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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
March 30, 2016, at 9:30 A.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 5:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, March 29, 2016. 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
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on February 26 and March 15, 2016 (Staff: Joy Lashley)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries and Complaints Received by the Commission (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Electric
On February 11, 2016, the Commission received a filing from NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern), for approval of a Contract with Deviations. The proposed contract would provide electric service to the Dakota Access pump station adjacent to NorthWestern's 115kV line.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the Contract with Deviations and associated tariff revisions?
On February 12, 2016, the Commission received MidAmerican Energy Company's (MidAmerican) filing for approval of tariff revisions to its Transmission Cost Recovery (TCR) 2015 Reconciliation and New Factor Calculation. MidAmerican's TCR mechanism was established in the company's most recent rate case EL14-072. With this filing, MidAmerican is establishing new TCR rates based on true ups to any over/under recovery from 2015, and for forecast over/under recovery for 2016. The new TCR factors are to be effective April 4, 2016, with the first April 2016 bill groups through the final March 2017 bill groups. Approximately 4,500 South Dakota customers will be affected by the TCR rate change. The bill increase for a typical residential customer averaging 700 kWh per month will be approximately $0.53 per month or 0.80 percent. On March 4, 2016, MidAmerican filed a revised 2015 TCR Reconciliation and New Factor Calculation.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the revised TCR rate factor and revised tariff sheet with an effective date of April 4, 2016? AND, shall the Commission grant the requested waivers?
On March 9, 2016, West River Electric Association, Inc. (WREA) filed a request for a service rights exception between WREA and Black Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BHEC). With this request BHEC would provide rural residential electrical service to a residence located within the WREA service territory.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the requested service rights exception between West River Electric Association and Black Hills Electric Cooperative?
Gas and Electric
On February 19, 2016, the Commission received a filing from MidAmerican Energy Company (MidAmerican) that included the company's 2015 Energy Efficiency Plan Annual Report and reconciliation of the company's Energy Efficiency Plan cost recoveries for the 2015 calendar year. Further, MidAmerican requested approval of its 2016 Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Factors that account for the 2015 reconciliation amounts, the 2015 performance incentive, and the 2016 Energy Efficiency Plan budget approved by the Commission in docket GE15-004. MidAmerican requested an effective date of April 4, 2016, for the Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Factors and accompanying tariff sheets.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the 2015 reconciliation amounts and the 2015 performance incentive? AND, shall the Commission approve the changes to the Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Factors and tariff sheets, with an effective date of April 4, 2016?
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. On October 13, 2015, this docket was discussed at the regular Commission meeting. At that time, the Commission posed several questions to Humboldt and requested this matter be placed on the next agenda to give Humboldt time to gather more information. On October 20, 2015, Staff filed a Stipulation and Agreement (Stipulation) setting forth specific conditions. The Commission issued an Order Approving Stipulation on November 2, 2015. Since that time, Humboldt has made regular informational filings pursuant to the terms of the Stipulation. At the regular Commission meeting on March 15, 2016, the Commission was updated on the status of this docket. At that time, Commissioner Fiegen requested the docket be placed on the March 30, 2016, agenda for further discussion.
TODAY, shall the Commission require additional information? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?
Telecommunications
On March 1, 2016, the Commission received a filing pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252 for approval of the Wireline Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and McLeodUSA Telecommunications Services, LLC; Windstream KDL, LLC; and Windstream NTI, LLC.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the interconnection agreement?
On March 8, 2016, the Commission received a filing pursuant to 47 USC § 252 for approval of a wireline interconnection agreement between Midcontinent Communications and Venture Communications for service areas as approved in a Stipulated Agreement between the parties in Midcontinent's COA Docket TC15-063.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the interconnection agreement?
Items for Commission Discussion
Announcements
- The PUC office will close at noon CDT Friday, March 25, 2016, in observance of Good Friday.
- A public hearing for docket RM16-001 - In the Matter of the Adoption of Rules Regarding Stray Electrical Current and Voltage Remediation will be held Monday, March 28, 2016, beginning at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Room 413 of the State Capitol Building, Pierre, S.D.
- Commissioners and staff will meet with representatives of Otter Tail Power Co. on Thursday, March 31, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol, Pierre, S.D. The agenda is to discuss the company's integrated resource plan assumptions.
- Commissioners will attend the Central Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting, Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at 7:30 p.m. CDT at the Corn Palace, Mitchell, S.D.
- The next regularly scheduled commission meeting will be Monday, April 11, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol, Pierre, S.D.
- Commission meetings are scheduled for April 27 and May 10, 2016.
/s/Cindy Kemnitz
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
PUC Email
March 23, 2016
