Commission Agendas | previous page
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
Wednesday, August 23, 2006, at 9:30 A.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 August 22, 2006. The lines are limited and are given out on first come/first serve basis. Ultimately, if you wish to participate in the Commission Meeting and a line is not available you may have to appear in person.
NOTE: To listen to the Commission Meeting live please go to the PUC's Web site www.puc.sd.gov and click on the LIVE button on the home page. The Commission meetings are archived on the PUC's Web site under the Commission Actions tab and then click on the LISTEN button on the page.
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.
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.
ADDENDUM TO THE
AGENDA OF COMMISSION MEETING
Electricity
On August 8, 2005, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ("EPAct 2005") was signed into law. Certain provisions in the EPAct 2005 amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act ("PURPA") of 1978. The EPAct 2005 adds five new federal standards to PURPA. The five standards regard net metering, fuel diversity, fossil fuel generation efficiency, smart metering, and interconnection for distributed resources. Under the EPAct 2005, the Public Utilities Commission (Commission) has varying timelines within which to consider these standards and determine whether to adopt them. The Commission voted to open a docket to seek comments from interested persons or entities on how to proceed. The Commission requested comments on the following: 1) which electric utilities operating in South Dakota are affected by the standards and are subject to the Commission's jurisdiction? 2) Should the Commission open a docket for each utility or open a generic docket encompassing all of the affected utilities? 3) Should the Commission combine all of the standards, some of the standards, or have separate dockets for each standard? 4) Should the Commission hold evidentiary hearings with direct testimony and cross-examination? 5) If the Commission decides to implement any of the standards, should it do so through a rulemaking? 6) With respect to the net metering standard, should the Commission find it is not required to consider this standard given that the Legislature has already considered net metering in a past legislative session? Comments were received from the South Dakota Rural Electric Association and South Dakota Electric Utility Companies. On August 11, 2006, the Commission received a Petition to Intervene from MidAmerican Energy Company. On August 14, 2006, the Commission received a Petition to Intervene from Itron, Inc. On August 15, 2006, the Commission received Petitions to Intervene from NorthWestern Energy, Montana-Dakota Utilities, and Xcel Energy. On August 17, 2006, the Commission received Petitions to Intervene from Otter Tail Power Company and Black Hills Power Company, Inc.
TODAY, shall the Commission Grant Intervention to MidAmerican Energy Company, Itron, Inc., NorthWestern Energy, Montana-Dakota Utilities, Xcel Energy, Otter Tail Power Company and Black Hills Power Company Inc., or Any Other Parties that Petition to Intervene?
Telecommunications
On June 30, 2006, the Local Exchange Carriers Association (LECA) filed revised switched access tariff pages. These revisions are necessitated by revisions in the individual member companies' revenue requirements and access minutes of use. The revised tariff pages are proposed to be effective upon Commission approval of the corresponding cost studies. On July 21, 2006, MCI Communications Services, Inc. d/b/a Verizon Business Services and Midcontinent Communications filed a Petition to Intervene. On August 1, 2006, AT&T Communications of the Midwest, Inc. filed a Petition to Intervene.
TODAY, shall the Commission Grant Intervention to AT&T Communications of the Midwest, Inc., MCI Communications Services, Inc. d/b/a Verizon Business Services, and Midcontinent Communications?
______________________
Heather K. Forney
Deputy Executive Director
heather.forney@state.sd.us
August 17, 2006
