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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
March 28, 2017, at 9:30 A.M. CDT
Room 414, 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 p.m. CDT on March 27, 2017. 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 Meeting Held on March 14, 2017 (Staff: Joy Lashley)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries and Complaints Received by the Commission (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Electric
1. EL17-006 In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy for Approval of 2017 Transmission Facility Adjustment (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On February 15, 2017, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (BHE) filed an Application for Approval of its 2017 Transmission Facilities Adjustment (TFA). BHE seeks approval of the annual true-up of the actual amounts collected in the third year of the TFA, as approved in Docket EL16-005, and the forecasted recovery of revenue requirements associated with the fourth year of the TFA. BHE proposes TFA rates effective June 1, 2017, through May 31, 2018. Approximately 68,000 South Dakota customers will be affected by the TFA rate change. The bill increase for a typical residential customer averaging 650 kWh per month will be approximately 0.02 percent.
TODAY, shall the Commission suspend BHE’s proposed transmission facility adjustment for 180 days beyond February 15, 2017? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?
2. EL17-007 In the Matter of the Filing by MidAmerican Energy Company for Approval of Tariff Revisions to Its 2016 Transmission Cost Recovery Reconciliation and 2017 Transmission Cost Recovery Factors (Staff Analysts: Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On February 15, 2017, the Commission received MidAmerican Energy Company’s (MidAmerican) filing for approval of tariff revisions to its Transmission Cost Recovery 2016 Reconciliation and 2017 New Factor Calculation. MidAmerican’s Transmission Cost Recovery 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 2016, and for forecast over/under recovery for 2017. 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 $0.06 per month or 0.10 percent. MidAmerican requests the new Transmission Cost Recovery factors have an effective date of April 3, 2017.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the revised TCR rate factors and revised tariff sheet with an effective date of April 3, 2017?
3. EL17-008 In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy for Approval of its 2017 Environmental Improvement Adjustment (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On February 15, 2017, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (BHE) filed an Application for Approval of its 2017 Environmental Improvement Adjustment (EIA). BHE seeks approval of its proposal for the annual true-up of EIA revenue requirement from June 1, 2016, through May 31, 2017, as approved in Docket EL16-006, and the forecasted recovery of EIA revenue requirement associated with eligible environmental improvements from June 1, 2017, through May 31, 2018. The Company proposes EIA rates effective June 1, 2017, through May 31, 2018. Approximately 68,000 South Dakota retail customers are affected by the EIA rate change. The average bill impact for a typical residential electric customer using 650 kWh is approximately 0.03 percent.
TODAY, shall the Commission suspend BHE’s proposed environmental improvement adjustment for 180 days beyond February 15, 2017? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?
Gas and Electric
1. GE17-001 In the Matter of the Filing by MidAmerican Energy Company for the Approval of Its Reconciliation and Annual Report for 2016 and Revisions to Its Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Rate (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Lorena Reichert; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On February 17, 2017, the Commission received a filing from MidAmerican Energy Company (MidAmerican) that included the company’s 2016 Energy Efficiency Plan Annual Report and reconciliation of the company’s Energy Efficiency Plan cost recoveries for the 2016 calendar year. Further, MidAmerican requested approval of its 2017 Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Factors that account for the 2016 reconciliation amounts, the 2016 performance incentive, and the 2017 Energy Efficiency Plan budget approved by the Commission in docket GE16-001. MidAmerican requested an effective date of April 3, 2017, for the Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Factors and accompanying tariff sheets.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the 2016 reconciliation amounts and the 2016 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 3, 2017?
Natural Gas
1. NG17-004 In the Matter of the Filing by MidAmerican Energy for Approval of Tariff Revisions regarding Excess Flow Valves for Existing Service Lines Factors (Staff Analysts: Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On February 21, 2017, the Commission received MidAmerican Energy Company’s (MidAmerican) filing for approval of tariff revisions to implement cost recovery for installation of an excess flow valve (EFV) on an existing gas line at the customer’s request. This EFV installation charge is proposed in order to implement new federal regulations issued by the United States Department of Transportation, Pipeline10 and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). These new regulations mandate that natural gas utilities offer the installation of EFVs to existing residences and small commercial structures served from qualifying distribution systems. The new requirements take effect on April 14, 2017.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the proposed tariff revisions?
Telecommunications
1. TC12-125 In the Matter of the Application of Budget PrePay, Inc., dba Budget Mobile for Designation as a Lifeline-only Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in Non-Rural Areas (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson, Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On September 24, 2012, the Commission approved Budget PrePay, Inc. dba Budget Mobile (Budget) for designation as a lifeline-only eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) in non-rural areas. In recent weeks, the Commission’s Consumer Affairs Division has received several calls from potential customers who have been refused applications for new lifeline service. These customers were told that Budget no longer offers service in South Dakota. Budget has not filed to relinquish its ETC designation. Staff is of the understanding that Budget no longer contracts with Verizon and, therefore, only resells the services of Sprint and T-Mobile. The issue was on the agenda as a discussion item on March 14, 2017, at which time it was indicated that an update would be given at a future meeting.
TODAY, how shall the Commission proceed?
Items for Commission Discussion
Announcements
- PUC commissioners and staff will meet with consumers at the Black Hills Home Builders Association Home Show, March 24-26, 2017, at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, S.D.
- The PUC will host and commissioners and staff will attend the South Dakota/North Dakota/Wyoming Pipeline Safety Operators Training, March 29-30, 2017, at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center, Rapid City, S.D.
- Commissioners will attend the Sioux Valley Energy District 6 meeting, Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. CDT, at the Brandon Valley High School, Brandon, S.D.
- The next regularly scheduled commission meeting will be Monday, April 10, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, S.D.
- An evidentiary hearing in Docket EL16-021 – In the Matter of the Complaint by Consolidated Edison Development, Inc. against NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Establishing a Purchase Power Agreement is scheduled for April 11-14, 2017, beginning at 9:00 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, April 11, in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, S.D.
- Commission meetings are scheduled for April 27 and May 9, 2017.
/s/Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
PUC Email
March 21, 2017
