April 2, 1998, at the Crossroads in Huron, SD.
- A public hearing in Docket EL97-020 (City of Vermillion) is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., on April 16, 1998, in Room 412 of the State Capitol Building.
- Commissioner Burg will be attending the NRRI/NARUC Commissioner's Summit in Denver on April 20-21, 1998.
- The next regularly scheduled Commission meeting will be held Thursday, April 9, 1998, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 468 of the State Capitol Building.
Sue Cichos
Business Manager
March 19, 1998
