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Please see Addendum to this Agenda
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
Thursday, November 2, 2000; 1:30 P.M.
State Capitol Building, Room 412
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 November 1, 2000.
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 Held On October 17, 2000. (Staff: Mary Giddings.)
Consumer Issues
1. Status Report On Consumer Utility Inquiries And Complaints Recently Received By The Commission. (Consumer Affairs: Leni Healy.)
The Commission has received 1874 consumer contacts during 2000. 77 contacts have been received since the last Commission meeting.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: 61 of the contacts involved telecommunications. 15 contacts involved billing issues; 10 contacts concerned the unauthorized switching of services; 8 contacts involved raising rates without notice; 5 contacts concerned deceptive telemarketers; 5 contacts involved unauthorized billing for services; and the remaining issues were calling cards, delayed installation, deposits, disconnections, fees, installation costs, poor service, and toll blocking.
ELECTRICITY: 10 contacts involved electricity issues. 5 of the contacts concerned disconnections and the remaining issues were estimated billing, payment arrangements, repair and damage.
NATURAL GAS: 6 contacts involving natural gas were reported. 2 of the contacts concerned disconnections and the remaining issues were billing, won't disconnect, and "other."
1525 complaints have been resolved informally during 2000.
2. IN THE MATTER OF DISMISSING COMPLAINTS CT00-101 and CT00-102.
The Complainant has had continuing billing problems with Qwest over the past two years which include toll charges and Universal Service Fund charges. Qwest has indicated that the calls were dialed directly using 10-10 numbers. The Complainant is seeking $1000 in relief.
CT00-102 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY ROBERT E. CROW, STEPHAN, SOUTH DAKOTA, AGAINST AT&T COMMUNICATIONS OF THE MIDWEST, INC. AND MIDSTATE TELEPHONE COMPANY REGARDING DELAYED DISCONNECTION. (Staff Analyst: Leni Healy. Staff Attorney: Karen Cremer.)
The Complainant alleges that AT&T is refusing to release him as a local and long distance customer. Complainant requests that he be disconnected from AT&T, that all bills and late charges be removed, and that he be reimbursed for travel expenses, lawyer's fees and lost pay.
TODAY, if the above matters are resolved shall the Commission dismiss the complaints and close the dockets?
On February 29, 2000, the Commission received a complaint filed by Marvie Tschetter, Huron, South Dakota, regarding the delayed release of service and billing disputes against FirsTel. The Complainant switched her service from FirsTel to U S WEST in June of 1999. At that time, she understood that U S WEST would disconnect her services with FirsTel. FirsTel continued to bill for numbers that were to have been released to U S WEST and the Complainant alleges that the billings were incorrect. The Complainant's lead numbers have been disconnected by FirsTel. The Complainant requests that her telephone numbers be reactivated and released, "the Basec.Net account terminated and zeroed out with FirsTel upon release of the numbers" and, "after a complete audit of the account, and my numbers released, I will stop the proceedings." The Commission found probable cause in this matter at the March 13, 2000, meeting. On October 13, 2000, the Commission received a Motion to Amend Complaint. On October 16, 2000, the Commission received a Motion to Join Qwest as a Party. A hearing is scheduled for December 13, 2000.
TODAY, shall the Commission amend the complaint? AND, shall the Commission Join Qwest?
Electric
Xcel Energy is requesting that the Commission review and hold a hearing to determine the electric service boundary between Xcel Energy and Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc., in Section 7, Township 100 North, Range 50 West, in Lincoln County. The approximate area in question is west of Interstate 29 between 61st Street, SW, and what will be known as Bakker Park Drive. A hearing in this matter was held on October 5, 2000.
TODAY, what is the Commission's decision?
MidAmerican Energy Company has filed for approval of revisions to its Electric Tariff No. I electric tariff sheets. MidAmerican is proposing to cancel its Residential Guaranteed Electric Heat rate schedule.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the proposed tariff revisions?
Telecommunications
The issue before the Commission in this docket will be whether Pay Per Call Restriction, Billed Number Screening, Toll Restriction, and Blocking for 10XXX1+/10XXX011+ are fully competitive services as classified by U S WEST in Docket TC99-099. The Commission requests that U S WEST explain why these services should be considered as fully competitive services. The Commission is interested in knowing whether these services are currently being provided by interexchange carriers. The Association of Communications Enterprises was granted intervention. The matter was deferred on October 17, 2000.
TODAY, what is the Commission's decision?
Telicor Inc. has filed for a Certificate of Authority to provide resold and facilities-based local exchange and interexchange service within the State of South Dakota. Telicor intends to provide 1+ and 101XXXX outbound dialing, 800/888 Toll-Free inbound dialing, calling cards and data services, as well as switched local exchange service, non-switched local service (e.g. private line), Centrex and/or Centrex-like services, DSL, ISDN, and other high capacity line services.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate of Authority to Telicor, Inc.?
Network Communications International Corp. (NCIC) was granted a certificate of authority to provide telecommunications services in South Dakota on February 29, 2000, subject to a $25,000 surety bond. On August 3, 2000, NCIC submitted a petition to withdraw Debit Cards from its service offerings in South Dakota in return for the Company's $25,000 surety bond.
TODAY, shall the Commission amend NCIC's Certificate of Authority?
A Wireless Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation (Qwest) and WWC License, L.L.C. (WWC) was filed with the Commission for approval. The agreement is a negotiated agreement which sets forth the terms, conditions and prices under which Qwest will provide certain ancillary functions and additional features to WWC for the provision of telecommunications services and also sets forth the terms, conditions and prices under which Qwest and WWC agree to provide Type 2 interconnection and reciprocal compensation for the exchange of traffic between themselves for the purpose of offering telecommunications services. Parties had until October 24, 2000, to file comments.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the Interconnection Agreement?
Announcements
1. Hearings are scheduled for November 1, 2000, for the Show Cause Orders for failure to pay the Gross Receipts Tax.
2. A hearing in Docket CT00-090 (St. Gemme) is scheduled to begin at 3pm on November 2, 2000, in Room 412 of the State Capitol.
3. A hearing in docket NG00-001 (SDIPC/MDU) is scheduled for 1pm on November 9, 2000, in Room 464 of the State Capitol.
4. Commissioners and Staff will be attending the NARUC meeting in San Diego on Nov 12-15, 2000.
5. On November 29, 2000, hearings are scheduled to begin at 9am in Room 412 for Dockets CT00- 104 (Clark), CT00-106 (Gallagher), and, CT00-107 (Johnson).
6. A hearing in Docket CT00-060 (Blindauer) is scheduled for December 11, 2000, at 1:30pm in Room 412 of the State Capitol.
7. On December 12, 2000, the hearing in Docket CT00-091 (Briggs) will be held at 9am in Room 412 of the State Capitol.
8. A Commission meeting and hearings are being scheduled for December 12.
9. A hearing is scheduled for December 13, 2000, at 1pm, in Room 412 of the State Capitol for Docket CT00-043 (Basec.net/Firstel).
10. A hearing for Docket CT00-055 (BH FiberCom/Qwest) is being scheduled for January 18, 2001.
11. The next regularly scheduled Commission meeting will be held November 30, 2000, at 2pm, in Room 412 of the State Capitol Building.
Sue Cichos
Deputy Executive Director
sue.cichos@state.sd.us.
October 26, 2000
