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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
October 13, 2015, at 1:30 P.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
NOTE: If you wish to join this meeting by conference call, please contact the Commission at 605-773-3201 by 10:00 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, October 13, 2015. Lines are limited and are given out on a first come, first served basis, subject to possible reassignment to accommodate persons who must appear in a proceeding. 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 website www.puc.sd.gov and click on the LIVE link on the home page. The Commission requests persons who will only be listening to proceedings and not actively appearing in a case listen via the web cast to free phone lines for those who have to appear. The Commission meetings are archived on the PUC’s website under the Commission Actions tab, Click on “Commission Meeting Archives,” to access the recordings.
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 COMMISSION MEETING
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries and Complaints Received by the Commission (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Electric
On August 24, 2015, NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern) filed a request for a service rights exception between NorthWestern and Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Central Electric). With this request Central Electric would provide a single phase electrical service to a new home located within the NorthWestern service territory.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the requested service rights exception between NorthWestern and Central Electric?
On August 31, 2015, the Commission received an application by Otter Tail Power Company (Otter Tail) for approval of its annual update to the Environmental Cost Recovery Rate under Otter Tail’s Environmental Cost Recovery Rider, Rate Schedule 13.08, for the actual and forecasted cost and revenue through the recovery period of November 2015 through October 2016 for Big Stone Plant’s Air Quality Control System (AQCS) and Hoot Lake Plant’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). Otter Tail states the rate impact of this request (for both projects) will increase the ECR Rider Rate from $.00487 per kWh to $.00643 per kWh. Otter Tail anticipates the rate impact after this update will be just over 9 percent of a customer’s bill on average. On September 24, 2015, the Commission issued an Order Assessing Filing Fee.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve Otter Tail Power Company’s Environmental Cost Recovery Rider Charge and associated tariff revisions with an effective date of November 1, 2015?
On September 30, 2015, the Commission received an application by Black Hills Power, Inc. (BHP) for approval of tariff revisions related to its Cost of Service Gas Agreement (COSG Agreement) with Black Hills Utility Holdings, Inc. (BHUH). The proposed tariff revision would allow BHP to pass through gas costs incurred to acquire gas under the COSG Agreement as part of its natural gas commodity procurement strategies. BHP states the COSG Agreement establishes a long-term hedging program that is expected to reduce BHP’s customers’ exposure to the volatility of gas market prices, to provide long-term price stability through a physical hedge, and to provide an opportunity for customers to pay less than market prices over the long term. BHP requests approval of revisions to the Fuel and Purchased Power Adjustment tariff to include the costs incurred by BHP under its COSG Agreement with BHUH, approval of the COSG Agreement as may be determined necessary by the Commission, and granting waivers, conditions, approvals or other and further relief as the Commission deems necessary or appropriate. The Company proposes the tariff revision be effective upon approval by the Commission.
TODAY, shall the Commission give the Executive Director authority to enter into necessary consulting contracts?
On October 1, 2015, the Commission received a petition from Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) for approval of its 2016 Infrastructure Rider project eligibility, revised adjustment factor, and tracker account report. Xcel requests approval of project eligibility for 10 projects included in the Docket EL14-058 Settlement Agreement Exhibit C not already included in the rider, project eligibility of 12 additional projects, the Infrastructure Rider Tracker Report and true-up for the 2015 revenue requirements of approved project investment and the proposed newly added projects, 2016 Infrastructure Rider revenue requirements of $10.3 million, an updated Infrastructure Rider Adjustment Factor of $0.004854 per kWh, proposed revision to the Infrastructure Rider tariff sheet, and proposed customer notice. Xcel proposes a January 1, 2016, effective date. Xcel states the average bill impact for a residential customer using 750 kWh per month will be increased to $3.64 per month compared to the current average residential bill impact of $0.59 per month under the current rate.
TODAY, shall the Commission assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $250,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date?
Pipeline Safety
On August 13, 2015, Staff filed a Complaint alleging violations discovered during a March 2015 inspection of Humboldt Municipal Gas Utilities (Humboldt). In the Complaint, Staff sought penalties for the violations. The deadline to answer the Complaint was September 2, 2015. Humboldt did not file an answer to the Complaint. This matter came before the Commission on September 15, 2015. The Commission deferred the docket at that time as no members of the Humboldt Gas Board were available to answer questions. This docket was discussed at the Ad Hoc Commission meeting on September 24, 2015. On October 5, 2015, Humboldt filed a letter in the docket detailing their plan for compliance.
TODAY, how shall the Commission proceed?
Telecommunications
On July 21,2015, the Commission received a filing from Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, for approval of a Resale Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and InTTec, Inc. pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the resale agreement? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?
Items for Commission Discussion
Announcements
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An evidentiary hearing for Docket HP14-002 - In the Matter of the Application of Dakota Access, LLC for an Energy Facility Permit to Construct the Dakota Access Pipeline will be held September 29 - October 2, October 6-9, 2015, beginning at 1:00 p.m. CDT Tuesday, September 29, and 8:00 a.m. thereafter in Room 414 at the State Capitol, Pierre, S.D.
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The PUC offices will be closed Monday, October 12, 2015, in observance of Native American Day.
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The next regularly scheduled commission meeting will be Thursday, October 29, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 414 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, S.D.
- Commission meetings are scheduled for November 12 and 24, 2015.
/s/Cindy Kemnitz
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
PUC Email
October 6, 2015
